Vol. 24 No. 1, March 2005

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.

Guest Editorial

Violence, one of the most common and most widespread human rights abuses, is a major factor in the marginalization of women in economic, political, and social life. Its continuing escalation is a threat to humanity, to life in community, and to the being and witness of churches. Overcoming violence against women and children needs joint efforts of those who believe that our way forward is to work for justice and peace for the human community and the whole of creation.

In view of this, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) initiated a consultation among coordinators of regional and national ecumenical women’s organizations and programmes to broaden and strengthen the women’s network in Asia. On 11-17 September 2004, the consultation gathered 32 Asian ecumenical women on the theme, Overcoming Violence against Women and Children: An Agenda for Ecumenical Women in Asia. It was a kick-off of Asian participation in “On the Wings of a Dove”, a worldwide campaign initiated by World Council of Churches within the framework of the Decade to Overcome Violence. The consultation enabled participants to:

Participants came from Asian Women’s Resource Centre for Culture and Theology (AWRC), Asian Church Women’s Conference (ACWC), EATWOT-Asia Women’s Commission, World Student Christian Federation-Asia Pacific (WSCF-AP) Women’s Programme, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, YWCA-Nepal, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT), General Board of Global Ministries-Women’s Division International Ministries in Asia Region, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), national councils, and national church women’s departments. They came from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, Aotearoa-New Zealand. The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) hosted while the AWRC helped to organize the consultation. 

The campaign was launched in a Public Forum organized by NCCP Women’s Desk and Ecumenical Women’s Forum. We gathered appropriately at Bahay Kalinaw, meaning House of Peace, within the University of the Philippines. Around 200 ecumenical women, youth and some men explored the issue of violence against women and children and responses to it through creative worship, music, theater arts, a keynote message, and group discussions. With pieces of red yarn around our wrists and held in our hands, we boldly echoed: “We will remain nameless and silenced no longer; we will overcome violence!” 

The consultation proper which took place at the Oblate Missionary Center, a come away peaceful place surrounded by trees, provided a safe space for sharing stories behind our names, our stories of pain and faith struggle, our ways of coping, overcoming and healing related to violence against women and children whether at home, in church or in society. We shared them collectively though rituals, poems and songs. We shared them through our creative work of stitching, drawing, and theater arts. We shared them with our tears and laughter, dances and games. We learned that

Whether verbal, physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, economic, military, political, or religious in form; whether violence is in the home, church, society, or state; whether it is at a personal, interpersonal or structural level, violence is about power and its abuse. Violence implicates everyone. Violence is life threatening.

We shared strategies, methodologies and approaches that are already being done in our various countries and at regional level to address violence against women and children in the family, church and society. They are as varied as the contexts of Asian countries and churches. From raising awareness through education and re-reading the Bible to peace campaign; from doing surveys and documenting cases to having policy guidelines and proposing new laws; from dialogue with church leaders to having shelters and projects; from counseling to prayer rallies and peace marches; from exchange study programs to networking. All are important manifestations that we will no longer remain silent. Someone said about this consultation, “It was undoubtedly an event symbolizing the fact that, no matter what are the hurdles, we are moving a step ahead.” 

Experience-analysis-biblical and theological reflection-alternative action. This is our ecumenical and women’s framework during the whole process of encounter. By the end of the consultation, we said in commitment, “Together we own On the Wings of a Dove as our campaign in Asia. On November 25-December 10, 2004 and even up to March 8, 2005, we will focus on Violence against Women in the Church. We call on ecumenical women in Asia and all who pray and work for overcoming violence against women and children in the church to symbolically tie a purple thread or yarn around your wrist.” 

Through this issue of In God’s Image, we offer to you what were collectively shared in this consultation. We are grateful to AWRC for making this sharing possible. We are grateful to all those who made the consultation possible, especially to all women who have offered their prayers and least coins for justice, peace and reconciliation gathered through the Fellowship of the Least Coin and the General Board of Global Ministries Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church. What we have here may be a small step. But it is a step of faith needed to build communities of peace for all. Come and join us in the journey towards shalom.

Christian Conference of Asia

Acknowledgment

AWRC is grateful for this opportunity to publish these papers from the consultation on Overcoming Violence against Women and Children. This reflects not only a history of partnership between AWRC and CCA Women’s Concerns/Gender Justice Programme, but also a common agenda of ecumenical women in Asia. AWRC is very grateful to Corazon Tabing-Reyes for this continuing partnership and to the women-contributors whose stories are now entrusted to all other women in Asia through this publication. 

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.