GIRL PREACHER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1931, Page 13

GIRL PREACHER

MELBOURNE "TEST CASE"

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, Ist October. Great interest was aroused in Melbourne last Sunday when it was announced that Miss Doreen Kita Allen, the girl preacher, would conduct the service at Wesley Church,' and when she mounted the pulpit she faced a highly critical congregation, and won its confidence by her charm and sincerity. _ "I feel that 1 am in a. somewhat awkward position," she said. "Apparently I am what you might call a test case on this thing. I did not seek it, but there it is. Still, I have very decided views about women's place in the Church. There is a great deal of prejudice against us, I know. I think that it is slowly being broken down. Women, I feel sure, could play a big part if they were admitted to the ministry. There are special features or' the work that they could handle much better than men. Even so, I do think that the Church should bo very careful about the women it does admit. One unsuitable woman, were she ordained, could do incalculable harm. We don't want,to develop our women ministers along the lines of some of the cranks in America. You must remember,- though, that it is not wise to judge all women by one woman. Somelimes men who have ho business in the ministry are admitted." "■ -■ ■■. ■ -When asked whether she ihought women who had bcpii ordained should be allowed to marry, Miss Alien said: "That is tho burning question. Methodist practice is all against a celebate ministry, but the problem they arc trying to solve is what would happen it' a woman minister "married a layman. T suppose IJiavc no right.-to. suggest it, but I think-women ministers would get along ill right even if" they did marry lay inert. .'Of''course) tho iiiarriago of two ordained , people would be ideal. That would- give the church two ministers for the price of one. An arrangement like that should appeal to the economists." ...■■.-■• Miss Allen expressed herself as being wholeheartedly one of the younger generation. She could not agree that young people wero frivolous and uninterested in the things that mattered. That was the idea the older generation always had about the generation that was coming along. She said she would continue her studies so as to fit herself for the ministry, and she hopes that tho day will come when she will be admitted: Her sermon certainly impressed the congregation at Wesley Church on Sunday night.