The Flying Scotswoman

One of Britain's best known rail services has been rebranded. For the month of March, passengers travelling between Edinburgh and London will board The Flying Scotswoman. A visionary rail operator has taken this step to encourage more women to consider a career on the railways. To mark International Women's Day the southbound service at 5.40 yesterday was run by an all female crew.

International Women's Day aims to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality worldwide. The day serves as a reminder that although much progress has been made over the past century towards equality for women and girls there is still some way to travel.

Christian churches are sadly not in the forefront in the journey towards equality for women. It is clear from the New Testament that Jesus accepted women as equals. Luke names Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna as key members of a larger group of women who supported Jesus in his ministry. Women were the first witnesses to the resurrection and were sent to share the good news with the other disciples. Several women were among the leaders of the early church. Paul worked alongside Pricilla and Lydia to name but two. Despite all that the Christian community today continues to restrict the full participation of women in many areas of worship, work, and witness.

International Women's Day this year calls us, female or male, to be 'each for equal' and suggests that 'an equal world is an enabled world'. With those claims in mind, perhaps during Lent this year Christians might reflect on the possibility that where inequality for women persists 'disabled' churches are unlikely to be fully functioning in the way God intends.