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The aim of the program is to
open opportunities for women to take part in decision making processes
in the Church and society. Workshops are held for leaders at all levels
to raise awareness on the role of women in accordance to the Word of
God. The anticipation is to see better participation of lay-women
equipped adequately to be involved in the leadership of the Church and
that more women are being called for ordination to serve the Church as
pastors.
Nuer woman
speaking out in West Gambela Bethel Synod
Ordination
of 56 new pastors,
2 of them women in Ijaji
In February
there was big celebration in Central Gibe Synod when they welcomed 56
new pastors for service. Among then were two women. EECMY President, Kes
Itefa had come to conduct the the ordination ceremony, the General
Secretary Kes Wakseyoum to lead the service and Kes Yonas to preach. The
Synod has now 142 pastors and 175,000 members all together with about
90,000 communicant members. It has 143 congregations, 63 preaching
places, 109 evangelists and 26,000 volunteers, who are as usual doing
most of the work.
The two women pastors with the General
Secretary in the middle
A week
preceding the ordination two courses took place in Ijaji. One of them
was for the pastor candidates and the other was a workshop for the synod
leaders at all levels. The last course was arranged by the Women's
Ministry Coordinating Office of the EECMY and the teachers were Ms.
Chaltu Tesfa, p/coordinator of the office, and Mrs. Tseganesh Ayale, the
Women Secretary of the evangelical fellowship in Ethiopia. It was part
of the project "Engendering and Promoting Leadership. As a result of
this project, the number of ordained women reached 12 in March 2008.
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Working against Harmful Traditional
Practices
According to Ethiopian law
Harmful Traditional practices are forbidden. However, the awareness
about the harmfulness of the practices is low. The Church units and the
respective Congregations are trying to do its part to inform the
society, aiming at eradicating harmful traditional practices and
violence against women and children. This is done through the women
committees in the congregations and women secretaries in the synods.
Mursi woman
in Jinka
Spinning
woman in Bahar Dar
Recognizing that God has
given responsibilities and opportunities to all mankind, women and
men alike, and that Christian teaching is based on love, equity,
mutual respect and partnership the EECMY Women’s Ministry commits
itself to continue its service.
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