Dimapur, March 2 (MExN): To empower women’s leadership role in the church, the Ao Baptist Women’s Department organized an “Educational Tour-cum-Retreat Programme” from February 26 to March 2 at Kolkata for the wives of pastors from Ao community.
Altogether, 66 women participated in the programme. To experience the first hand knowledge of various ministries in urban context initiated by churches and NGOs, the group visited various care centers and places in the city. It was an eye opener for many of them and they were much motivated by seeing the selfless sacrifice making by the churches towards liberation of the poor and needy. While the team co-ordinator, Temsula Lemtur, Women’s Secretary, ABAM Women’s Department, stressed on the greater role of a Pastor’s wife in the church, Dr. Wati Longchar, the Dean of SCEPTRE spoke on the “Side by Side” involvement of women in Pastoral ministry.
Dr. Longchar stressed that ‘though the Ao Baptist Churches have ordained a few women in the church, they are still treated like a second-class citizen. The women ordained ministers are not given full Pastoral role and injustices in the churches are still prevalent towards women. This patriarchal practice is sin and injustice. As followers of Christ, both women and men must resist collectively against this evil practices in the body of Christ.” To enable wide participation of women in the church, Dr. Longchar proposed the `co-pastor’ model now adopted in China, Indonesia, USA and other countries. The empowerment programme was hosted by the Extension Department of the Senate of Serampore University.
