wfn.org | “Diary of a Woman Minister” – reflection #1

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3021 Edition

>January 18~24, 2010

“Diary of a Woman Minister” – reflection #1

>Written by Chen Mei-hui

>Translated by Lydia Ma

When I was first invited to minister at a Taiwanese church in  Chicago, one of the questions the

selection committee asked me was the following, “We have many  women at our church who,

once nominated as elder or deacon, humbly decline by saying their  husbands should be the

ones to take up the position, and they would support and assist  their husbands. If you were to

become this church’s minister, what would you do to change  this situation?” I thought about

this question for a moment and then replied, “Actually, I  think if there were a woman minister at

the church, the problem would most likely be resolved!”

I also heard that some of the church’s youth counselors, who  had studied at Moody’s Bible

Institute, had told church youth that if a woman minister were to  be hired, they would leave the

church because ordaining women was unbiblical. Many church elders  were surprised by these

>counselors’ point of view.

After pastoring at that church for a little while, one elder from  another church who was also a

university professor remarked, “The church I belong to  isn’t hiring any woman ministers, even

to this day! Your church is more progressive when it comes to  hiring women ministers.”

I’m grateful that during those years I ministered in Chicago,  I never experienced unequal

treatment just because I was a woman. The congregation’s  undivided attention whenever I

was preaching behind the pulpit really encouraged me to do my best  during sermon

preparation. I also strived to be a messenger of peace whenever  dealing with any church

>issue.

I still remember with fondness ministering to the elderly at that  church by taking them on short

excursions and visiting the sick. During the second year I was  there, many seekers came to

me wanting to be baptized and become a church member.

I also remember the selection committee asking me how I would  break down barriers and

animosity between Taiwanese churches in Chicago. I did so by  visiting one pastor at a time at

first. We soon began a monthly prayer meeting, which led to a  joint staff retreat a few months

later. Soon, we were holding joint services during holidays and  serving together on picnics

>organized by the local Taiwanese association.

Ministering a church is not a walk in the park devoid of  challenges. There are always problems

waiting to be solved and it’s natural for people to have  different opinions. Perhaps because of

the fact that I’m a woman, the congregation was more cordial  and respectful.

Ministering to a church allows you to simultaneously engage in the  mission field. You are given

the privilege of being part of your congregation’s life and  share in their personal joys and

sorrows and lend a helping, reassuring hand. I’ve truly  enjoyed those years ministering in

Chicago. However, when faced with challenges, hurts, and sorrows,  I would always cry out to

God and rely on Him, trusting that these challenges could only  make me stronger.

So, is it tougher to be a woman minister? Many women juggle  between work and family and

we, women ministers, are on the same boat. But male ministers also  face the same

challenges as we do. So, women ministers ought to be strong and  confident and support one

another through prayer and encouragement. Let us do our best in  the calling God has given us

and God will take care of everything else. Let us put aside our  differences and build God’s

>Church together.

Editor’s note: “Diary of a Woman Minister” is a  column consisting of reflections from women ministers

in PCT written by various ministers. This column is one of the  many projects aimed at celebrating the

50th anniversary of the ordination of women ministers in PCT.  Taiwan Church News will run this column

throughout 2010. The English version of Taiwan Church News will  translate this column periodically.

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

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

You may translate and re-use our articles online only if you  acknowledge the source as

"Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter and  writer.

Contact us before reprinting any of our articles for print  publications.

Direct comments and questions about this article to:  enews@pctpress.org

Visit our website for more news at: http://enews.pctpress.org/  (English)

>http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese)

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

> 
>