wfn.org | TCN: Churches need to affirm women leadership and ministries

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2974 Edition

>February 23~March 1, 2009

Churches need to affirm women leadership and ministries

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) decided in 1995 to set aside  every first Sunday of March as “Women Ministries Sunday” so  that women could take this opportunity to stand in front of their  congregations and share their faith, their calling, and any message  they’ve received from God. PCT Women Ministry Committee leader  Huang Bi-yun urged all church ministers in Taiwan to be open-minded on  this occasion and allow women delegates deliver sermons. This would be  their most direct form of support and encouragement.

Huang said frankly that many church leaders still believe it is not  appropriate for women to take the stage and share their thoughts. That  is the reason why it is so hard to promote “Women Ministries  Sunday” and results are often far from ideal. She urged church  leaders to emulate Jesus, who not only had a lot of female followers but  also highly honored them and never disdained or rejected their  whole-hearted service. She also called on church leaders to validate  women ministries and appreciate their importance.

Using Taipei Presbytery women ministries as an example, Huang said that  ten years ago, very few pastors would sincerely welcome women to step up  to the podium and deliver church announcements on special occasions.  However, this phenomenon changed dramatically in recent years as more  pastors began encouraging women ministries and allowing women to serve.  As result of women’s involvement, many families were helped during  the recent wave of massive unemployment and lay-offs.

During this year’s “Women Ministries Sunday”, emphasis  will be placed on equality as an ecumenical value and upholding gender  equality. Gender equality and fair treatment should not only be upheld  in society, but much more within churches as women outnumber men in most  church congregations nowadays. The PCT General Assembly is encouraging  local churches to respond in a positive manner and affirm the efforts  and contributions women have made in many church ministries.

PCT Women’s Ministry Committee will continue to promote women  seminars, women retreats, a women magazine, gender education, and other  related ministries across Taiwan this year. A women’s spiritual  retreat is already being planned from March 8th to 11th.

>*******************

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.

You may translate and re-use the articles if you acknowledge the source  as "Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter and writer.
Visit our web site: http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese)

>http://enews.pctpress.org/ (English)

Please direct all comments and questions to: enews@pctpress.org

If links are not working or you prefer e-news as plain text attachments,  please let us know. Thank you!

>******************