Page 10 - link magazine

10 FOR WOMEN

Religion is rarely out of the Women with a vocation
headlines these days. Moslems
against Christians in Azerbaijan Elizabeth Wood meets Anne Thomas and Helen Drummond
or Lebanon, Catholics against
Protestants in Northern Ireland, a theology degree and later Catholics and the independent
Salmon Rushdie, the ordination worked as a secretary in an evangelicals have established
of women -the list is endless. The Anglican Church. I watched separate churches within the area,
overall impression is one of ministers at work and thought "1 and even within the United
conflict - not just between peoples can do that". Helen was already Churches there can be difficulties.
of different faiths but even among married and completed her "The Anglicans regard me as a
followers who are supposed to training while pregnant. She minister, not as a priest." Helen
be worshipping the same God. finished her college course on a says. "In the early days one
In West Swindon the Saturday and gave birth the woman steered clear of me
mainstream Churches agreed following Wednesday. "If you because she wasn't sure of the
even before the first houses were are called to the ministry you are idea of a woman acting as a priest.
built that they would work called. I don't regard myself as On the other hand there are
together closely in the new urban being in a special category of women in the congregation who
villages. The Ecumenical Parish humanity." value taking communion from a
of West Swindon and the Anne, was pursuing a career as woman."
Lydiards was formed and two a senior teacher of modern For Anne her work holds both
inter-denominational churches languages in a large school. "It satisfaction and frustration. "I
have been built, at Shaw and at sounds silly but I was doing the was the first Anglican woman in
Toothill. washing-up one day when I heard the south west to celebrate a
Among the full time staff of the a voice say 'I want you to be a marriage and I do enjoy marrying
parish are two women - Helen deaconess.' I didn't even know Anne Thomas and Helen Drummond people. But I experience
Drummond, a United Reformed what a deaconess was but I went including marrying, christening increasing frustration because my
Church Minister and Anne and talked to my vicar and I began and burial, but as a woman she is ministry lacks wholeness. It is so
Thomas, an Anglican Deacon. I training 15 months later. I trained unable to be ordained as a priest painful to be arbitrarily cut off
asked them what had made them for three years at the Canterbury and therefore cannot celebrate from one area."
train for the ministry in the first School of Ministry and was communion. But Anne feels that the work of
place. ordained as a deacon in 1983." Anglican, Methodists, Baptists a parish like West Swindon is of
When Helen was in her teens Anne explained that Deacon is and URC members working and great value. "The more the male
she was strongly influenced by a the first order of ministry in the worshipping together seem to be clergy and our congregation can
gifted preacher at her local church Anglican Church. She has the achieving the kind of unity that is experience women in ministry,
and she found her faith became title Reverend and can carry out unthinkable in other places, but the more likely the ordination of
interesting and dynamic. "I took most of the functions of a priest - at the same time it highlights the women to the priesthood
differences in thinking among becomes.
Christians particularly regarding "I am not militant. I try to make
"Aromatherapy puts the treat the ordination of women. It is my statement through the work I
significant that both the Roman do."
back into treatment
naturally" Under 5's Festival depends
on more help
CaCiSantly 'Best, A.I.T.'T.I.
Plans are being made to hold the The next meeting of the Under 5's
9lrotnatlwrapist 'TeC. 855266 - third annual Under 5's Festival in Forum takes place on Monday 12
June, but it may never happen February, 7.30p.m. in the Comm-
DIFFERENT DIETS unless more people come forward unity Suite, Link Centre.
to lend a hand.
Charlotte Riggs from Thames-
At the January meeting of the down Council's Landscape Depart-
FOR DIFFERENT DIETERS West Swindon Under 5's Forum, ment will be discussing the new
the twelve people attending agreed play and recreation area that is
another festival would be a good being planned for Shaw Ridge. See
Now there are different ways to slim with Cambridge,
idea. But concern was expressed page 22 for more information about
thanks to the new Cambridge Choices range of diets.
3bIjdOe
Call your Counsellor now. that the previous successes could an exhibition of the plans.
CHOICES
not be repeated unless more parents
Rebecca Clifforde (Westlea) on Swindon 873201. Anybody involved with pre-school
took on some responsibility for children is invited to attend.
organising the different events.
The Forum brings parents and
others working with pre-school Under 5s Quiz League
children together to discuss issues 'The Gauntlet Is thrown'
and problems related totheirneeds. "We the children of Oliver Tomkins
It also organises play workshops Under Fives, say that our parentsl
AL tt, A1, for children and their parents and committee/staff are more intelligent,
I
the June festival. know more about playgroups and
P1 . involved with under 5's," says committee/staff of any other group.
more nursery rhymes than the parents!
"The forum is for anybody
secretary Sheila Boswell. "The And we are prepared to back out
boast by producing a winning team
START group is not very formal and for the Under Fives Quiz League.
AT organising events like the Teddy That is, unless you can prove us
Bears Picnic and the fun day at
wrong!
CURTAIN DREAM Upper Shaw Farm is not very The idea for a Quiz League aimed at
JIT4f38 HAVELOCK STREET strenuous. Its been done before so people involved with under fives has
ET
we can draw on past experience.
been keenly received in West Swindon
SWINDON "This summer's festival depends and plans are being made to launch it.
on just a few more parents coming The Link is sponsoring a shield. All
TELEPHONE 513701 forward to help out. It's a good pre-school groups wanting to enter
should ring Martha Parry on 871212.
way of meeting other people."