Indian Christian Women Pioneers & Leaders Revealed - An Exploration of Overlooked Women Voices In Socio-Cultural & Religious Framework

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The present book is about the contribution and role of women leaders in the growth and development of Indian Churches in general and Assemblies of God Church in particular. The author argues that though women constitute the major precinct in the Assemblies of God Church and are actively involved in all Church related activities and developments; their contributions are taken lightly by the male historians. Their roles, functions and contributions are not recorded or recognized sufficiently in the historical records and writings of the Churches.

The author did an extensive research and brought out women pioneers and leaders who played a pivotal role in the growth of the Indian Churches.

The author proposed some of the steps to be undertaken for a leadership development programme for women that will empower women's leadership in the Church and Society.

This book is an attempt to pursue the understanding of humanity, in the conceptual level, grounded in the Christian understanding of Christ. Selecting Schleiermacher and Panikkar, is an intention to engage in a cross-cultural interaction with a concern to bring out a better understanding of humanity for our time.

Dr. Clara Mathew Shiju is a member of Christian Evangelistic Assemblies. She hails from Kannur district in Kerala. Her theological journey started in the year 1992. She did Bachelor of Theology from Madras Theological College under Senate of Serampore College (University), Bachelor of Divinity from Union Biblical Seminary/New Theological College under Senate of Serampore College (University), Master of Divinity from Gospel For Asia Biblical Seminary (now known as Believers Church Seminary), and Doctor of Ministry from Senate of Serampore College (University).

She served as lecturer in Bible College of Ministries, Visakhapatnam; Doon Bible College and New Theological College, Dehradun. Her area of interest is Christian Ministry and Church History.

I am delighted to introduce the book entitled Indian Christian Women Pioneers and Leaders Revealed written by Clara Shiju Mathew as this work is a genuine exploration of overlooked women voices in a particular socio-cultural and religious framework. This is an upgraded version of her D. Min thesis entitled "A Wholistic Leadership Development Programme for Women in the Assemblies of God in Kannur District, Kerala". I encourage this publication mainly because of its originality and strong data presented in the work. Her suggestions are indeed helpful in promoting a possible ecclesiology in our context. The main suggestions are:

1. Theological trainings in an intentional manner (not only giving training, but also engaging them in church related activities, including leadership).

2. Adequate leadership roles such as Sunday school superintendent, women fellowship office bearers, part of decision making bodies, pastors and Superintendents etc.

3. Women empowerment/awareness programmes.

4. Exposure programmes.

1.1. Statement of the Problem

Women consist of an equal or a larger grouping within the Assemblies of God (henceforth AG Church) in Kannur district in Kerala, India. Yet, they do not have a proper and proportional level of involvement in ministry and in leadership roles or positions in the church. This I believe is due to a patriarchal and kyriarchal mindset in the reading of the Bible and also due to an inadequate development and promotional programs for women to enter into and rise up in the Christian ministry in the AG church.

Therefore, this book attempts to promote and evolve a wholistic leadership development programme for women to enter into Christian ministry in the AG church in general and Kannur district in particular.

1.2. Elaboration of the Problem

The Pentecostal and Charismatic movements have made remarkable in roads and as a result impacted Indian Christian circles for the last hundred years or so. In the rise and development of these movements, women too played significant parts. But their roles, functions and contributions are not recorded or recognized sufficiently in the historical records and writings of the churches or these movements. Their roles and positions are mostly seen as pastors' wives, wandering charismatics/evangelists, Sunday school teachers or leaders of the women wing of the church.