| Description | 32 bound volumes of printed and indexed minutes of the annual Methodist Church in Ireland Conference: 1752-1819 1820-1837 1838-1851 1852-1861 1862-1869 1870-1877 1876-1880 1881-1886 1887-1891 1892-1897 1898-1902 1903-1906 1907-1910 1911-1915 1916-1920 1921-1925 1926-1930 1931-1935 1926-1940 1941-1945 1946-1950 1951-1955 1956-1960 1961-1965 1966-1969 1970-1973 1974-1977 1978-1982 1983-1987 1988-1992 1993-1997 1998 The minutes of Conference make numerous references to women. For example:
It was noted that 43 wives were to be provided for in the Irish mission, 'Twenty-eight are to be provided for out of the several contributions raised in Ireland for the support of Preachers' wives. Three out of the Mission Fund. The remaining twelve it is requested that the British Conference will provide for', 1800, pages 125-126. Reference is made to improper marriage practices, 'Every travelling Preacher who marries a woman who has not been twelve months in the Methodist Connexion, shall be suspended for a year', 1800, page 128. Reference is made to women's preaching and exhorting in public, 'It is the judgement of the Conference, that it is contrary both to Scripture and prudence that women should preach, or should exhort in public: and we direct the Superintendents to refuse a Society Ticket to any woman in the Methodist Connexion who preaches, or who exhorts in any public congregation, unless she entirely cease from so doing', 1802 , page 155. It was noted that, 'It has been observed, that the great difficulty in making provision for the Methodist Ministry, arises from the Preacher's families; it is therefore proposed that the wives and the children shall be stationed in the several Districts, in proportion to the number of Preachers on each District', 1814, page 340. Reference is made to 'the encouraging state' of the Ministers' Widows' Fund, 1891, page 36. Reference is made to Miss Houston's bequest 'available only for girls over eighteen years of age and under twenty-one', 1920, page 61. The minutes also include a list of Wesleyan deaconesses, wives of missionaries and Women's Auxiliary Workers on the Foreign Field with their station and their date of arrival, 1920, page 133. Reference is made to the Home Mission and Contingent Fund and thanks proffered 'To the Ladies of many congregations who, by appropriations from Sales of Work and other similar efforts, have greatly helped the Fund', 1945, page 53. Reference is made to women in the Methodist ministry and stated, 'That, in view of our understanding of the mind of Christ, and the equality of the sexes, women who wish to offer themselves for the Ministry of the Methodist Church in Ireland may do so under the same conditions as men in relation to candidature, training, probation, ordination, status, stationing, allowances and retirement except as otherwise directed by the Conference ... in order to fix a date for the implementation of the proposed legislation ... above, the General Purpose Board in consultation with the Mission Board and the Stipends and Allowances Board shall examine the implications of accepting women for the ministry and present any proposal to the Conference, 1975', 1974, page 41. It was noted that, 'That the condition of entry into our ministry be identical for men and women ... That the principle of itinerancy be applied equally, with the same responsibilities, privileges and opportunities ... That theological training and probation be the same for both sexes and that the Board of Governors of Edgehill College, Belfast, be requested to provide the necessary suitable accommodation ...That the conditions of release from normal stationing procedure be that same as those which now apply to men ... That married women probationers not available for stationing be directed to with draw from the ministry and that on any subsequent request for reinstatement cognisance be taken of their previous training and service ... That women ministers receive stipends, allowances and retirement grants, etc., and on an equality with and on the same conditions as those received by men ... That the Stipends and Allowances Board be directed to consider the conditions and circumstances in which women ministers shall receive Children's Allowances', 1975, page 39. |
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