Mizoram to get its first woman pastor in March

For the first time, a woman is to be ordained as a pastor in the state of Mizoram.

The Baptist Church of Mizoram has approved the ordination of an eminent woman theologian, Dr R L Hnuni, an Old Testament scholar and Principal of Academy of Integrated Christian Studies in Aizawl.

Interestingly, although Dr Hnuni will be ordained as a pastor, she will not have the responsibility of a parish priest, according to the executive committee of the Baptist Church of Mizoram which is the second largest denomination in the state.

"Hnuni will be ordained on March 11 at the Assembly of the Baptist Church of Mizoram, the highest decision-maker of the church in Lunglei after which she would have the title of reverend and become a church minister," a church leader was quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI), as saying.

But the prominent theologian might not be given the task of maintaining an independent pastoral of her own like her male counterparts, he adds.

The Mizoram Synod of the Presbyterian Church of India, the largest church denomination in the state also is yet to agree to ordination of women as priests and church elders.

The Women Ministry of Mizoram Presbyterian Church recently had reiterated its stand for women ordination by passing a resolution that demanded pastoral posts for women.

"It is high time that the Presbyterian Church of India ordain qualified women church workers as pastors and ministers," the Assembly's resolution said.

The resolution is to be put forward to the executive committee of Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod.

Christianity has been a dominant religion in Mizoram since 1894. However, no woman till date has been ordained to the post of pastor in any church in the hill state.