Courageous Voices
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The opening service on Friday night prepared us for our journey of reflection and remembrance through a moving series of dramatic
presentations interwoven with music and prayers. We were introduced to the witness of Argula von Grumbach (1492-?1554), the Protestant Reformation’s first woman theologian and author, through an impassioned re-enactment of her challenge to Catholic theologians concerning their repressive treatment of a young student at the University of Ingolstadt who had publicly supported the teachings of Luther.
Candles were lit as each voice from the past and present was brought before us. We were reminded of Julian of Norwich, an anchoress remarkable for the depth of insight and understanding in her writings; of Hulda the prophet of Israel in 621BC, consulted by the priests and the King in 1 Kings 22:11-22 for a message from the Lord, the God of Israel; of Angelina Igwo, our contemporary and a leader in the Kenyan Evangelical Lutheran Church, who chose teaching as a profession and started schools in Mombasa in circumstances which would daunt most of us; of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), now famous for her theology of music, but respected for her preaching which so moved those who heard her that church leaders asked for texts of her sermons! There were many more voices from the past and the present that were heard again and then drawn together by Merna Thamm who said, “I have been privileged to listen to many voices along the way and I would like to acknowledge these. ” Kathrin Koning then invited us to acknowledge and share with each other the courageous voices which have challenged and encouraged us throughout our lives. We thought upon these things as we lit our candles and moved out into the world singing
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts,
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Priscilla Singh presented a thoughtful and inspiring keynote address on Saturday morning. From her opening greeting, ” I bring you a wealth of good wishes from the LWF Secretariat and from the millions of Lutheran women in the communion spread in 72 countries among 133 member churches”, to her reminder that we are a part of this “glorious cloud of witnesses past and present” and her invitation to us to “lend continuity to women’s diverse ministries in and through the church that we all love and cherish” she challenged us not only to listen to the voices but to respond with equal commitment. Priscilla compared the courage it took for Mary to say “Yes” to God’s calling of her to give birth to the Messiah with the courage of modern Marys who call us to confront issues of justice. Our voices should be raised for the underside of history and not balk from the volatile, the controversial and the political.
The ministry of the Women in Church and Society desk of the Lutheran World Federation is very much about doing what needs to be done and can be done, day in and day out, not waiting for an invitation but asking God for guidance. One aspect of this work is putting gender into the agenda of the church in church practices and also in the building of an open and trustful community of women and men . Priscilla focused on the LWF report into violence against women in her afternoon workshop. The document “Churches say NO to violence against women” was based on reports from 75 teams who were sent out from LWF into as many different countries as possible: it recognises that violence is rife throughout the world and that it violates the image of God in both the perpetrator and the victim. Several governments have shown interest in this document because of the issues it raises and suggested ways of dealing with violence.
The perfect Adelaide summer weather enhanced our outdoor morning tea and lunch breaks in the Concordia College courtyard and allowed us to renew old friendships and forge new ones between the sessions. Food for the body was followed by food for the mind and spirit with the Bible study “Questions from an Empty Tomb” where we explored the story of the women who had the courage to go to the tomb and to overcome the protocols of the time to reveal the truth of the resurrection.
The plethora of choices for the afternoon workshop sessions was a cause for celebration and concern – what to choose when so much of interest was on offer? Geraldine Avent looked at Women in the Scriptures while Alan Cadwallader, a lecturer in New Testament at Adelaide College of Divinity, was more specific in leading an exploration of the women in the Pauline community. The brother and sister team of Heidi Smith and Tim Muller asked how Lutherans talk and sing about Christ and reflected on the place of Christ in the Trinity. Graham Harms wanted to “get it right” through reading the Bible for what is there rather than what we hope is there and Vic Pfitzner surveyed the key texts and issues in the debate over the ordination of women. There were fourteen workshops in total, including Spiritual Companioning, The Modern Quest for Spirituality, Generations Sharing the Spirit, The Anglican Experience of Women’s Ordination, Woman and Man, (not yet) One in Christ Jesus, Church Leadership, Educating our Women’s Groups Lionel Otto, in From Inside Out to Outside In, who sought to examine and understand changes and our response to them.
The peace of the evening fitted the Closing Worship where we heard again Jesus speaking words of forgiveness and we spoke the response of faith and received food for the journey. Robin and Dorothy Mann used their gifts to teach us their latest song, Courageous Voices, in which they celebrated the Courageous Voices speaking out, Speaking in the face of fear and danger, Trusting in the One who was to come into the world.
