UESI & “WOMEN STAFF”

The role of women staff in UESI has been a topic discussed several times, and still continues to be an issue which needs clarity. The staff training manual refers that staff couples are called and commissioned by God for the student ministry. While this requires the women staff also to be sure of her call to work with students, her role though is described as:

· Her primary role is for home making as a wife and mother.

· She helps her husband by supporting, praying and trusting him.

· As a mother she helps in the spiritual and physical developments of the children in the absence of her husband, who takes long travels.

· Regarding ministry her contribution is to enable the husband travel freely as required for the ministry. She is not to interfere in her husband’s office work, and working in the committee.

· But she assists in sending out prayer or circular letters if needed. She may travel with her husband for field visit and stay with another family if they are invited as a family.

· Her ministry is basically through open home, and so hospitality needs to be practiced.

· Apart from hospitality she involves in ministry through prayer, counseling and discipling lady students and graduates.

· She helps in Bible studies, retreats and camps (her role in camps and retreats are not mentioned) and can also host fellowship for girls in home.

On the basis of this paper I understand that UESI has kept a limited role for women. Her basic role is to be a home maker and supporting the husband’s ministry. She is given freedom to involve in the local ministry, or undertake travels according to the need, considering her family demands. Her ministry is specifically for the lady students and graduates where men may find difficulty to make way.

If this happens to be the criteria for the women staff, then UESI’s stand on the ‘role of women staff seems to be justified. The paper only gives certain practical steps for a house wife in getting herself adjusted to her situation as well as ministering in limited way. For this kind of an involvement should one need to have a’ full time call’? If any woman goes beyond this limited involvement and thinks that she has a role apart from hospitality and counseling is it unconventional or unwanted? Or in other words if a women who would like to explore new opportunities as well develop her skill say in administration, organizing or other leadership skills is this feasible?. If the organisation has appointed someone who is called by God, then it holds responsible to give job description to its staff.

A Lady staff travels, visits colleges, hostels, homes and assists in or organizes programmes for the students and graduates. She is assigned an area for which she is responsible and also accountable for the ministry development. In this way she is equally responsible as her male counterpart with regard to the ministry. She finds self worth and a sense of satisfaction in fulfilling her call for the ministry. In this process she develops her communication skill, computer knowledge, leadership skills, organizing skills, money management, counseling skills, social awareness and so on. She also recognizes her need for further development as new opportunities and avenues open up for her. This again paves way for equipping herself for future needs and challenges.

A married woman staff who had been earlier a lady staff is almost lost in her new role as “staff wife”. Even others who join staff team after marriage goes through confusion and bewilderment at her new undefined role. This role confusion has definitely made a negative impact on women. After marriage a women goes through lot of changes in terms of her role and responsibilities. With regard to family involvement UESI has given women freedom to choose her involvement. This kind of a freedom has not been constructive. It has only led to lack of clarity from the organisation side and sluggishness and non involvement from the staff side.

India is learning from other countries that ‘women empowerment’ is the key for the development of a nation. If so for the development of the ministry as well for organizational development women empowerment is very necessary. Reading the policy paper on women one wonders whether we as a movement are ‘denominational’ in our doctrine towards women. We as Indians have been fighting for 33% seat reservation for women in the parliament. Women need to be incorporated in the decision making process for the countries overall development and for their voices to be heard. Barack Obama the new president of America has passed a new regulation after assuming his office to bring a common pay scale for both men and women. There will be no more discrimination for women in this regard. A man who was himself discriminated understands the pain of discrimination better than anyone else.

I do know very well that that this issue has been discussed several times and also the complexity associated with the matter. It seems almost impossible to come to a particular consensus with regard to women involvement. I appreciate the leadership in coming forth with 3 options of involvement. This gives room for staff to choose their involvement considering the age of their children and other family factors .A woman gets relived from her hectic schedule once the children start going to school .The average age of the woman at this stage may be around thirty five. At this stage a woman is freer to actively get involved in the ministry at least in her base with the needed support system. I here disagree with the point made in the policy paper, where it says ‘children should not be left in the care of grandparents or neighbors for the sake of the ministry’. If parents or trust worthy maids are available to take care of our children for a particular period of time, it should be made use of. Though, I should also confess that as a staff in Kerala my personal view was also on similar grounds, but over a time period I have evolved in my understanding and attitudes.

I doubt when the organisation gives a choice for separate appointment, how many women will opt for it. A study on ‘achievement motivation’ and related behaviors in men and women who are successful in business and certain professions revealed that women were found to have another motive; fear of success. Women believed that their successful performance would have negative consequences such as unpopularity and a reduced feeling of feminity. Women were found to view success as counter to their role in our culture and were therefore afraid of it. The study further says that beliefs about sex roles have changed in recent years and fewer women now evidence a strong’ fear of success’ motivation. A woman also thus needs to play a vital role in bringing change by accepting the challenge. Recently ‘the best Veterinarian’ award by the Kerala government was granted to Bindu Varghese, one of our lady graduates. Doesn’t this give us a sense of joy and pride that one of our sisters has been honored? Why then women in ministry lag behind? is it because there seems to be a ‘secular-sacred’ divide.

UESI is a multi cultured group, so what seems to be good and acceptable in one culture may not necessarily be in the other. Our role definition or job description should not be culture biased. As a Christian movement we need to advocate and practice justice. This disparity and bias towards women staff is injustice, and needs to be addressed. I think that women be given opportunity for responsible involvement from the movement. This official requirement will not only boost her morale but also keeps her in the process of development. I was told from the recent questionnaire for the ‘HER’ programme in Delhi,that 75% of women were found to be post graduates. But majority of them had identified there strengths as hospitality and counseling. It may be because these are her sole involvement and so has developed only in those areas .It is also interesting to note that many of them have sought help for computer knowledge. This I suppose may be an area which she might have felt not much needed in her role. The positive role played by the organisation will definitely bring a positive impact in the ministry, the effect of which will be seen five to ten years later its implementation.

In closing, I salute all women who have toiled in our movement unnoticed, yet with sincerity and integrity. I realize that dreams do come true and the history proves it! If so I will also dare to dream that twenty to thirty years from now women will have equal opportunities to develop as State sectaries, Zonal sectaries and General Secretaries, along with teachers, preachers, writers and administrators.

-Mini S.Joseph

Haryana

2009