Topic: Leadership and women’s empowerment

It is the time of Lent, a liturgical space that invites us to think on the times we are living. In this first presentation of the 2021 Bible Studies, Rev. Angela Trejo Haager, one of the Coordinators of the Women and Gender Justice Network of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and pastor of the Mexican Lutheran Church (ILM). The approach to the book of Joel will help us to think among ourselves how we are managing this time of crisis, from our homes and in the midst of fears and uncertainties.

The Women and Gender Justice Network presented this week its Bible study 26, in which the Rev. and professor Juliana Alonso, from the "With a Gender Perspective SEMLA" programme at Augsburg Lutheran Seminary in Mexico, develops an analysis of 1 Chronicles 7, 20 - 24 visualising the way in which Seerah manages to restore hope to her family and her immediate circle, overcoming a patriarchal context and family depression, a product of tragedy and loss. In this way, it can be a mirror in which we can look at the contexts we live in today.

The Network of this November, the LWF Latin American and Caribbean Women and Gender Justice Network will be providing reflections on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is celebrated on the 25th of this month. For this reason, the biblical text is being used as a resource to help prevent such violence. On this occasion the reflective work is a community work of the women of the "Red Tent", Christ Church of the Mexican Lutheran Church (ILM), on this occasion with a community reflection and a re-reading of Psalm 129, in relation to gender violence, a theme that is being worked on during this month.

This November, the LWF Network of Women and Gender Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean will be providing reflections on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is celebrated on the 25th of this month. Therefore, from the biblical text they are providing resources to help prevent this violence. On this occasion the reflective work is a community work of the women of the "Red Tent", Christ Church of the Mexican Lutheran Church (ILM), making a feminist biblical rereading of Psalm 55, inviting to talk about the experiences, listen to testimonies, and work on safe and peaceful paths.

In the month of the 503rd anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the Women and Gender Justice Network presents a weekly Bible study. In this case, the theology student of the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) Samira Rossmann Ramlow at the Superior School of Theology (EST) and the master student Josiane Velten, Gender and Religion Program, Faculdad EST/IECLB developed a work entitled "We confess our faith in Christ". It is based on Matthew 10:32 and a review of the life of Argula von Grumbach, who as they pointed out "Her faith in Christ made her a free woman who actively participated in the Reformation movement. Like Luther, she went from place to place, testifying that salvation is by Grace and through Faith".

In the month that commemorates the 503rd anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the Women and Gender Justice Network presents one Bible study per week, with the purpose of working on themes related to the topic. In this case, the theology student of the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) Juliana Hoelscher Silveira at the Superior School of Theology (EST), develops a work on the theme "Sola Fide". It is based on Romans 3, 23 - 24 from which she reviews the life, action and theology of Marie Dentiére, whom she considers "as an inspiration in our times, where we often find ourselves in different places and are silenced". The author considers that "Marie was a rebel, she was never limited to permissions, despite the time in which she lived and acted according to her faith".  The series of studies is being coordinated by Pastor Marli Brun, together with a team of students from the School of Theology.

In the month of the 503rd anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the Women and Gender Justice Network presents one Bible study per week. In this case, the theology student of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) Mariéli Saft at the Higher School of Theology (EST) and the theologian Ketlin Lais Schuchardt, Gender Research Group - Faculty EST/IECLB developed a work on the theme "Sola Scriptura". It is based on Mark 10:7-8 and Ephesians 5: 22-24, from which they review the life of Elisabeth Herzogin von Rochlitz, who "discovered the word of liberation and salvation in the Bible".

In the month that commemorates the 503rd anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the Women and Gender Justice Network presents one Bible study per week, with the aim of working on themes related to the topic. In this case, the theology student of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) Ana Luisa Knaak at the Higher School of Theology (EST), develops a work on the theme "Sola Fide". It is based on Galatians 3:28 and Joel 2:28, from which she develops the life and theology of Katharina Schütz Zell, whom she considers "one of the examples of women who broke with the standards of submission imposed by society and religion at that time". The study series is being coordinated by Pastor Marli Brun, together with a team of students from the School of Theology.

Claudia Soliette Lopez Ortega from the Lutheran Church "Fe y Esperanza" of Nicaragua (ILFE) takes a closer look at the text of John 9, 1 - 38 entitled "Be a light in the darkness! The work analyses one of Jesus' miracles, where a man who was born blind receives the gift of sight. It shows the relentless insistence of the Pharisees to prosecute Jesus, in a context where poverty and sickness were considered a punishment. The healing, then, not only placed Jesus as a possible rebel, but also as someone who violated the laws, for having performed the miracle on the Sabbath. The analysis of the text deals with the reality and context in which the event takes place, but also analyses the current situation, making comparisons and asking questions, which help to contextualise the situation. Finally, it offers a reflection, in which the author recounts part of her experience of working with people with HIV and the importance of a good reading of the biblical texts, so as not to remain with the idea that the disease appears as a punishment from God.