What do we expect of leaders in our churches and our societies? What does it mean to be a leader in today's changing world? These were among the questions addressed by participants in the fifth WARC workshop on gender awareness and leadership development, which was held at the end of March in Lusaka, Zambia.

Gender workshop in Zambia

Chandra Budhu, the workshop facilitator, encouraged the participants to look at the changing needs, requirements, and characteristics of leadership, and to reflect on leaders who have inspired them or who have played a significant role in the history of their nations. Leadership, the group recognized, is shaped by a person's spirituality, vision, sense of mission, values and beliefs. It requires self-understanding, a commitment to justice and a sense of depending on other people.

The 25 participants, who came from WARC member churches in English-speaking African countries, acknowledged that women have been largely excluded from leadership in their countries. Within their churches too, there is a glass ceiling which excludes women from equal partnership in God's mission. This glass ceiling in church and society is also a major barrier to women's values which affirm compassion, caring, cooperation, economic justice, diversity, and respect for human rights.

Cutting a cake together

Chandra Budhu brought her adult education skills to the workshop. Participants were encouraged to bring themselves, their churches, families, communities and nations to the discussions. They felt that their beliefs, experiences and ideas were valued and shared in leadership responsibilities for the meeting.

Jan Berry, an observer from the United Reformed Church in the UK, led a session on creative worship and liturgy. Bishop Albert Bowa of the United Church of Zambia demonstrated an outstanding understanding of gender issues and a real commitment to advance the partnership of women and men in church and society and to model leadership which promotes respect for people and encourages participation.

Solidarity across continents

The workshop was hosted by the United Church of Zambia, which collaborated closely on the local arrangements with the Reformed Church in Zambia. The local organizing committee ensured that everyone got a taste of Zambia. Sharing with our host community included worship in local churches; dinners hosted by families, churches and the World Day of Prayer; tea hosted by church groups and schools; a visit to a church project; and an African cultural evening. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to our two member churches for their careful work and generous hospitality.

The 25 participants came from Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I represented the WARC Department of partnership of women and men, together with the moderator of the department, Olivia Masih White.

Statement from the workshop

Workshop participants

We noted that some member churches have structures which hinder the partnership of women and men. We appeal to these churches to take positive steps to address issues which create a barrier between women and men.
Whereas some member churches have taken the ordination of women and recognition of their ministry seriously, others have made little or no effort to work towards the goal of the inclusion of women in the ministry of word and sacrament. We appeal to such churches to think positively of ways they can implement this, as well as support the partnership of women and men in church and society.
Recognizing that only a few churches have programmes that deal with HIV/Aids, which has become one of the most life-threatening issues today, we call on churches to deal with this issue and to make it a priority. The church must provide pastoral care and discourage the stigmatization of our brothers and sisters who are desperately trying to cope with this pandemic.
Churches should identify key trainers that can train others in the area of gender awareness and leadership development.
We are committed to national and regional meetings every two years. We hereby commit ourselves to networking with each other.
We are seeking the support of WARC and SAARC in the follow-up of the workshop. This is very important in sustaining the work which has begun, for we need to be nurtured until we are stronger. We recommend that a follow-up workshop be held in Nigeria in 2002.