Asian Australian women in ministry and mission: Contributions, experiences, inequalities, and futures

Australian church and society are changing. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that, for the year ending 30 June 2019, “Over 7.5 million migrants lived in Australia. 29.7% of Australia’s population were born overseas. Australia’s population increased by 239,000 people due to net overseas migration in the year ending 30 June 2019.”
While people from the United Kingdom continue to be the largest group migrating to Australia, the second-largest group is Chinese and the third-largest Indian. Migration from China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka occupy six of the ten largest groups migrating to Australia in 2019. When one looks at Australia’s top twenty countries of birth, half of these are in Asia.1
47% of Australians born overseas say they are Christian. Australian church life and ethnic diversity are rapidly changing consequently. But few studies have been conducted looking at the contributions and experiences of Asian Australian Christians in the areas of local church ministry and overseas missions. This study seeks to contribute to this research area by examining the experiences and contributions of Asian Australian women in ministry and mission, including their experiences of inequality, racism, sexism, vulnerability, and stereotypes. Examining National Church Life Survey (NCLS) 2016 data and in-depth surveys and interviews, this study considers these Asian Australian women’s contributions and experiences. It proposes ways of dealing with the sexism, racism, and inequalities these women face. Releasing these women fully to ministry and mission enriches the church and its mission.