CSI Works Toward Gender-Equal Society

A participant at the Church of South India's Gender Conclave addresses the meeting. CSI

The Church of South India (CSI) has achieved another milestone in the journey towards a gender equal society as the church held a gender conclave at its center in Chennai last week as a part of the church's 70th anniversary celebrations.

About 66 participants, including the presidents of diocesan Women Fellowships, Women Fellowship secretaries and Men Fellowship secretaries from the CSI's 24 dioceses, took part in the meeting.

"Gender inequality is pervasive in our socio-cultural context and the Church has taken its role in breaking this cycle of inequality seriously; the responsibility to break this cycle of inequality is not on women alone but should be a task to be handled in partnership together as men and women; [and] we realise that as a church we need to work simultaneously at different levels to tackle gender inequality," said the CSI, according to ACNS.

"Tackling gender inequality can be achieved by changing the mindsets of people culturally and theologically, sending strong messages from our pulpits and making 'zero tolerance towards gender inequality' our official policy as a church," it added.

The conclave on gender equality was opened last month by Thomas K. Oomen, the moderator of the CSI.

He delivered a sermon on a biblical story from the book of Numbers chapter 27, where Zelophelad's daughters claim their property, as their right to remain in God's history. Reflecting on the story, Oomen affirmed the right of women to family property.

"[He] strongly affirmed that only the church can give leadership to bring gender equity in society," the CSI said.

"Only the church can give new hope and life for women and men partnering for gender equity. As the church brings the kingdom of God on earth, church becomes the source of gender equity, new life and new hope," it added.