Women reverends speak

This week All Woman takes a quick peek into the lives of three female reverends. We explore their struggles, sacrifices and achievements in their field and dispel some of the myths associated with females in leadership position in the church.

Tara Therese Tyme

Church: Meadowbrook United in Kingston

Post: Graduate intern.

“I recently completed graduate studies and started my internship here on the first of September.”

Education: Did four year course at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTC) in Kingston. Graduated with a Diploma in Ministerial Studies and a Bachelors degree in Theology.

Entry into Ministry: At 13 – 15 years old I sensed a call for pastoring in my life but it was something I did not want to do. So after high school I went to college and then got a job teaching in St Mary (my parish of origin).

I loved teaching but while doing that I was also involved in the church as a youth advisor, Sunday school teacher and so on. Two persons told me that they thought God had more for me to do in the church but I wrestled with the issue of pastoring for a while.

Then on Feb 14, 1999 I was asked to fill in for a preacher. It was the first time I was preaching and afterwards many people came to me saying that they were impressed. Eventually I decided to resign my teaching job and go into full time ministry.

I started formal training at UTC in September 2000.

On the issue of women as reverends and leaders: It is not so much an issue in my church. I have grown up seeing women ministers. We were the first church to ordain women pastors in Jamaica. That was reverend Madge Saunders.

My mother is also a lay preacher but she did not influence my decision. It was a carefully thought out one. It was when I went to seminary that I realised that some females come up against serious struggles to be pastors. Since I started formal training I have not had any face to face confrontation with anyone about my being a female pastor. The closest thing was on a visit to the hospital one lady of the Apostolic faith had reservations about me being a pastor. I tried to get her to understand but to no avail.

Challenges: It lies in getting people to accept or see women as leaders. We have to rise above societal norms in a male dominated society within the church.

We have to make sure that as females in a ministry where males outnumber us we do not lose our femininity. So far though the men I have worked with have been very supportive and caring.

On marriage: hopes to do that someday

Future plans: I want to be a professor of theology. I hope to do a masters in Biblical studies and a doctorate in Theology.

The challenge lies in getting people to accept or see women as leaders.

Maxine Martin

Church: Unity of Jamaica, Kingston

Post: reverend

Education: Training and ordination at the church’s head office, Unity Village, Missouri, Kansas

Entry into Ministry: I have been ordained for four years but it was something I tried to avoid initially because I am a very private person. I have been a part of this church since 1972. I have held and served in many posts over the years such as teaching Sunday school classes, giving talks on Sundays and so on. Our Minister had resigned in the late 1990’s and we tried to get people from overseas to fill in but it was not working out. I had been doing a lot of the work at the same time and eventually I was asked. Initially I said no but eventually I relented.

That is when I went to do the training at our head office. It was for a few months because based on my years of experience I was exempted from some of the courses.

On the issue of women as reverends and leaders: I have not had any difficulties because of my gender. We emphasize God not gender. Plus we don’t serve a careless god who would leave his business to one gender alone. I am the second female pastor. The first was reverend Enid Bailey, who served for over fifteen years.

It is healing now that men are understanding that we are here to be helpmates not only at home but in the corporate and spiritual field. In our three branches there are six female reverends and one male reverend. So our church is very open – to us spirituality is not about gender. It is about God.

Challenges: These are everywhere and not just in Ministry – across society there is the issue of gender bias.

On Marriage: I think I was too critical and too choosy – looking for perfection without realising that perfection does not go where fault is. My being single was not a sacrifice for ministry it just happened. But it is not something I am sad about. I am quite comfortable with me and where I am at this point in my life.

Future plans: To grow from strength to strength and successfully raise her twelve year-old adopted daughter.

My being single was not a sacrifice for ministry, it just happened

Margaret Downer Messias

Church: Hope United, Kingston

Post: Associate Pastor

Education: Did four year course at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTC) in Kingston. Graduated with a Diploma in Ministerial Studies and a Bachelors degree in Theology.

“I am a trained teacher and a graduate of Shortwood Teachers College in Kingston.

Entry into Ministry: Before I left college I had gotten involved with Youth for Christ. I was also active at church as a deacon, youth leader and Sunday school teacher.

While teaching sometimes I would go to school early so that I could do church business. I got permission from the principal to use his fax machine so I would do other things until about 8:30 when I would start the government’s work. Eventually I resigned and went to study for ministry.

On the issue of women as reverends and leaders: We have been ordaining women ministers from in the 1970’s. We have quite a number of women pastors.

Perhaps that grew out of the deaconesses order that we used to have. It (gender relations) will always be an issue. But because our church has a non-discrimination policy it cannot be overt. Most of our leadership or at least half of our board are women.

One of my laments about the church is that too often the church lags behind and if we are not careful we can be a restrictive force. On the world scene though women have gone far and it is the same in Jamaica.

People sometimes ask – how do you do baptisms. I say that I have done over 12 already and it’s not a problem.

It is odd but your banker may be a woman or a nurse but when it comes to the spiritual realm that seems to be off limit to women.

Challenges: People say that the greatest opposition women have is other women. Some women say they relate better to male pastors but maybe some of them have a lack in their lives.

There is also the perception that the male minister is a catch but the woman minister is taboo. Maybe because she has position and authority – this intimidates some men.

On Marriage: getting married was one of the reasons why I did not want to become a Minister because people usually say that you don’t get married and you will be forever poor. But I have gotten married and I am very happy.

Future plans: would be happy if children came along. But if not I will still be a full woman. For me children do not define a woman. Too many women think that and have children as a way of defining themselves.

People say that the greatest opposition women have is other women.