wfn.org | “Religious beliefs shape masculine behaviours”: Interfaith panel

["Franziska Surber" <Franziska.Surber@warc.ch>]

>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>26 January 2009

“Religious beliefs shape masculine behaviours”: Interfaith
panel

Religious beliefs have a profound influence in shaping the
consciousness of men and their concepts of masculinity and
sexuality, members of an interfaith panel have told participants
at an event in Georgetown, Guyana, focussed on seeking ways of
promoting positive masculinity. 

Religious institutions prescribe boundaries, impose sanctions
and affirm identity, the panellists said.

Thirty-five pastors, church leaders, theological students and
lay persons from Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, South Africa, Malawi
and India gathered in the Guyanese capital from 18-22 January for
the event sponsored by the Women’s World Day of Prayer and Bread
for All, Switzerland.

The workshop, which initiated a process of education for action
in response to gender-based violence, coincided with an awareness
campaign in Guyana aimed at “stamping out” gender-based
violence.

In remarks at the opening of the event, Guyana’s Minister of
Human Services and Social Security, Ms Priya Manickchand,
challenged churches to work in partnership with other faith
groups and specialised agencies to make a difference in the
communities they serve. 

Manickchand emphasised the importance of education at all levels
of the church –from Sunday School to Bible groups to women’s and
men’s groups– and offered to provide support for churches which
develop action plans to end domestic and sexual abuse. 

“We feel that the task we pledge to embark on at this workshop
is huge and multifaceted. However, if every man commits to make a
difference in his family life then that is the first step towards
building strong families and communities,” said lay pastor, Noel
Holder of the Guyana Congregational Union.

“The workshop is a significant step in engaging men as partners
and as part of the solution to address broken families and
societies. This opens new ways for churches to enable healing and
transformation of relationships,” says Rev. Patricia
Sheerattan-Bisnauth of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
(WARC), one of the leaders of the event.

WARC executive committee member, Rev. Dr Collin Cowan,
emphasized the importance of men being involved in transforming
patterns of violent behaviour. “As men who have occupied a
privileged space created by systems of patriarchy, the time has
come to reject that pattern of living and because of its
inconsistency with the theology of life, which finds expression
in relationships,” Cowan said.

Participating partner organisations in the event included the
World Council of Churches, the Caribbean and North America
Council for Mission, the Council for World Mission and the
General Board of Global Ministry, United Methodist Church, Help &
Shelter (Guyana) and the Guyana Formation for Ministry and
Mission. 

>***

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together
75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries -
united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled
world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. WARC's secretariat is
based in Geneva, Switzerland.

>Contact:

>Kristine Greenaway 
>Executive Secretary, Communications
>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>150 Route de Ferney
>P.O. Box 2100
>1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
>tel.  +41.22 791 6243
>fax: +41.22 791 6505

>web: www.warc.ch ( http://www.warc.ch/ ) 
>e-mail: kgr@warc.ch