Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Nazarene Women in Leadership unites women leaders in Papua District

Papua, Indonesia: On 17 March 2024, Nazarene Women in Leadership Papua District held its inaugural fellowship, attended by 73 women from 7 local churches. Papua District organized this gathering. Rev. Asnat Mangi – Sealands Field Nazarene Women in Leadership Coordinator, was the guest speaker.

Rev. Asnat Mangi shared about the role and calling of women in ministry from Genesis 1:28, “Equal helper,” which comes from the original Hebrew and means “Ezer kenegdo,” which is interpreted as Co-Warrior or Military Aid. She shared and encouraged women to be equal helpers in ministry, to discover God’s calling for themselves, not only to support and help the call of their husbands or partners, and to walk and work together side by side with men in ministry.

During the gathering, an election was also held for the Nazarene in Leadership organization for the Papua district, inviting women delegates from local churches to choose their women leaders.

Mrs. Christa Vanessa Urbinas was elected president, Mrs. Mimik was elected secretary, and Mrs. Sherly Jeti was elected treasurer. It is hoped that the formation of a women’s ministry organization in leadership in the Papua district will further develop women’s movement and ministry in the region.

All the participants were inspired to find and hear God’s voice for a call to ministry. One woman in the gathering was a new believer in Jesus and was still wearing her Islamic clothing. Rev. Asnat Mangi is grateful for this event. She hopes this activity can strengthen God’s work in every woman in the Papua District and throughout Indonesia.

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Theology of Women in Ministry

SOURCE: Church of the Nazarene Manual, 2017-2021 [para. 501, pp. 192]

The Church of the Nazarene supports the right of women to use their God-given spiritual gifts within the church and affirms the historic right of women to be elected and appointed to places of leadership within the Church of the Nazarene, including the offices of both elder and deacon.

The purpose of Christ’s redemptive work is to set God’s creation free from the curse of the Fall. Those who are “in Christ” are new creations
(2 Corinthians 5:17). In this redemptive community, no human being is to be regarded as inferior on the basis of social status, race, or gender (Galatians 3:26-28).

Acknowledging the apparent paradox created by Paul’s instruction to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:11-12) and to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:33-34), we believe interpreting these passages as limiting the role of women in ministry presents serious conflicts with specific passages of scripture that commend female participation in spiritual leadership roles (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17-18; 21:8-9; Romans 16:1, 3, 7; Philippians 4:2-3), and violates the spirit and practice of the Wesleyan-holiness tradition. Finally, it is incompatible with the character of God presented throughout Scripture, especially as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Lynne Bollinger

COORDINATOR

Aggie Muaror

Melanesia / South Pacific

Inocencia Piliin

Philippines / Micronesia

Jenna Stout

Australia / New Zealand

Tha Zin Hlaing

Southeast Asia

Asnath Mangi

Sealands

THRIVING TOGETHER

Stories of Women Serving in Ministries Across the Asia-Pacific Region

Nazarene Women in Leadership from Asia-Pacific Nazarene on Vimeo.

Nazarene Women in Leadership Ministries is excited to share 12 unique stories of women serving in various roles around the region. Be inspired by their stories of calling, obedience, and how they are thriving in the place where God put them to serve.