Upholding gender equality, metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church Joseph Mar Thoma in a circular on Saturday said from this year women too can attend the evening meetings held during the Maramon convention on the banks of River Pamba in Pathanamthitta.
To facilitate participation of women, the Church has advanced the time schedule of the evening meetings by 90 minutes. Till last year, the meetings started by 6.30pm and concluded by 8pm and women were not allowed to sit inside the temporary hall on the river bank. From this year, the meetings will begin by 5pm and conclude by 6.30pm.
Joseph Mar Thoma metropolitan said that there was no gender difference in Mar Thoma Church. "From this year, women and children can participate in the evening meetings of the convention," he said, adding that he arrived at the decision after holding talks with the bishops of the church. "We don't want to have a Sabarimala on Maramon sand bed," he added. He also said that the time schedule has been changed considering the convenience of women. He also said that it was a practice that women were not allowed for evening meetings as in olden days there were no proper lights and proper roads for them to return safely during odd hours.
"Now, the situation has changed and we have proper lighting and roads," he said. He also said that Mar Thoma Church respects women as equals and they are included in the administrative committee of the church.
Maramon convention, the biggest Christian convention in Asia, is set to begin on February 10.
"We are welcoming church's decision. Earlier women could be there till 6.30 PM. After that church didn’t allow us. Now they made changes in the meeting time. After 6.30pm no one will be there. Patriarchy decides everything and implementing it. It is not acceptable", said Mar Thoma church member Jolly Rajan.
"Earlier women were not allowed to enter after 6:30 pm and none could stop them entering there before 6:30pm. In the current scenario, women cannot be stopped or blocked if they seek police protection to enter break the ban. There is an issue of belief and religious practice involved in Sabarimala case. Whether it is right or wrong is an another topic of discussion. Church says, there will be law and order issue if women enter their after 6:30. What's wrong if women participate in night meetings", asked Mathews George, Mar Thoma Church Naveekaranavedi member.
