Issues of Gender Justice
In many countries there are cultural and/or religious traditions around marriage.
It is telling that the late Queen Elizabeth was the first
British monarch to marry the person of their choice, and as an adult.
However, girls in their early teens, all over the world,
are forced into marriages of convenience, usually to older men.
In the 21st century childhood, for this purpose, does not end at 12 or 14 or 16 as in former times.
As well, these traditions conflict with a view of marriage as the union of equals
and a modern sensibility that puts freedom of choice before family rules or convenience.
Religion and who makes the rules is the big issue about which we pray God’s mercy.
God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed,
it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1: 27, 31
A Mothers’ Union worker *Sarah, an ordained minister in a Diocese in Kenya,
works to prevent child marriage where possible.
She is notified if a marriage is likely to take place.
She tries to talk with the family and if the wedding cannot be prevented in this way,
they will find a discreet way to get the young girl to safety and into care.
Then the government will start working with the family. *Sarah’s identity is hidden for her safety.