Role of Methodist Women in the church

 At the TRAC MW Conference last year there were much concern expressed by the local societies over reluctance by women to take up leadership appointments in MW. There is lack of support for MW activities and many quarters ranging from clergy to laymen are concerned about MW directions and its relevance was subtly questioned.  We are perceived to be not scratching where it itches and have no cutting edge ministries that meet women’s needs.

 Churches today have very strong Committees to run programmes and organize projects for the church.  Many are cell/small group structured. Against such a scenario it is not inconceivable to rate MW as an organization that seems “dispensable” unless it is able to identify a niche role for its ministry.

 Yet the truth is MW represents women’s interest and in the work of building and strengthening women to believe that their stories matter, their lives are significant and how they think has value: MW is very relevant! It has been said “You build a woman, you build her home and her community”

 From our experience over the years with women who gather to share and reflect on their own stories, we have discovered many situations where only another woman can empathize, relate and identify with what they are enduring. Many share about their dysfunctional family history. It is not uncommon to suffer from poor self-image, to possess hidden wounds, prejudices, insecurity, unforgiveness and so on. These issues colour our value systems and they do stumble our desires to serve as well as create a sense of inadequacy: hence a reluctance to take up leadership. Many of us need help to integrate our faith with the ground realities of daily practical living. Many of us need encouragement to face the wear and tear of daily life and be challenged to see it as the arena in which spiritual growth and transformation can take place.

  It is therefore pertinent that TRAC MW put in place a personal growth and development programme that addresses some of these issues to build leaders and provide emotional support for women.  

The goal of these workshops is therefore to raise women’s consciousness about themselves and in the process build their esteem and confidence. It aims to: 

1)   Encourage self knowledge (intrapersonal )

 2)   Strengthen her relationships in her home, her church, her community (interpersonal)       

3)   Plant seeds of consciousness about social responsibility, social injustice, poverty issues (metapersonal) 

Different people may engage in all 3 dimensions of Personal growth at different stages and in different ways. For our purpose the focus for 2006 will be on first stage i.e.; intrapersonal growth. To initiate this we are conducting 4 workshops at 4 different districts for 2006 using modules based on the theme “Strengthening women’s inner lives.” And “Let me be a woman”. Through these modules we hope that women can be lead to :

 a)   Self-knowledge and knowledge of my self as God knows me.

 b)   The goodness of God, of His providence and His divine goodness

 What is proposed is not a solution and not a one event “talk” so that we are seen to be doing something but a step towards realizing and experiencing God’s grace and love for each of us. Our role in TRAC MW, I believe is to begin this process together and help each other to stay with it. How it will develop and grow we do not know. We are however quite confident so long as we seek this journey individually and together the Lord in His grace will bear fruits in our personal lives and this will impact the ministry of TRAC MW.

  Mrs. Jenny Boey

TRAC-MW Vice-President

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