Women’s role studied at Pacific assembly

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 6

Women’s role studied at Pacific assembly

With the changing role of women in the world the recent first meeting of the Pacific Ecumenical Assembly of Women, in Suva, had a great deal to contribute, according to Mrs Kathleen Davies who attended as a delegate from New Zealand.

The theme of the conference was "God’s Purpose for Women of the Pacific,” and covered such aspects as greater fellowship between women of the world, women’s role in the home, God’s purpose for youth in the Pacific, and the subject of living for the service of others.

Mrs Davies said she had been particularly impressed with the thoughtfulness and awareness of many Asian women as demonstrated in the opening remarks in the conference paper, which are as follows:

“At this age of outer space, automation and mechanisation, we women of the Pacific have a lot to learn and a lot to share with the women of other continents of the world. We are like them in many ways; at the same time differ in many aspects of our lives of which we are thankful and proud. “How uninteresting and not challenging it would be if we were all the same; life would be monotonous and unattractive. God's wisdom in creating us to be the same in basic needs yet different in complexion, environment, and approach to life is a fact of life which we accept and respect with awe and wonder." COMMUNITY TASK “if we believe that God has a purpose for us. He surely calls us for the task in the development of the community, because the members of the community are people. They are people of different gifts yet have the same basic needs; they are people who need leadership, trust, and security and our unconditional love.

“So, in order to fully see God’s purpose for us women of the Pacific, we have to see it in relation to our responsibilities to our neighbours; to our community.” Mrs Davies said many of the practical details of these ideas were discussed at the assembly, and interesting ways of tackling the problems of greater fellowship were put forward.

Begin a good neighbour for example, involved the business of sharing tasks, respecting the differences between individuals,, being sensitive to the needs of others, providing hospitality, and i giving some community service when needed. RESPONSIBILITIES Being a good wife and mother involved accepting the responsibility of running a home, respecting the guardianship of children, and respecting the husband as mate and provider. Practical ways of looking after the mate and provider were put forward and included things like cooking him good food, being interested in what he is doing, sharing conversations about work and family, being a good listener, making his home attractive, having fun together, supporting him, loving him, and accepting him as he is. On the guardianship of

children it was important to help them reach maturity which meant they became people capable of perceiving the needs of others and reacting positively at the right time, as well as developing the capacities to live together in marriage, raise children, and provide a healthy environment.

In discussion, emphasis was placed on the need to meet changes in order to grow and develop and this involved the sharing of experiences, thus finding a sense of identity as the individual’s place was perceived in relation to others.

Mrs Davies said that resolutions put forward at the assembly included the setting up of different island groups to form national councils of Churches, the encouragement

of inter-church projects for the encouragement of youth and the updating of youth programmes, programmes to i facilitate and improve income plans for those in need, to provide greater stability and dignity to family life and the setting up of a department of co-operation between men and women to assist family life, community living and worship, seeking specialised help if necessary.