wfn.org | World Social Forum: LWF Representatives Urge Churches to Say

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

World Social Forum: Say "No" to Violence against Women,
LWF Representatives Urge Churches
Colombian Pastor Says Violence in Society Is Business of the Church

MUMBAI, India/GENEVA 21 January 2004 (LWI) - Two Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) participants in the Fourth World Social Forum (WSF) provided an
international and local perspective at a WSF seminar titled "Spirituality of
Life and Human Dignity - Religious Resources to Overcome Violence."

Ms Priscilla Singh, LWF Executive Secretary for Women in Church and Society
(WICAS) in the Department for Mission and Development gave an international
perspective to the seminar's subject, and focused mainly on violence against
women and how faith-based organizations - particularly the LWF - are trying
to deal with this issue. Rev. Jairo Suarez, Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Colombia, spoke about violence in his country and the churches' involvement.
Dr Guillermo Kerber, World Council of Churches (WCC) program executive for
international relations, moderated the seminar.

Singh presented the LWF document "Churches Say 'No' to Violence against
Women," a contribution to the WCC "Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010):
Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace." This effort came about after a
worldwide survey on the issue; and the affirmation that violence against
women was a global reality even within the church. "What we are saying as
faith-based communities is that the problem is not out there. It is our
problem and we are part of it." At the same time, she noted, churches can
offer powerful spiritual resources to try and deal with the issue.

The document is available in the four LWF official languages - English,
German, French, and Spanish. It has been translated into eight additional
languages in the Nordic countries, Asia and South America. There are 14
ongoing translations in different parts of the world.

Religion, noted Singh, usually treats women as victims, often offering what
she described as "charitable response" on a case-by-case basis. There is some
visibility of violence against women in the media, but numerous cases go
unreported, because it is an issue that is "privatized and domesticated."

Singh cited challenges to be overcome if the issue of violence against women
was to be tackled effectively in the church. These include seeing the image
of God beyond gender; propagating a non-macho image of men and instead
promote masculine models that are nurturing and caring, and revisioning and
rewriting theology with a feminist perspective.

The WICAS secretary stressed the need for faith communities to promote a
living spirituality - one that is not reflected mainly in Sunday worship and
other Christian festivals. She mentioned networking with Christians and other
faith communities as crucial in dealing with violence against women, and
encouraged that faith communities move beyond dialogue to diapraxis, so that
they can focus less on their differences and work toward common action.

Suarez said political violence in Colombia had led to the displacement of
millions of people. "At least 20 people are dying everyday because of
political violence," he said. But he noted that the churches were not seizing
the mission opportunities presented in this socio-political crisis.

He added that although the relationship between the different Christian
confessions had improved in the last 15 years, there were groups of
fundamental Christians who believed the mission of the church did not include
active engagement in social concerns. The WSF, he said, was a challenge for
the Colombian church to be fully involved in providing alternatives to the
displaced communities.	(567 words)

[The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member
churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7 million of the 65.4 million
Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas
of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith 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 LWF's information service. 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
acknowledgment.]

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