Monday (yesterday) was a very big day. I was the "honored guest" at a meeting of the Fellowship of Ordained Clergy Women of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika -- about 13 women came, several from distances that required them to stay overnight and incur significant expense. I was, instead, the one who was honored by their presence. We spent the day sharing our stories of being called and of the ministry of clergy women in TZ. I was impressed by all of them -- so many of these women are young, young women -- many are single, and many have children to tend to. You have to truly understand the elaborate process these women (and men, too) must go through to get to become priests -- primary school is free, but there are costs for uniforms, for feeding the children, for shoes and books -- then, middle school and secondary school costs money to attend -- even the examination books that the children use cost money -- so often, they cannot take the exams and thus, cannot progress to another level. Many stop attending school at seventh grade -- because the fees and distance are too much -- and, there is still the belief that it is a waste of money to educate women after that age. These women worked for years in the church as teachers, leaders of parish programs, went to two years of Bible College -- did not actually finish high school, but made their way to Msalato Theological College for a diploma (certificate) in theology -- but cannot get a degree without finishing high school. The fees for attending Msalato are around $700 per year -- and that does not include anything beyond room, board and tuition -- and both the rooms and board are very meager. What was interesting to me was the often repeated story that their call was observed by someone else - often their parish priests -- who encouraged them to continue to study and persevere. I was also so inspired by how many of their husbands supported them leaving for years at a time -- to study -- while they stayed at home with the children (to not a little criticism and mockery by their neighbors -- there are few "Mr. Mom's" in TZ.) But even then, after being educated, you had to be invited to be ordained -- for some that meant waiting for many years -- while their families criticized and ridiculed them for spending all that time and money -- and now they were just waiting at home to be called to the ministry officially. Women were ordained here for the first time in 2001 -- one woman was ready and approved in 2000, but the Bishop asked her to wait until 2001 - because she would be "too lonely" as the only woman priest. So there were 5 ordained in 2001 -- and they went to a huge meeting of all the Anglican clergy in TZ at Dar es salaam -- the only women in 1700 men -- the other clergy could not stop taking pictures of them it was such an historic event! This Diocese (one of about 20 in the country) is the only one that ordains women.
During the meeting, I met Bishop Mdimi Mhogolo -- who came to greet me and the women priests. I found him to be a very impressive person -- you can feel the energy within him -- you can sense his deep love for his work and his people. The Bishop is called "baba askofu" -- father, bishop -- and he is indeed, a very fatherly (in the sense of loving and protecting) presence. The Bishop is known throughout the Communion to be extremely intelligent and insightful -- and he has made a huge impact in this Diocese and TZ. He is progressive -- and suffers because of it, being criticized by other Anglican bishops and those of other faiths as well. He is totally supportive of women priests -- he observed that they will bring a new kind of leadership to the church, which is much needed. He was quite frank with me about their needs -- the most significant need is financial support so that these women can finish their education and proceed with their ministry. During my conversation with him, I felt a strong call to myself to be a part of finding that kind of support back when I get back to Atlanta.
The problems the women face are not, to some extent, unlike those that American clergy women face -- and the problems are not unlike the problems priests who are lone practitioners, or in small and poor parishes face. The elders do not want to listen to these new priests, especially the younger women --older men try to manipulate them into situations that are not safe or healthy (this is also an experience that women in America face regularly), and their parishes do not want to give them the 30% of the collection - which is what they are supposed to receive as their pay -- clergy people make about $3000Tsh per month if they are lucky -- that's about $3 US -- and there are no funds for continuing education or pension. They are lonely, unsure of what to do in a lot of pastoral situations (not unlike many of us new clergy) -- and they are very few in number, separated geographically -- it is a lonely life for most of the clergy here, in terms of colleagues -- but especially for these young single women.
What is also impressive, however, and what we all seemed to share, was an experience of God working in our lives -- when times were toughest, when our ministry was threatened or challenged, when we were most discouraged or afraid -- all of us told of miraculous experiences that changed our lives and gave us the will and the strength to go on. We all could say, "Bwana asifiwe" -- praise the Lord, for the direct working out of God's plans in our lives.
Speaking of pensions, our Diocese is participating in a priest pension program -- by buying a cow for a retiring priest. Many priests have "shambas" - farms - which have been in their family for generations, or which they are slowly purchasing over time. The provision of a cow means that they will have milk in their retirement -- which they can use or sell -- buy some chickens, then, etc. (By the way, I have been awakened both here an in the city by roosters that seem to crow all day -- and a lovely moo cow, that sings me to sleep each night....right in the city, as well as here in the country at Mslato).
Now I am at Msalato Theological College -- a beautiful campus outside of Dodoma. I have already attended a wonderful welcoming meal with staff and students, have sat in on two classes, attended chapel and will eat with some of the professors and others tonight. Tomorrow I take a group for a field visit to the psychiatric hospital in town -- the priest from Atlanta who was teaching this course has to leave tomorrow because he has had a death in the family-- so I am "pinch hitting" as the instructor. Thanks be to God for my degree in psychology so long ago and my time working as a volunteer in a state hospital in college! God places us where we might be helpful -- I keep praying that I will just get out of the way and let God do it!
Mungu akubariki, nduga yangu (God bless you, my brothers and sisters)
Pat
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