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Confident African Women Theologians Eager to Serve Church

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Women theologians in Africa may not yet be welcomed with open arms in leadership positions, but they are not discouraged. This was evident at the workshops they led at the Mennonite World Conference here.

The women presenters beamed self-confidence and a strong sense of purpose. One of them, Sidonie Swana-Falanga, was to be ordained Aug. 24 after years of service as a teacher of religion.

In the workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 19, she described how women theologians in Congo have worked patiently with the gifts the Holy Spirit gave them. "Women in theology studies in Congo did not try to struggle against men," she said. They are, however, convinced that they are being called to serve the church in leadership as well as in other areas.

"The Holy Spirit moves where it will," Falanga said. "The same Spirit that moves men, moves women. Not all women want to be pastors, only those with a vocation for it."

Hellen Bradburn, women's development consultant for Mennonite Central Committee in Tanzania, describing the results of regional meetings of African women, elucidated how they are planning to "move forward." They want to increase awareness in the churches, set up an ongoing structure for women theologians in Africa and be better connected to Mennonite and Brethren in Christ women theologians elsewhere in the world.

Bradburn explained that priority would be given to countries where there are no women theologians. The organization to be formed is to include representatives from each country where there is theological activity and someone from Mennonite World Conference. African women theologians want to share their experiences, issues, challenges and vision at all levels of church organization.

A group of about 12 women in Umtata, South Africa, has made a great contribution in the study of the Bible from women's perspective. In a workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 20, Welekati Sokutu, a theologian (not ordained) teaching at the University of South Africa, explained the method used in the group.

At their twice-monthly meetings they begin by sharing their experiences, then look for a Bible text that relates to the subject they choose. They look at the context of the text, read it and formulate questions it raises. Next they look at other biblical writing that can throw more light on the subject, and, finally, draw conclusions. They examine case studies among themselves and document them for encouragement.

They also look for ways to make a difference in their community, like being involved in a home for street children, in local hospices for AIDS patients or in a centre for abused women and children.

The Bible studies of the Umtata group have been published in 11 booklets on the following subjects: women in the Old and the New Testament, sexual issues, AIDS, marriage, parenting, singleness, separation and divorce, aging, and bereavement. The booklets not only provide background and explanations relevant to understanding the Bible text but also questions relating to the personal situation and feelings and wisdom to stimulate discussion and application to one's own life.

In the closing summary, Rebecca Osiro of Kenya, one of the organizers of the workshops, encouraged the women to think positively about who they are and what they can do. "We are women because God wanted us to be women," said Osiro.