Vol. 21 No. 4, December 2002

In God's Image is an Asian Christian women's effort to provide a forum for expressing our reality, our struggles, our faith reflections and aspirations for change.

Editorial

In God's Image turns twenty years old in December this year. To mark this 20th anniversary of Asian feminist theologizing, the Editorial Advisory Committee decided on the theme this issue: "Asian Women Doing Theology."

The choice of the theme reflects Asian women's general preference for "doing theology" to "feminist theology". This is to emphasize that it is not only the formally theologically trained women who are engaged in theologizing - grassroots women who may not have been formally trained are just equally engaged. It is also to say that theologizing is not just talking about God (theology is often simply defined as God-talk) - but really doing something with God for the uplift of God's people, and reflecting on it to share with others for mutual spiritual encouragement. The theme also reflects the ongoing search in Asia for an appropriate name to women's theologizing - even though we also use feminist theology to be in solidarity with the global movement of women's empowerment.

This issue has an interesting mix of write-ups. Miriam of biblical times stands out as a subject in a number of articles, which critically revisit the role model of Miriam in leadership, overcoming violence, and in the process of salvation.

A number of contributions reflect a range of women's issues - motherhood, ordination, sexuality, globalization, violence, and patriarchy. Two articles are personal sharing of experiences and reflections on "journeying with women doing theology" and "doing feminist theologies in Asia" with various groups. Another article deals with the role of art in theological reflection.

In God's Image has in the past given space to male contributors, as long as they are supportive of women's empowerment. In this issue, we feature a contribution from a male friend of AWRC who critiques "images of women in patriarchal anthropology".

It has been the practice of In God's Image to use both scholarly and popular languages. Thus, we have scholarly and analytical essays as well as popular expressions like poems and stories.

These articles do not represent all that have happened or are happening in feminist theologizing in Asia. But hopefully, they serve as a witness to the growing critical awareness of women's oppression and to the increasing commitment to the work of women's empowerment through these past twenty years.

Looking Ahead

As we look forward then to another twenty years of ministry through In God's Image, may this journal continue to be the mouthpiece of Asian women in Asia as well as Asian women who are scattered all over the world but whose hearts continue to beat for Asia. Non-Asian women who are committed to women's empowerment and interested in sharing the conversation with Asian women are also welcome. So are Asian men who support the same cause of Asian women's empowerment and provided that their contributions are for the uplift of Asian women. 

The Editorial Advisory Committee has suggested topics/foci for the years 2003 and 2004. I would like to share that list for the guidance of our readers and would-be contributors:

Year 2003:
March - Culture and God-talk
June - Women, Health and Wholeness 
September - National Edition: Indonesia
December - Christ for Asian Women (Christology)

Year 2004:
March - Voices of the Unheard
June - Being Church in Asia (Ecclesiology)
September - National Edition: India
December - Spirituality 

Contributions (up to 6000 words) should be sent to the AWRC Office by email or hard copy at least four months before the month of publication. Contributions for March should be in by early December; contributions for June should be in by early March; contributions for September should be in by early June; and contributions for December should be in by early September.

If you are contributing a scholarly essay, please include references in footnotes or the Chicago format (parenthetical notes) and a bibliographic list at the end of the write-up. Please also include a short author's introduction at the end. Please also send some photos or drawings that relate to the write-up.

We look forward to hearing from you.

On behalf of the publication staff,

Publications Secretary

If articles listed in the table of contents interests you, and you would like to have a copy of this journal, please write to igi@awrc4ct.org.