Get to Know the Gender Department
The Gender Department addresses the development and concerns of both women and men, in response to the challenges that arise between them. The department integrates all units to ensure that the entire community is engaged and working together to foster inclusive and sustainable development both within and beyond the Diocese.
Because of the division of gender roles and responsibilities, the department is structured into two sub-units to help achieve its stated goals. To ensure services are effectively delivered and easily accessible to those in need, the department works directly with all related units, thereby enhancing the success of its mission.
Responsibilities of the Gender Department
Formulate and oversee the implementation of policies concerning women and men.
Coordinate women’s prayer conferences at the diocesan level.
Organize meetings, seminars, workshops, and conferences for both women and men to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
Ensure the rights of women, men, youth, and children are upheld, and that both genders are represented fairly in all decision-making forums.
Provide teaching and education to the community against child marriage, harmful cultural practices, manual labor exploitation, and emphasize family responsibility.
Encourage and ensure that men fulfill their God-given responsibilities of working and caring for their families in line with Scripture.
Receive, organize, and establish procedures for global prayer requests starting from the parish level.
Units of the Gender Department
Introduction
The Women’s Unit was established in 1973 when the Northern Central Diocese was formed out of the Northern Diocese. At that time, it was known as the “Union of Christian Women” (UWW) of the Arusha Regional Synod.
Women make up the largest group in the Church, accounting for more than 50% of all members. Despite their significant contribution, women continue to face challenges arising from a patriarchal system that is deeply rooted in society through harmful traditions. Among these challenges is the outdated belief that “a woman’s place is only in the kitchen or at home.”
The Women’s Unit continues to work tirelessly to raise awareness and educate both women and society in order to overcome these misconceptions, which hinder the progress of women. The overall goal is to empower both the Church and society to recognize the critical role of women in community and church development.
Main Objectives of the Women’s Unit
The activities of the Women’s Unit focus on empowering women in faith, with the Word of God as the foundation. Women are also equipped with leadership skills and trained to initiate and manage income-generating activities to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.
Responsibilities of the Women’s Unit
Organizing, coordinating, and conducting various seminars to empower women with knowledge and skills in different areas.
Providing Bible study, promoting evangelism, and strengthening the ministry of prayer.
Ensuring that women’s rights are upheld and that women are adequately represented in all decision-making meetings.
Encouraging women to live by the example of women of the Bible.
Promoting entrepreneurship, training women in small businesses, and organizing exhibitions for women’s handicrafts.
Supporting agriculture, including the cultivation of various crops, vegetable gardens, and fruit trees.
Promoting environmental care, where women receive training and work with partners to address the challenges of climate change.
Encouraging livestock keeping, including poultry, dairy goats, and dairy cows.
Teaching proper nutrition for children, women, the elderly, the sick, and the community at large, with an emphasis on traditional and natural foods.
Promoting childcare and proper upbringing based on the Word of God: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Promoting women’s health awareness, including testing, self-care, and taking preventive action against conditions such as HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer.
Introduction
The Men’s Unit is responsible for addressing the development and all matters related to men within the Diocese. It plays a key role in guiding men in their spiritual, family, and community responsibilities, ensuring they contribute positively to the growth of the Church and society at large.
Responsibilities of the Men’s Unit
Preparing and overseeing the implementation of policies concerning men in all parishes within the Diocese.
Praying for the Church and families.
Protecting and caring for families.
Identifying and developing the various talents of men and enabling them to use these gifts effectively to strengthen families, the Church, and the Nation as a whole.
Strengthening and promoting the work of the Gospel, starting at the family level.
Opposing harmful traditions that negatively affect men and women spiritually, psychologically, socially, and physically.
Purpose of the Youth Unit
The purpose of the Youth Unit is to help young people receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to nurture them physically, mentally, and spiritually within the parishes through the following:
Worship services
Bible-based seminars
Conferences and discussions on the Word of God
Involving youth in mission work within and outside the church
Improving the lives of young people by providing:
Entrepreneurship seminars and opportunities to start small income-generating projects
Training in culture, politics, and health education
Opportunities to participate in church activities, personal growth, community development, and national development
Guidance in problem-solving skills
Plans of the Youth Unit
Mobilize parishes, institutions/departments, and voluntary associations to support the KKKT/Northern Central Diocese Youth Policy.
Spiritually uplift young people so they may become good Christians who confess and trust in the Lord Jesus.
Collect youth statistics, track their activities, and establish systems for information sharing.
Support youth in strengthening themselves within the informal employment sector.
Promote various sports and cultural activities among young people to nurture creativity and talent.
Introduction
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
Vision: Joyful people, living in peace, with the hope of inheriting eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Motto: Nurture and Good Morals
Mission: To reach all children with the Gospel, Education, and Care.
Mandate: To oversee the improvement and accessibility of holistic child services.
Objectives
To reach every child with the Word of God in truth and purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
To nurture and strengthen children for a fruitful life.
To provide guidance for children and their communities.
To offer both spiritual and general education for children.
To direct children to be lifelong learners, enabling them to be self-reliant and dependable.
To integrate the knowledge of God’s Word with general education (Proverbs 4:10).
To raise children in a system that values empathy, kindness, and service to others.
To help children improve their lives through small-scale projects.
Units within the Children’s Department
Sunday School
This is the primary unit within the church where children are prepared for holy worship and are taught by trained teachers through seminars and children-focused learning activities.
Kindergarten / Early Childhood Schools
These schools follow both government and church curricula, with the aim of strengthening children in their faith while providing foundational education.
Compassion
This program supports poor and vulnerable children through partnerships with local congregations. Currently, the Diocese has 17 child development centers under this program.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Our congregations provide special services for orphans and needy children, focusing on love, education, and counseling from dedicated guardians, mothers, and fathers.