21.01.2004
World Social Forum: LWF Representatives Urge Churches to Say 'No' to Violence against Women
Colombian Pastor Says Violence in Society Is Business of the ChurchMUMBAI, 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)
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