‘This conference was a great opportunity to reflect, understand and uniteus with those witnesses so that we speak with one voice and realize our
longings, hopes and aspirations for the Church” (Priscilla Singh). We were blessed by the great team work which went into the planning and organization and which made the Second Women’s Ministry Network conference a success.
presentations interwoven with music and prayers. We were introduced to the witness of Argula von Grumbach (1492-?1554), the Protestant Reformation’s first woman theologian and author, through an impassioned re-enactment of her challenge to Catholic theologians concerning their repressive treatment of a young student at the University of Ingolstadt who had publicly supported the teachings of Luther.
Candles were lit as each voice from the past and present was brought before us. We were reminded of Julian of Norwich, an anchoress remarkable for the depth of insight and understanding in her writings; of Hulda the prophet of Israel in 621BC, consulted by the priests and the King in 1 Kings 22:11-22 for a message from the Lord, the God of Israel; of Angelina Igwo, our contemporary and a leader in the Kenyan Evangelical Lutheran Church, who chose teaching as a profession and started schools in Mombasa in circumstances which would daunt most of us; of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), now famous for her theology of music, but respected for her preaching which so moved those who heard her that church leaders asked for texts of her sermons! There were many more voices from the past and the present that were heard again and then drawn together by Merna Thamm who said, “I have been privileged to listen to many voices along the way and I would like to acknowledge these. ” Kathrin Koning then invited us to acknowledge and share with each other the courageous voices which have challenged and encouraged us throughout our lives. We thought upon these things as we lit our candles and moved out into the world singing
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts,
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Priscilla Singh presented a thoughtful and inspiring keynote address on Saturday morning. From her opening greeting, ” I bring you a wealth of good wishes from the LWF Secretariat and from the millions of Lutheran women in the communion spread in 72 countries among 133 member churches”, to her reminder that we are a part of this “glorious cloud of witnesses past and present” and her invitation to us to “lend continuity to women’s diverse ministries in and through the church that we all love and cherish” she challenged us not only to listen to the voices but to respond with equal commitment. Priscilla compared the courage it took for Mary to say “Yes” to God’s calling of her to give birth to the Messiah with the courage of modern Marys who call us to confront issues of justice. Our voices should be raised for the underside of history and not balk from the volatile, the controversial and the political.
The ministry of the Women in Church and Society desk of the Lutheran World Federation is very much about doing what needs to be done and can be done, day in and day out, not waiting for an invitation but asking God for guidance. One aspect of this work is putting gender into the agenda of the church in church practices and also in the building of an open and trustful community of women and men . Priscilla focused on the LWF report into violence against women in her afternoon workshop. The document “Churches say NO to violence against women” was based on reports from 75 teams who were sent out from LWF into as many different countries as possible: it recognises that violence is rife throughout the world and that it violates the image of God in both the perpetrator and the victim. Several governments have shown interest in this document because of the issues it raises and suggested ways of dealing with violence.
The perfect Adelaide summer weather enhanced our outdoor morning tea and lunch breaks in the Concordia College courtyard and allowed us to renew old friendships and forge new ones between the sessions. Food for the body was followed by food for the mind and spirit with the Bible study “Questions from an Empty Tomb” where we explored the story of the women who had the courage to go to the tomb and to overcome the protocols of the time to reveal the truth of the resurrection.
The plethora of choices for the afternoon workshop sessions was a cause for celebration and concern – what to choose when so much of interest was on offer? Geraldine Avent looked at Women in the Scriptures while Alan Cadwallader, a lecturer in New Testament at Adelaide College of Divinity, was more specific in leading an exploration of the women in the Pauline community. The brother and sister team of Heidi Smith and Tim Muller asked how Lutherans talk and sing about Christ and reflected on the place of Christ in the Trinity. Graham Harms wanted to “get it right” through reading the Bible for what is there rather than what we hope is there and Vic Pfitzner surveyed the key texts and issues in the debate over the ordination of women. There were fourteen workshops in total, including Spiritual Companioning, The Modern Quest for Spirituality, Generations Sharing the Spirit, The Anglican Experience of Women’s Ordination, Woman and Man, (not yet) One in Christ Jesus, Church Leadership, Educating our Women’s Groups Lionel Otto, in From Inside Out to Outside In, who sought to examine and understand changes and our response to them.
The peace of the evening fitted the Closing Worship where we heard again Jesus speaking words of forgiveness and we spoke the response of faith and received food for the journey. Robin and Dorothy Mann used their gifts to teach us their latest song, Courageous Voices, in which they celebrated the Courageous Voices speaking out, Speaking in the face of fear and danger, Trusting in the One who was to come into the world.
‘This conference was a great opportunity to reflect, understand and uniteus with those witnesses so that we speak with one voice and realize our
longings, hopes and aspirations for the Church” (Priscilla Singh). We were blessed by the great team work which went into the planning and organization and which made the Second Women’s Ministry Network conference a success.
Shirley Schubert
Pilgrim Lutheran Congregation
Magill, SA
Pilgrim Lutheran Congregation
Magill, SA