Justice

Voices from the Edge

By Amy Chambers / 12 December 2006

Most women in churches in Oceania, even those who have been accepted for theological training or ministry in the church feel that their voices are often not heard or ignored.  To me they are voices from the edge of the church (whichever denomination they belong to) speaking and telling stories about life at the edge.
Their stories are painful and heartbreaking, for the women continue to work within their church in spite of marginalisation and discrimination.  To them the challenges is part of the price they pay for their faith in the God of justice who is their daily companion in their struggle.  The women have told their stories to encourage their sisters facing the same problems.

(I have used pseudonyms to protect the identity of the women).

From Fiji

As a young woman Luisa wanted to be involved deeply in her Methodist church.  Whilst other young girls went out on social outings Luisa wanted to spend all her leisure time in the church.  There were no women clergy then in the Methodist church, so she began to inquire about becoming a Catholic nun.  Then the Methodist Church advertised for young women to join the order of deaconess. Though her vision was for ordination, Luisa put herself forward and was accepted.

She was awarded a scholarship to an ecumenical Theological College and after years of study graduated with both Bachelor and Masters degrees.  She was then posted to her church’s denominational theological college as a teacher.

From the first day in her new position she was discriminated against.  When the new staff members were introduced she was conveniently ‘forgotten’.  Her classes were nightmares as the male students did everything they could to ignore her, be disruptive or just stay away.  She loved her job and persevered but soon was told that she was surplus to the school’s requirements.

Now she free-lances doing translation and social work.  She is still a member of her denomination and continues to support her church.  She is positive that one day the church will find a place for her.

From Tahiti
As a 115-year-old, Kay began to ask why women were not allowed to perform certain functions in her church.  When she turned 19, she enrolled at her denominational Theological College. On the first day was told by a male student, “What are you doing here? You should be in the kitchen.”  Instead of discouraging her, this remark fanned her flame of passion for theological study, and with her husband as her mission partner she has gone on to attain a Bachelor of Divinity degree and is currently writing a Masters thesis at an ecumenical college.
She continues to find opposition both within and outside her church but is adamant that God has called her to a particular ministry and, with her husband and two children (who are her greatest supporters), she will soldier on.

From Samoa
Mary, a Presbyterian, was at theological college in New Zealand when she met and fell in love with a young Samoan Methodist student.  They married and moved to Samoa and she had to give up her study to support her husband, as that was the cultural expectation.
In 2005 her husband received a scholarship to pursue his Masters in an ecumenical college in Fiji.  At the same time, endorsed by the Samoan Methodist Church, she applied secured a position with an ecumenical organization in Fiji.
Her husband completes his Masters at the end of this year and though she still has a year of her contract left, she has been told that she must return home with her husband, as she is required to support him in his new position.  A request to allow her husband to stay one more year until her contract ends has been refused and she has been told in no uncertain terms that if she does not return with her husband then he will be terminated as a minister.
Mary has accepted the decision to move back to Samoa but is heartbroken that she is seen only in relation to her husband and her gifts are not appreciated.

From Melanesia

Ella is a wonderful and intelligent young woman from the Solomon Islands.  She was brought up as an Anglican and loved being part of the activities of her church.  She fell in love and married a young priest and began to be fascinated with the duties and responsibilities of her husband.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Theology from the denominational college in Honiara her husband was given a scholarship to pursue his Masters at an ecumenical college in Fiji.

The diversity in this college challenged Ella and she wants to learn as much as she can in their two years here.  She has been invited many times by women of other denominations to be part of the worship programme at the college chapel and to lead the prayers.

However, one thing she longs for is to be a chalice administrator. But she cannot, for her sisters from the Church of Melanesia keep on reminding her that “women are not allowed to do this in Melanesia” and even though this is another country they say, “you are still not allowed”.

Ella prays that one day she will be asked to exercise her ‘other gifts’ instead of being allocated only domestic chores in the church.