WCRC-CWM Women in leadership roundtable

ECUMENICAL NEWS

WCRC-CWM WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE: A JOURNEY OF HONOURING, LAMENTING, REJOICING WCRC-CWM WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE: A JOURNEY OF HONOURING, LAMENTING, REJOICING

he WCRC-CWM Women in Leadership Roundtable Mee�ng held in Seoul, South Korea from 4-6 October 2022 was a �me of mutual sharing, solidarity, advocacy, and reflec�on for women naviga�ng patriarchal contexts. Par�cipants from Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Argen�na, Nauru, Kenya, Pales�ne, New Zealand, USA, Jamaica, Cuba, Taiwan, Switzerland, India, United Kingdom, Singapore, Jordan, Philippines, Nagaland, Zambia, Malaysia and South Korea collec�vely celebrated and honoured the legacy of the women pioneers who carved out spaces for female par�cipa�on in church and ecumenical leadership; lamented that their journey towards jus�ce is not yet over; but rejoiced that their story ended with the risen Christ.

The event commenced on 4 October with inaugural worship and communion by President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) Rev. Najla Kassab, and the Moderator of the Council for World Mission (CWM) Rev. Lydia Neshangwe, female leaders from the Global South who birthed and spearheaded this ini�a�ve.

“We’re very excited about the roundtable because both our organiza�ons preach communing together, partnering, fellowshipping and working together, and now we’re prac�cing what we preach by coming together to do all those things as women in leadership,” said Rev. Neshangwe. “As women we want to preach a message of collabora�on, not compe��on.” Rev. Kassab and Rev. Neshangwe had discerned the need for a space for women in leadership and emerging women leaders to support each other and engage with the issue of gender jus�ce during this Kairos moment. In recent years, more women are in key leadership posi�ons including global ecumenical bodies, enabling the promo�on and con�nuity of this missional agenda. With a long history of engagement on the issue of gender jus�ce, this programme is part of both organisa�ons’ con�nued commitment to this cause.

Day 2 - CWM Programme Associate immersing herself in the many works of PCK women

Dr. Aruna Gnanadason, who had formerly directed World Council of Churches (WCC)’s global programme on Women in Church and Society, delivered the keynote address, followed by their exposure visit to Korea Peace Now! Women Mobilising to End the War, a global campaign to educate, organise and advocate for a Korea peace agreement. The women discussed white imperialism, peacemaking models, and making grassroots connec�ons a�er watching Crossings, a film about a group of female peacemakers crossing the Korean border.

Over the next two days, the women gathered for worship, and bible study on biblical women such as Ruth, Naomi, Mary, and Miriam based on the themes “lamen�ng with our sisters” (Day 2), and “rejoicing for our daughters” . The event also integrated group spaces for sharing, �me with their contexts, and papers from notable women ac�vists, theologians, and ecumenists. It was also a �me for vision and imagina�on as they deliberated on what it means to be a female leader; important quali�es that should be upheld; empowering and mentoring young women as the next genera�on of leaders; their areas and understanding of power, and lastly, how the ecumenical world should benefit from the divine gi�s of women created in God’s image.

Philippa and Marah sharing a poem by Lamma Mansour during worship expressing lament, together

Participants visited the PCK Women’s Center for a guided tour

Closing worship “It is important to honour women as leaders, but we could also not forget the pain that women face, especially in the transi�onal �me of leadership between men and women,” said Rev. Kassab, “We hope this was a �me of strengthening, of envisioning, of sharing, and of looking forward to a be�er tomorrow.”

A�er closing worship by the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) on 6 Oct, par�cipants departed the mee�ng rejuvenated by bonds of friendship created and a stronger sisterhood enabled by a shared vision.