Yesterday , Saturday 8th March, was International Women’s Day.

Acknowledged around the world, this is a day celebrating the achievements of women from all walks of life. Indeed, this day is an opportunity to value and encourage the role and contribution of women in our community.

And as we celebrate these contributions, I am drawn to that wonderful Aussie star, Cate Blanchett, who won an academy award last week for her role in the movie, Blue Jasmine.

During her acceptance speech, Cate criticized lingering prejudices that suggest films featuring women are somehow marginal.

“To those of us in the industry still foolishly clinging to the idea that films with women at the center are ‘niche’ experiences’. They are not.” Blanchett said as the crowd cheered. “Audiences want to see them, and in fact they earn money. The world is round people!”

The world is indeed round! And with this in mind, it is essential that we move beyond entrenched gender stereotypes to take seriously the Gospel imperative that “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”.

The Gospel says we are all free in Christ to reach our God-given potential. Moreover, Jesus’ approach to women was nothing short of revolutionary.

There are many gifted women in the church today and our next Moderator, Rev Myung Hwa Park, is an example. Indeed, the Uniting Church is greatly privileged to have women in significant leadership roles in local congregations, in presbyteries, in the synods and in the Assembly.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day let us give thanks to God for those wonderfully gifted women among us. And let us truly value those many women who God has raised up to lead and nurture the church!

John Barr