Marking International Women’s day on Friday, I turned to our Northumbria Community liturgy Canaire – In celebration of women and gave thanks to God for the many women who have blessed my own and many others lives.
I read about how such a day was celebrated throughout the world and probably for the first, and possibly the last time, I found myself in agreement with President Putin of Russia. He marked International Women’s Day by congratulating Russian women, “You manage to do everything: both at work and at home and at the same time you remain beautiful, charismatic, charming, the centre of gravity for the whole family, uniting it with your love…..It is hard to imagine the history and development of our country without the contribution of the great Russian women.”
Last week I was privileged to share and work with some of the women who are leaders in our Northumbria Community and was blessed by who they are and the gifts they bring.
This morning I listened and was truly blessed by a brilliant exposition of Psalm 118 by one of the many gifted women in the church we belong to. Tomorrow I shall be with some amazing women pioneers and on Tuesday with another group of gifted women who are studying for the ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
At a historic UN Summit in 2015 the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were adopted by world leaders. Over the next 12 years countries are mobilising their efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. In relation to women, the goals include;
By 2030, ensuring that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
These are great goals that every nation should embrace.
They also contain a challenge to the church, for there still remains a failure to recognise fully the gifts of women. An issue that was brought home to me so forcibly this morning when I received a message from an incredibly gifted woman student who is having to jump through so many hoops, meet some unrealistic expectations and incur considerable debt in order to be formally recognised as a minister, when clearly she already is one! It’s one example among many of discrimination and inequality which damages people and robs the church of those called and gifted by God who happen to be women. As the Canaire liturgy declares, “It is not God who blocks the way of women. It is not God who robs us of their gift.”