I’m often asked why I do this work: promoting healthy complementarianism and the engagement of women in the Church. Many of my Christian friends think it would be better to focus on evangelism and discipleship. My non-Christian friends think I’m mad to simply advocate for engagement – while willingly abdicating equality with my brothers in title, status and power.

But we do this work because of Jesus. Because Jesus told a better story. He showed immense love and honour for the women He met, contradicting everything the world had to offer. Jesus noticed and engaged with invisible women. He travelled with, and was supported by women.

Jesus loves women. It feels like a strange thing to say out loud, especially to a room brimming with men. Of course, brothers, Jesus loves you too.

But for most of the course of history, the world has not loved women. The world has not honoured women. The world has not seen women. But Jesus does. Jesus loves women. And so, he ministered to women. He healed women. He honoured women. He spoke with women. He debated with women. He listened to women. He served alongside women. He welcomed women to minister to Him.

Jesus tells a better story for women than anything this world has to offer. And even while we, as the Presbyterian Church of NSW, seek to honour Jesus and grow His Kingdom as share the better story the gospel tells, we must also ensure that our structures and processes – our Trellis – tells this better story.

Deaconesses

When I speak to Presbyterians and mention that I am a “Deaconess” they almost always ask, “what’s that?” I had thought for long time that this was a PR problem – we just needed to amplify the profile. But the more we’ve studied The Code, we can see this is an institutionalised problem – as even our legislation does not fully embrace, or adequately acknowledge Deaconesses. Of course these kind of systemic issues take a long time to resolve – and the time is now. Together with representatives from M&M and PTC, we examined the regulations regarding Deaconesses in the Code. A significant number of the regulations are unclear and could be better articulated, and we believe that a clarification of language and process will better serve Deaconesses and the Presbyteries which oversee their ministry. We look forward to continuing our work with M&M and Christ College faculty to work to resolve some of these failures.

Ministry Workers

Our second project has been towards the development of a grant for women ministry workers. In our Committee’s work, we’ve seen there are few employment opportunities for women in the PCNSW. 1 or 2 day a week jobs are advertised, and left unfilled. But 1 or 2 days a week of paid work is financially unsustainable and few will consider relocating for just a few days work in this cost of living crisis – especially single women. Our women are incurring significant debts for their theological education, without any prospects of employment to pay it back. There are less than 40 women employed in local church ministry in NSW.

In view of the significant financial barriers churches face when seeking to employ women in ministry, we have established a Women in Ministry grant, to help fund the employment of women in gospel ministry as we live out God’s good design for men and women in the Church, and see the furthering of His Kingdom. The grant is funded through the Parish Development Fund (PDF) which exists to create a source of finance for the development of new congregations and the expansion of existing congregations. (PCNSW Code C4.07)

Once Grant Applications are considered and approved by the WMC & M&M; we will match up to 1 day per week of salary – up to the Deaconess Package - for up to 5 years, on a descending scale.

Our prayer is that this grant will allow us, as a Church, to move forward – recognising and supporting the contribution of women in gospel ministry not just with our words but also as we honour their work with financial return.