‘Being a woman has never affected my work’

First woman chairperson of SBCZ deacon council shares her experience

Y Merina Chishi
Dimapur | February 6

As more Naga women take on leadership roles in various fields, the church too is slowly opening its doors by empowering women and breaking down gender barriers.

Among the many Naga women who have pushed the boundaries is Kalito Hokishe Kiho, the first woman to be elected chairperson of a deacon council in January 2020 and reelected again this year by the Sumi Baptist Church Zunheboto (SBCZ).

Her appointment is seen as a great leap forward for women church workers across Nagaland. But Kalito is not basking in the glory of being the first woman to attain that position.

Her thoughts are centred on the tasks and challenges that have come with the job. She says, “The responsibilities placed upon me are very challenging both mentally and physically. So I try not to get diverted by other things.”

While many churches are still not very inclusive in their approach towards women leadership, Kalito has received maximum support from her male counterparts. She had been a deaconess since 2018 prior to her appointment as the chairperson. Kalito says she went into the selection board meeting with a male nomination in mind but to her surprise, her name was proposed by the men.

She was then elected unanimously as the first woman chairperson of the Deacon Council in the SBCZ's 79 year old history. But her appointment was ‘Being a woman has never affected my work’ First woman chairperson of SBCZ deacon council shares her experience not free from criticism.

While she received many positive feedbacks, she was also trolled on some social media platforms.

Many questioned the capabilities of a woman in shouldering the humongous task. There were also debates about whether a woman should be allowed to hold such a strategic position in the church.

But Kalito was oblivious to these criticisms. “I have experienced bad comments, which I think is anticipated. But with God's grace I have and I will survive,” she asserts.

In spite of years of experience working in the church in various capacities, being a deacon council chairperson is a totally different challenge and sometimes becomes overwhelming for her. “It is a very big church with so many programmes throughout the year. Plus the financial budget is massive which requires my approval and consent for the smallest of things,” she says.

It also requires a lot of traveling and owing to the bad road conditions, it can get physically exhausting. But in spite of all this, she puts 100 percent into her job and adds, “Being a woman has never affected my work.”

Kalito, who is also an associate professor in political science, highlights the need for inclusion of more women in strategic positions in the church. “We need to move away from the supportive roles,” and calls for the church to be more open and accommodative. She also believes that women are vital for the growth of the church and that they must walk together with men in order to strengthen the church.

However, she said that changes can come about only if women come out of their comfort zones. “Education and knowledge is an important tool for women to march ahead, without which women cannot penetrate into any organisation.”

With one year into her job, Kalito can be described as a woman of strength and perseverance. She has taken on her leadership roles with much sincerity and hard work. She hopes to be a beacon for other women not just in the church but every other field.

“Society cannot move on one leg. Our mindset must be open and then only we can bring change,” Kalito says.