African Women Debate Harmful Cultural Theology
''Unless we women break the African taboos of talking about sex, we and our children will keep dying, especially from HIV/AIDS''
Dozens of leading women Lutherans gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, for the theological seminar for the Lutheran Communion in West Africa (LUCWA), Oct. 26-28, 2004. Following the theme “Ethical Challenges Affecting African Women,” the women from Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo analyzed the ethical issues they face in their churches, families and societies.
"As women we generally have not had a safe space to share and dialogue about these concerns," said Barnett, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone, and member of the LWF Executive Committee as chairperson of the Program Committee for World Service.
The main topic of discourse was the rampant violence against women in Africa. The theologians and leaders shared their concern on how in adultery, rape and bearing children out of wedlock, women are stigmatized and blamed by both the society and the church.
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It is generally perceived that "the man is always right, and the woman wrong," participants said. When a woman is widowed, it was observed, not only do churches and society fail to care for her needs, but in some of the churches, widows are actually required to give up their church positions, they said.
"Unless we women break the African taboos of talking about sex, we and our children will keep dying, especially from HIV/AIDS." Rev. Marie J. Barnett, sub-regional coordinator for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Women in Church.
The women insisted the concerns must be challenged by assertive, diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the church. They said churches that do not yet ordain women should be convinced to do so.
They also asserted that culture cannot “be the last word.” Rather, they said it is “Jesus Christ who transforms and empowers African women to press for change.”
The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138 member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of nearly 65 million Lutherans. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
