Vol. 23 No. 4, December 2004

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

It has been the dream of many Asian feminist theologians to have an Asian feminist resource material, including a module, to help them in their work of teaching Asian feminism and Asian feminist theology and in their practical work of empowering women in Asia. While there are many materials available on the field, still lacking are materials from, for and by Asian women which are appropriate for the context in Asia. 

In response to this need, the Asian Women’s Resource Centre for Culture and Theology (AWRC) decided to create a Feminist Theology modules planning team to plan the writing of modules. However, it was felt that the writing of modules should not be done purely by sitting in front of a computer. The modules should also be tried out with a group of women and men, in order that they can be tested, enriched, and improved. 

This edition of In God’s Image contains the papers used by four resource persons at the feminist theology seminar held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in January 2004. The four resource persons – Lilith Usog (Philippines), Anna May Chain (Myanmar), Malini Devananda (Sri Lanka) and Hisako Kinukawa (Japan) – are feminist theologians who did not only conduct the seminar but they are also part of the Feminist Theology modules planning team. Also included are a poem by Lilith and an article by Kwok Pui-lan from Dictionary of Feminist Theologies that were used as reference material during the seminar. We are grateful to Pui-lan, Letty Russell, Shannon Clarkson and Westminster John Knox Press for giving us the permission to reprint.

In the process of writing the modules, however, it was felt that the basic ‘woman question’ and the ‘understanding of gender’ needed to be highlighted. Cecilia Ng, a feminist activist from Malaysia was invited to help. Hence, her article on the woman question and another material on understanding gender which has been published with permission from the Asian and Pacific Development Centre. In addition, I offer a composite version of several notes I have used at different occasions to highlight what Asian feminism is and is not with the hope that it can be useful for readers of IGI. 

This edition of In God’s Image is just a part of the modules writing project that AWRC has embarked on starting this year. Projected to be a five-year project, it will include a series of modules that Asian feminist theologians have identified as needed in Asia. The series of modules are on the following topics: 

Book I. Introduction to Asian Feminist Theologies
Book II. Asian Women in Herstory
Book III. Asian Women and Religions
Book IV. Asian Women and Church (e.g. sacraments, liturgy, ministry and mission)
Book V. Asian Women and Leadership (e.g. social, political action, leadership, participation and partnership)

For each set of modules, an edition of In God’s Image will be published containing the full papers used in a workshop or meeting or consultation where the modules would be tried out. Both the IGI edition and the module must be read or used together for a fuller coverage of the topic. 

Not forgetting that December is the season of Advent and Christmas, we include in this issue two poems that remind us of the real reason for the season. 

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.