Women in Church and Society
Women Bishops/Presidents with the Ministry of Oversight, with LWF staff |
Women and men are made in the image of God. Both are baptized in Christ, through whom they equally receive the Holy Spirit in faith, equipping them for mission. This commits the churches to make space for the ministry of both women and men at all levels to enhance church life with the gifts that both women and men bring.
The Desk for Women in Church and Society (WICAS), based in Geneva, accompanies the member churches and the LWF Secretariat with two distinct approaches:
- A practical approach that provides opportunities for leadership and addresses the varied needs of women; and
- A strategic approach to promote the formulation of gender-based policies and practices that would make the LWF an inclusive communion that avails the gifts that women bring.
The following topics provide an introduction to the work of the WICAS Desk.
- Gender
- Ordination of Women
- Churches Say ‘NO’ to Violence Against Women
- Action Plan on Water
- Regional Coordination
Please click here for WICAS resources. (All resource links require Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
Gender
Receiving the gift of an inclusive community © LWF/A. Berthelin |
A gender concept is a tool enabling churches to become a fellowship of equals and a priesthood of all believers. In order to work towards this inclusive communion, the LWF has made several gender commitments.
Please click for an LWF overview on gender concerns
Further resources:
- Message from the Conference of Women Bishops, Presidents and Leaders,
LWF Council, Lund, March 21, 2007
- "Concept of Gender - A Just Analytical Tool?"
- "Engendering Theological Education for Transformation: Some Explorations",
- Engendering Theological Education for Transformation, Report of the LWF Global Consultation, Switzerland, 2001
- Gender Dimension in Sustainable Development
- LWF Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development
- Positive Masculine Profiles
- LWF Commitments and Resolutions on Women
- "Challenges Women Face" in LWI 2005 special issue "PositHIVe Church"
Ordination of Women
Ordination of women is an LWF policy worldwide © LWF/WICAS |
Women’s presence and participation in leadership has significantly impacted the agenda of the LWF Communion. The ordination of women is an LWF policy, though there are a few churches in the communion that have yet to ordain women.
The WICAS Desk advocates and accompanies member churches in their efforts to realize this policy.
Ordination of women pastors in the Lutheran Church of Taiwan © LCT |
There has been a significant rise in the number of women bishops and presidents in recent years. A Conference of Women Bishops, Presidents and Leaders with the Ministry of Oversight in 2005 addressed challenges they face in their contexts as leaders, and as women.
Please click for more information on the ordination of women or a list of member churches that do not yet ordain women.
Churches Say ‘NO’ to Violence Against Women
We say 'No' to Violence against Women! |
An inclusive communion is one where there is concerted and intentional work towards reducing violence against women. Violence tarnishes the image of God in the victim as well as in the oppressor. Therefore the LWF considers violence a faith issue and advocates that: “Churches say ‘No’ to Violence against Women.”
On behalf of the LWF, the WICAS Desk published the document Churches say ‘NO’ to Violence Against Women in 2002 to support the LWF's commitment to challenging all member churches to face the painful issue of violence against women in all its forms particular to their context. The publication provides theological reflections and suggestions of ways to accompany churches in addressing this critical issue.
“Churches say ‘NO’ to Violence Against Women” is available in the four official LWF languages: English, German, French, Spanish. Please contact the WICAS Secretary for information on translations in other languages.
Action Plan on Water
Water - Gift of God and Source of Life |
In preparation for the LWF Tenth Assembly on the theme, “For the Healing of the World,” women asked for an Action Plan on Water that would generate global attention. The Assembly mandated the LWF to provide theological materials to move member churches, congregations and communities from a human-centered approach to a holistic understanding of creation and to promote involvement in healing creation as an issue of stewardship. It is also a specific and strategic way of reducing violence around the world.
Please click for the messages from “Stirring the Waters” regional consultations held in the context of the LWF Action Plan on Water: Europe, Africa, Asia.
Asia “Stirring the Waters” consultation weblog
Regional Coordinators
Regional coordinators - networking for the federation © LWF/WICAS |
WICAS has a network of 12 regional coordinators elected in the LWF sub-regions by member church representatives to serve as voluntary workers on behalf of WICAS. This network connects member churches and has become a powerful instrument and advocacy tool for the work of the WICAS Desk.
Please click for WICAS Regional Coordinators' contact information
For further information please contact:
Rev. Elaine Gleci Neuenfeldt, Secretary for Women in Church and Society
Ms Adrienne Berthelin, Administrative Assistant
