Dn Shaila John Wesley

Shaila will be known to many in DIAKONIA World Federation through attending Regional and World Assemblies. 

Sadly, Shaila passed away suddenly on 14th September 2020 in Belgaum, India. Shaila had served as the Executive Secretary of the All India Women's Work in the Methodist Church in India. It was my  privilege to spend time with Shaila in Bangalore, and then in Chennai, and to meet other MCI Deaconesses. I wrote about my visit in 2014. Shaila is pictured below, fourth from the right. 

Deepest condolences to her family, and to the MCI Deaconesses. 

Romans 14:8 - If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Rest in eternal communion with God, good and faithful servant.

Her niece, Shruti, provided the following information. 

Shaila Kumara John Wesley

DOB: 12-1-1952; DOD: 14-09-2020

Born, Baptised and Schooled in Kolar, Karnataka. She was brought up in a good Christian family. She was a top student through her school and university. Shailamma was an ACC cadet and represented her school in sports and won many athletic medals at school and district level.

Shailamma lived and worked for many years in Kolar as Secretary in the accounts office. She sensed the call of God and decided to become a Deaconess. Her training was in Jabalpur. She worked as a teacher at Gulbarga, and was Principal at Belgaum,Yadgir, and Manager at BGHS and BBHS RR Nager school. She was Superintendent of Hosre Achievement. 

Shailamma was sociable and friendly and always had a smile. She was a very able person. She did a lot of developmental work. In recent years she has been a member of the Executive Council, and Secretary of the Deaconesss Conference. She also served faithfully as Executive Secretary of Women’s Work. 

The 40th day Memorial service honouring Shailamma's life will be held on 23rd Friday October 2020. Shailamma was a beacon of light, hope and strength to the family as well as many others in India and across the seass. 

Visit with Deaconesses (Methodist Church in India)

It was a pleasure to be able to meet with Deaconesses (Methodist Church in India) in Chennai on 1st August, and to learn more about their ministry - the joys and challenges. I was glad to host them for a dinner in the evening, and then to meet afterwards to discuss ministry projects. It was wonderful that Deaconess Shaila John Wesley, Executive Director, Council for Deaconesses Work, MCI, was able to travel from her work place in Karnataka to join us.

Rev Sandy Boyce and her husband Geoff, with Deaconesses (Methodist Church in India)

The day before, I had met with Dn Shaila John Wesley, Executive Secretary, Council of Deaconesses Work, Methodist Church in India (MCI) in Bangalore and saw some of the ministries offered by deaconesses, and then we travelled together to Chennai to meet with Deaconesses there.

Shaila provided me with plenty of reading material, including her report to the MCI General Conference in relation to the Council of Women’s Work, the compilation report from the 12 Deaconesses Conferences of MCI, and the IX All India Deaconesses Assembly in 2010.

The overwhelming impression for me is the faithfulness of the women who serve as Deaconesses. They have placements in schools, hostels, aged care, hospitals and other institutions. As well, some serve as lady evangelists, particularly in rural areas, and provide leadership to Sunday Schools and WSCS programs.

Many of the women do not receive regular payment, and I wonder about how they survive at all. One report said that they had not received pay for more than 10 years. Another said the average payment for deaconesses was as low as Rs 20,000 ($US40) - for a year! Some of the hostels for students from rural areas require fundraising and student sponsorship, and many struggle to survive, and some have ceased to be.

Each regional conference has a small number of deaconesses, with few (or in some cases, nil) new probationers in each conference.

The deaconesses seek opportunities to hold workshops, seminars and training courses for the local women, especially those in rural areas, where they can learn and utilise their learning.

Despite the difficult circumstances in which they exercise ministry, the deaconesses remained faithful to a vision of serving.

‘Women’s Work under the Deaconesses Ministry can be very meaningful and challenging to provide guidance to the society at large and particularly among Christians. Our ministry has great relevance, and need and ministry among children, youth and women has become more important and necessary than before”. (Mrs Anita Singh, Deaconess Secretary, Agra Regional Deaconesses Conference).

Some strategic planning for the future includes:
systematic ongoing training for the Deaconesses and other Co-workers to equip them with better and modern managerial skills;
training to equip Deaconesses and Co-workers to use resources which are available within the present structure and settings;
introducing a system of better accountability and more transparency;
sharing more information in the Churches and other agencies to create interest in people, and agencies to participate in the Deaconesses Work;
major renovation of buildings and infra-structure development.

Finally, the confidence and trust in God, despite the troubles and trials they face, weaves through the ministry of the deaconess in the MCI. They speak about their primary call and responsibility to spread the good news of Jesus Chrsist in and through their lives and service.