Last seen by millions in BBC1’s immensely popular The Traitors, Rev Lisa Coupland is the face of a special video by international development charity Tearfund for International Women’s Day. #ThisPastorCan celebrates the achievements of women priests and pastors serving communities around the world.
The video features women pastors from as far afield as Kenya, Myanmar and the Philippines who speak about the words of wisdom that have inspired them and their most proud personal achievements.
Rev Lisa Coupland said: “It's wonderful that Tearfund is spotlighting women pastors! We often downplay our strengths, and I admit, I was initially hesitant to talk about my job as a priest on The Traitors. But this International Women's Day, I'm ready to shine – and I'm thrilled to join so many inspiring women in doing so.”
Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the first black woman to become a Church of England Bishop is also taking part. She said: “One piece of advice, which has really stuck with me, comes from the words of Maya Angelou, who said, people are more likely to remember how you made them feel than the actual words of what you say. That has really been a blessing to me.”
Pastor Josephine Brown from Kenya said: “My spiritual mum and also my mother told me to be focused, to be resilient and also to be determined. Just as the bible says, a noble woman, she is rare to be found but if she is equipped she can achieve a lot for her family, for her community and even for the nations.”
The #ThisPastorCan video will be launched on Tearfund’s social media channels on International Women’s Day (8 March).
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. They tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenging injustice. Tearfund believes an end to extreme poverty is possible. Tearfund is also a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org
Photos:
Rev Lisa Coupland images, at St. Winwaloe church, Gunwalloe, Cornwall. credit: Joseph Cobb/Tearfund
Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, credit: Diocese of Canterbury
