The 91st Conference of the Mizoram Synod, Presbyterian Church's highest decision making body, today rejected the proposal to ordain women theologians.
The Synod conference, held at the local Presbyterian church of Mission Vengthlang locality since Tuesday deliberated on different agenda including the issue of ordination of women theologians.
The decision came even as the 'Kohhran Hmechhia' or the Women Ministry of the Presbyterian Church made long-standing demand to ordain women theologians.
After a long deliberation, majority of the delegates of the Synod conference opined that even if the delegates agree to the ordination of women, the whole Mizo society might not be ready to accept women theologians and priests.
More than 40 years ago, the Mizoram Synod had rejected the ordination of Saptawni, the first woman ever to be elected by the church members as church elder and no woman have ever been elected as church elder since then.
The Baptist Church of Mizoram, the second largest church in the state next only to the Presbyterian Church has already agreed to ordain women theologians and Dr R. L. Hnuni, then Principal of the Academy of Integrated Christian Studies in Aizawl, was ordained in 2012.
Hnuni, however, did not have her own pastoral till her pension.
The Baptist Church ordained and has a number of women as church elders while the Presbyterian Church never even came near to ordain women till date.
