Asianlayleaders.com – As we reach the end of march, we cannot forget the significance of this month. We all celebrated International Women’s Day on the 8th of March by wishing well our Women friends, family and colleagues and even participated in various gatherings both public and private; in schools, colleges and even at workplace especially for Women, and as always we participate and cherish this day every year with the same spirit, appreciating the achievements of Women and encouraging more representation and leadership roles for women in all fronts of society.
I always wonder why Christian Churches rarely celebrate Women’s Day; the Pope in the Vatican celebrates it at least by recognising the Women’s achievements and the Nuns celebrate it too, but rarely the churches. Some questions easily come to mind, Why does the church not encourage women leadership? Why are women not ordained priest to celebrate mass? Why does the church treat women lesser than men? Nor hear their voices even though Women make up the majority of attendees during church activities and also the ones who have deepest faith.
Today’s Church cannot remain this way! The church is aware of its flaws but never acts upon it. Sometimes it is also because the Laity does not feel the need to change whats wrong or usually practiced or we lack the opportunity to do so. If the Church and we as laity remain the same then it does not make sense for us to celebrate Women’s Day anywhere for that matter. We need to improve the Church from its current state and turn it into a church that includes women, listens to them and at the same time empowers them from within by enabling powerful positions in the Church not only in administration but also in preaching.
A Woman-led church is most needed today to bring us out of the patriarchal practices which the church and our societies have manifested over the centuries. It is crucial because it is the only way for drastic changes to come about. Its very hard to imagine a church where women priests celebrate mass, but it is increasingly becoming popular in many protestant denominations across the world and it has brought evident change in those churches not only within the church but even more so at the community level.
A Woman-led Church enables a Woman-led world, creating equal opportunities for women even in the church adds to the efforts of enabling women to be recognised everywhere. Lets all join hands and create inclusive churches which empowers women. Happy International Women’s Day!
By Neilan D’Souza