First International Orthodox Women Conference held in London

OWM First International Women’s Conference is welcoming both men and women to attend – as each member of the Body affects the other – so it is vital, a necessity that each member supports and learn the need for the other – male and female. OWM also welcomes all ages to attend above the age of 18.

Why “OWM CONFERENCE”?

There is a great desire to meet the needs of the people of the Church and this desire is found in the role of women today across the globe, particularly in the West. A few questions, yet not exhaustive, must be asked to address such concerns:

• What is the role of women outside of the diaconate and Sunday school services?

• What is the purpose of their presence in the Eucharistic and other liturgical services?

• How do women identify their membership as a living and equal member of the Body of Christ, among cultural aversions and feelings of subservience among the opposite sex and members of the hierarchy?

There is an essential need across the globe to revive the rich Orthodox tradition in accordance with our modern world today without compromising or altering the faith. For Orthodoxy is dynamic and living; it is not a static entity and a mere point of reference to the past.

Abstract

The Orthodox Women’s Ministry (OWM) aims to launch its first international Orthodox conference. The conference’s main objective is to establish an understanding of the role of women from a historical, theological and practical perspective in our modern world.

There is a great desire to meet the needs of the people of the Church and this desire is found in the role of women today across the globe, particularly in the West. A few questions, yet not exhaustive, must be asked to address such concerns:

• What is the role of women outside of the diaconate and Sunday School services?

• What is the purpose of their presence in the Eucharistic service?

• How do women identify their membership as a living and equal member of the Body of Christ, among cultural aversions and hierarchal feelings of subservience towards them?

There is an essential need across the globe to revive the rich Orthodox tradition in accordance with our modern world today without compromising or altering the faith. For Orthodoxy is dynamic and living; it is not a static entity and a mere point of reference to the past.

The aim of the conference is to address the position of the Orthodox women in the Church today, and is not concerned with reviving the early Church tradition of the woman diaconate, although this topic may be addressed from a historical approach during the sessions. Throughout history, there are numerous examples of women who played a pivotal role in leadership, apostleship and witness to the faith and such lives are exemplary to our understanding of women’s role and the role in the ministry in the Church yesterday, today and tomorrow.

We are also not concerned at this time on the issues of neither women’s ordination nor women administrating any sacraments. While these matters are important and must be addressed in the future, our aim of the conference is how we can engage and encourage women leadership in the Church outside of ordination, and vivify the essentiality of women’s identity as crucial members of the Body of Christ in a practical manner. Thus, it is also important for the presence of men to support, encourage and be educated concerning the role of women; for without the presence of women in the Church, the Body would be incomplete (1 Cor 12:12-31).

Please support us with your prayers for the vision and mission of this ministry.

Source:

• http://orthodoxwm.blogspot.co.uk/

• http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/2015/07/30/first-international-orthodox-womens-conference-to-be-held-in-london/