wfn.org | "Churches Say 'No' to Violence Against Women"

["Frank Imhoff" <franki@elca.org>]

"Churches Say 'No' to Violence Against Women"
Draft Paper on LWF Council's Agenda

LWI 2001 Council News 2001-02

GENEVA, 12 June 2001 (LWI) - During its 12-19 June meeting, the Council of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will be asked to receive and recommend
to its member churches for action a draft paper on violence against women.
The initiative to prepare the paper came from the 1999 LWF Council Meeting
in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, in response to a letter titled "From
Solidarity to Accountability" from the World Council of Churches' (WCC)
Ecumenical Decade: "Churches in Solidarity with Women." The letter calls the
churches to declare violence against women a sin. The LWF Council resolved
"to encourage all member churches to face the painful issue of violence
against women in all its manifestations particular to their context." It
asked the desk for Women in Church and Society (WICAS) of the LWF Department
for Mission and Development "to propose ways to accompany the churches in
their efforts to address the issue."

WICAS Secretary Ms. Priscilla Singh shared her thoughts on the preparatory
process and paper in a recent interview with Ms Brabara Robra for Lutheran
World Information (LWI).

LWI: Ms. Singh, you and the women working with you have initiated the first
systematic work on violence against women by a world communion. What were
some of the challenging and encouraging experiences in the preparatory
process?

It was most difficult and immensely challenging to prepare a document, which
would have a global perspective, be globally acceptable and that would speak
to every member f the congregations. As a global document, it had to be
brief but comprehensive inviting the church to first break its silence on
the issue and encourage it to look within itself for forms of violence that
negate the image of God in women as well as in violators. The document
needed to lift up the counter-culture initiated by Jesus that affirmed
women, as well as to intensify a process of education. There were fears and
apprehension as to how this document might be received by the churches,
which were encouraged to be accountable for evidence of violence.

The biggest and most empowering experience was when the LWF Council in 2000
in Turku made a recommendation that the document be sent in draft form to
all the member churches without further delay. Women were so encouraged that
a momentum was being built up, creating great interest, enthusiasm and,
above all, tremendous hope that this document could be created and owned
collectively. It is with great anticipation that women and men are
participating in a series of processes that might lead to positive and
affirmative actions that could radically transform the churches.

LWI: Is there violence against women within the churches?

Yes, in overt and covert ways, as the document has enumerated in our
policies, practices, theologies and liturgies and in the church's complicity
by not speaking about it, trivializing it and externalizing it.

LWI: You received feedback from 35 churches all over the world. What were
the most encouraging responses, and can you share some examples of
motivating and engaging actions taken by churches or groups?

There have been several overwhelming responses. The 35 responses are only
those that gave some form of additional input or affirmative actions taken.
Responses still keep coming in. There are a number of churches in Europe and
North America, which have gone far ahead in dealing with forms of violence
particular to their contexts. Some have formed alliances across continents
to learn from one another's experience.  particularly liked the response
from the Church of Norway, which is well ahead in its involvement with the
issue and knew and understood the intention behind each and every word.  I
also liked the systematic and elaborate reactions from some of the churches
in Germany, specifically on theological issues. Another, from Dr. Aruna
Gnanadason from the WCC commended the courage and commitment of the
communion in dealing with the issue in a most systematic and strategic way.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Rev. Dr. Eva Vogel-Mfato from the
Conference of European Churches and also from GOOD (Gender Orientation on
Development), the women's group of European church-related development
agencies.

Many women, who shared their own personal experiences of violence, now await
in wonder whether this could really be happening in the churches. What I
would find a most striking affirmation is when all the churches in the
communion, firstly, open themselves to critically look at our theologies and
practices to play their prophetic role in condemning the presence of all
forms of violence in our midst. And secondly, be actively involved in
changing the structures, policies and practices of the church to move from
patriarchy and hierarchy to be an inclusive communion.

LWI: Has this process already given an impulse for change?

Some churches have already opened the discussions in groups and others have
formulated projects to deal with it more intensely in the coming years. But
these affirmative actions are still at the stage of addressing the issue.
Only a few have concrete policies in place. A radical re-reading of the
Bible and re-visioning of theologies and practices are yet to happen, though
women have done enough work on these already.

LWI: Are there also examples of denial of the problem?

Yes, a few of the church leaders in their personal sharing have not been
able to see violence as a phenomenon seen in their churches. One or two even
think this is just a Western concept. But these are perspectivs that are
challenged by the contents of the document.

LWI: What kind of response do you expect from the LWF Council?

I am very much hopeful on behalf of all women that the Council will receive
the document, accept that additional input from the Program Committees and
churches be incorporated wherever necessary and recommend that the document
be published in different languages. I would like the Council to recommend
that this document be shared with every pastor, leader and educator, and
that all those involved in all forms of ministry have the possibility of
reading the document and owning it as a discussion starter in their own
situations. If we could ever do this, it could be one of the greatest acts
of solidarity that the churches could show to women. Women have always been
faithful to the churches. It is timely that the churches reciprocate their
solidarity with women. This concerted effort would also prove that the
Lutheran communion is the most effective expression of thinking globally and
acting locally.

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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches
in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented does
not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgement.]

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