A group of female theologians from different churches in Pakistan have gathered to discuss equal opportunities for men and women to participate in mission and witness. The national consultation on “Women Doing Theology” brought together 33 female theologians from a range of Christian groups, including the Church of Pakistan, last week in Lahore. Addressing the question “what it means by ‘doing theology in Asian Context, especially in Pakistan,’ the participants said that “men and women are equals before God, both bearing the image of God.”
The continued: “God calls upon both men and women to fulfil the roles and responsibilities specially designed for them. However, in all spheres of Asian society, women are being dominated and de-womanised. In the Church and society women are being treated with bias”.
The participants challenged the gender based discrimination in the church and society, and said that “biblical and theological exegesis often grant men fuller participation than women in the life of the church [and] restricts the role of women to inferior levels.”
