wfn.org | LWI 2009-062 High Statistics on Lutheran Women's Ordination Hide Reality of Marginalization

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High Statistics on Lutheran Women’s Ordination Hide Reality of
Marginalization
LWF Pre-Assembly: Prayer for Daily Bread Is a Plea for Women’s
Dignity 

GENEVA, 30 October 2009 (LWI) – Statistics about increasing
women’s ordination in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
member churches are encouraging. However, "the shining exterior
of inclusion and equality masks a reality of denial,
marginalization and despair," representatives from LWF member
churches heard at the ongoing Women's Pre-Assembly (WPA) at
Bogis-Bossey, near Geneva, Switzerland.

"More women are being ordained, the percentage of women studying
theology has increased and women are usually represented 'up
front' on important occasions and on committees," said Indian
biblical scholar, Dr Monica Melanchthon in her presentation to
around 50 participants attending the 27-31 October WPA. 

The international women's gathering is the first in a series of
seven preparatory conferences for the July 2010 LWF Eleventh
Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany. It is hosted by the desk for
Women in Church and Society (WICAS) at the Department for Mission
and Development (DMD).

According to statistics compiled by DMD/WICAS, around two thirds
of the current 140 LWF member churches ordain women.

In her presentation titled "Women in a Renewed LWF: Theological
and Practical Issues," Melanchthon focused especially on the
Report of the LWF Renewal Committee, which was presented at the
22-27 October Council meeting. She noted that the "document ...
does not specifically address the issue of gender although it
does in its intent and definition strive for the recognition and
inclusion of women in the life of the communion." 

Melanchthon, who is a member of the Renewal Committee
responsible for this report, proposed the preparation of a
document that would address women's concerns within a renewed
LWF, setting out priorities and strategies. The Indian theologian
is a professor at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in
Chennai, India.

>Gender Disparity

Dr Fulata L. Moyo, program executive for Women in Church and
Society at the World Council of Churches, reminded the WPA
participants of "gender disparity and desperation that denies
women their right to food and dignity." In her presentation, she
linked the LWF Eleventh Assembly theme "Give Us Today Our Daily
Bread" to issues related to the exploitation of women in various
sectors of society. Women's concern about bringing food at the
table and feeding their children makes them turn to prostitution.
"Women are trafficked and commoditized," she said, explaining
that this desperation "dis-members [tears into pieces] women for
mere survival."

Moyo challenged women to work on questions such as: "What
prophetic roles do we need to carry out so that the desperation
that leads to women's bodies being dis-membered is dealt with?
What clear policy, theological reflections including that of
marriage and general practice do we want to suggest to the
churches as well as to the process of theological education?”

"'Give us this day our daily bread' is a petition repeated by
millions of Christians around the world every day as they pray
the Lord's Prayer. However, for many, the words of the Lord's
Prayer may have little meaning when the daily necessities of life
seem so abundant," said Ms Angeline Munzara, the food campaign
coordinator at the Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
(EAA). She emphasized that abundance co-existed with want today,
as "over 1 billion people live with constant hunger." She cited
underlying causes such as climate change and environmental
degradation, whose impact affects women and children the most.

"How we produce food, how we distribute it and how we ensure
that all people have access to culturally-appropriate nourishment
is a fundamental matter of justice toward people, the creation
and God. As women, we have a role to play to change this world
order and influence decisions to ensure food justice and the
realization of the right to food for all people," said Munzara. 

Elaborating the role of women in food production, the EAA
representative highlighted women's role in food security. She
described women as "food producers, keepers of traditional
knowledge and preservers of biodiversity, food processors and
preparers and food providers for their families." According to
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) women
are the main producers of the world's staple foods: maize, wheat
and rice.

>Advocacy

In this context "the daily bread that women require is to be
able to participate in all decision-making processes regarding
food production and distribution at all levels - community level;
within peasant, farmer and fisher folk and indigenous
organizations; and at the tables of government and development
agencies,” Munzara emphasized with regard to advocacy
strategies.

She invited women to join in advocacy by writing letters to
their national governments urging respect for the right to food
and asking them what actions they had taken on the right to food.
The women were also encouraged to learn about government
commitments on the right to food and how they could join with
like-minded civil society actors. 

Munzara further suggested participation in planning actions in
church, community and at national level for the EAA Churches Week
of Action on Food, joining the development agencies' Countdown to
Copenhagen campaign on climate change or participating in a
worship service with the ringing of bells on Sunday 13 December,
which marks the height of the UN climate change talks in
Copenhagen. 

One could also choose fasting on Ash Wednesday, on World Food
Day celebrated around 16 October to mark FAO’s founding, or any
other key events relating to food, using special resources,
prayers, Bible studies, and considering individual eating habits,
Munzara concluded. (916 words)

More information on the Pre-Assemblies is available under the
"Journey" section of the LWF Assembly Web site at:
www.lwf-assembly.org 

*      *      *

The 50 participants in the Women's Pre-Assembly (WPA) include 34
women from LWF member churches in 29 countries, representing the
Federation's seven regions. The LWF desk for Women in Church and
Society at the department for Mission and Development is
coordinating the 27-31 October meeting, taking place at the
Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Bogis-Bossey, near Geneva,
Switzerland. LWF staff and invited guests from Geneva-based
church-related organizations are also attending.

The WPA is the first pre-assembly in a series of seven that will
precede the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly, to be held in
Stuttgart, Germany. Pre-assembly participants deliberate on the
assembly theme and on practical matters with respect to
participation in the Assembly itself. Some of the WPA delegates
will also take part in the regional pre-assemblies and in the
July 2010 Eleventh Assembly. 

*      *      *

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 140 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of 68.9 million. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

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