PREFACE
In May 1999 a small group of women theologians from different church
backgrounds came together at the United Theological College (UTC) to
discuss the need for more literature on women’s issues and Theology and
also to recognize a historical event, namely, the silver jubilee of the
ordination of women in the Church of South India (CSI) in May 2001. The
process of envisioning a national workshop on Feminist Biblical
Hermeneutics, the celebration of the silver jubilee of the Ordination
of Women and also bringing out a publication began. It resulted in a
three day national consultation on Feminist Biblical Hermeneutics. The
consultation began by recalling the history of Ordination of women in
the Church of South India.
The late Rev. Elizabeth Paul (Betty Paul) became India's first
woman Minister to be ordained as a Deacon on May 6, 1976 at Madras
(Chennai). She was ordained by Bishop Sundar Clarke, the then
Bishop in Madras of the CSI. A week later on May 12, 1976, Rev.
Nirmala Vasanthkumar was ordained as Deacon in Bangalore by Bishop
Kenneth Gill. It was only in the year 1984 that the first
Presbyter Ordination of women took place in Bangalore. The first
two women ordained were Rev. Nirmala Vasanthakumar and Rev. Florence
Deenadayalan. Rev. Betty Paul was ordained as Presbyter in 1987
because there was a legal row (initiated by some) that delayed her
ordination as Presbyter. Since then, many churches have started
ordaining women for ministry. Ordination of women in the CSI (which was
formed in 1947) happened after 29 years of its formation. We are
thankful that the Church of South India took this initiative to accept
women as partners in the ministry of God in the church.
The women who had gathered at the May 2001 Feminist Biblical
Hermeneutics Workshop, were full of vigour to spend the three days in
rigorous mental, physical and spiritual exercise. We began with sharing
of stories. Stories of success filled us with a sense of corporate
achievement, while stories of disappointment filled us with a sense of
challenge. How can the Church, while being the body of Christ, disown,
deny women an equal opportunity to participate in the ministry?
We believe there is continuity between our stories of successes and
disappointments, stories of change and inclusion to stories of
rejection and exclusion.
Several painful realities came to our mind. What do we do
when some churches ordain women for name sake?
when women are not given the same responsibility or salary as that of
their male counterparts?
when the church ordains them but appoints them as wardens and school
teachers in their own dioceses?
when a woman is asked to sign a document to say that she will not get
married for ten years just because she has been supported for studies
for a year by the church?
when the leaders who preach good news about women and women’s issues in
public show little evidence in reality?
Do we then ask the church either to speak boldly for gender justice and
practice it too or stop talking about justice to women and women’s
issues? The painful experiences of women are distinct but we will not
let anything deter us when we are on the road to justice and
liberation. With faith and commitment to love and justice, we will
achieve the goal that Jesus Christ has set for us, namely discipleship
of Equals. The strength and the contributions of women in the churches,
including thousands of women theologians, in both the Protestant and
the Roman Catholic church traditions, should be recognized as power
that cannot be stopped.
Indian Women in Theology (IWIT) is born out of the commitment to bring
love, peace and justice to all, especially the marginalized and
oppressed categories of people, namely the women. Anyone who is
committed to the upliftment of the less privileged people, particularly
women are welcome to become partners in this journey.
Evangeline A-Rajkumar
Lalrinawmi Ralte