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 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.
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.
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
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
Though some denominations may be against women holding office, I think, it should not be a problem for UESI since we are an organisation, and not a chuch. If some people refuse to bring change in UESI because their church refuses to ordain women, then it would be unfair to those whose churches allow woment to take up leadership. Since in IFES movements we have female who has become even GS I feel UESI also should open doors for women to become GS and departmental secretaries, provided they are qualified.
ReplyDeleteFrom Grace Sundersingh
ReplyDeleteDear Mini, Thanks for comeing out with your opinions and comments. So happy that Lady Staff is expressing something in the forum.
God bless
Good Paper Mini!
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be more detailed study on this subject. There are many issues involved. I agree with the need of providing opportunities for the women staff to develop and assume leadership roles in ministry. At the same time a particular family must plan thier way of involvement. If a wife has to travel the husband has to be at home with the children. How can both of them travel, leaving the children to the maids? so there must be some balance. Even if organisation gives job description, if the family is not in a position to plan thier timing and jobs, the net result may be the same. And there may be more hurt feelings and strained relationships coming up. So we must do a thorough study of the same even by taking case studies. God bless you to be an agent of change in our organisation. Jose Thomas
I strongly endorse ur views.
ReplyDeleteBTW u can praise God that paper on staff wives which you quoted was a part of the old staff training manual not seen after 2002. Hope it remains a relic of past. UESI still needs to go a long way
Women are equal partners with Men in God's Eternal plan. And if God does Call women into HIS service they are as honourable and qualified as her male counterpart. So where does this second thinking come?
ReplyDeleteMay be we should otherwise decide that UESI would not have women as their staff.
With choices given depending on each Family we do not need a common generalised stand!
Women holding office, and taking up leadership roles is a distant dream. But for that we need to take the first step we are still struggling in the initial phase.Jeriamiah's point is valid that one needs to be qualified
ReplyDeletewhen taking up a particular responsibility. This criteria holds good for both the genders. Let women be given roles and opportunities to get qualified.
To take a case study where women was equally involved in ministry along with the husbund as per Jose's suggestion, I think we have none.But to start with we can appoint women for particular juridisction and see how she is able to manage, with the support of other family members.Thinking for the younger families, I hope it may not be a problem.If women are called by God for His service, then if UESI does not hold a role for her other than doing ministry through home then she needs to be helped to find her part in fulfilling her call outside UESI.
Women holding office, and taking up leadership roles is a distant dream. But for that we need to take the first step we are still struggling in the initial phase.Jeriamiah's point is valid that one needs to be qualified
ReplyDeletewhen taking up a particular responsibility. This criteria holds good for both the genders. Let women be given roles and opportunities to get qualified.
To take a case study where women was equally involved in ministry along with the husbund as per Jose's suggestion, I think we have none.But to start with we can appoint women for particular juridisction and see how she is able to manage, with the support of other family members.Thinking for the younger families, I hope it may not be a problem.If women are called by God for His service, then if UESI does not hold a role for her other than doing ministry through home then she needs to be helped to find her part in fulfilling her call outside UESI.
Yes we value this issue raised regarding the role of lady staff. Than leaving the issue unnoticed and keep on postponing to find proper solution, it will be useful to all, if UESI diagnose the cause of this issue and find the proper solution for the betterment of ladies staff involvement in UESI ministry effectively.
ReplyDeleteChris and Lizz
From HP
Since each family can decide whether they want to opt for the present arrangement or a different one where both the individuals are recongnised as full-fledged staffs, I think, we should go ahead with the implementation.
ReplyDelete