08.03.2024

Country-Seminar: Women on the Way in the UEM Communion of Churches

Adrie Jantze from the UEM member church ELCRN* presented the participiants the Girls Club of Otjiwarongo, Namibia, photo: Adrie Jantze, ELCRN*

29 participants from the partnerships between Namibia, South Africa, Botsuana and Germany met online. For the first time, partners from all four countries were invited with the intention of "not talking about each other, but with each other".

On the first evening, three women who have taken on leadership positions in their churches shared their experiences. Elizabeth von Francois from the ELCRN* heads the Andreas Kukuri Centre, a church training facility: "Step out of your comfort zone, take on challenges and make room for a supportive environment." This was also supported by Brenda Sass, who works on the RCSA* church leadership team. "As women in leadership positions, we serve as role models for the younger generation in our churches." Claudia Müller-Bück, Superintendent of the Bad Godesberg/Voreifel church district from the EKiR*, presented the mentoring programme for women and leadership in her church: "And I look very closely at the young female pastors in my church district. I recommend that they do further training in leadership. Not because I think they particularly need it. But a conscious strengthening and realisation that women in particular can lead, and how they can lead, I think that will take quite some time." A long and intense but encouraging discussion then began about the "quite some time", about hopes and also disappointments and injuries.

The next morning, various women from the grassroot level in their churches had their say. Pat Solomons, who is responsible for the RCSA's work with ederly people, spoke about her role models and ended with a very personal conclusion: "I am convinced that right now is a appropriate time to examine the role of women in the fulfilment of the call to the priesthood of all believers. Given the chaos in the world today, led primarily by privileged men, there is reason to believe that women's leadership can offer something new and - may I say it - something better." Adrie Jantze took the participants to the basis of women's work. She is the coordinator of the Girls Club in Kamanjab, Otjiwarongo church district, ELCRN* and reported on how trained mentors are working against gender-based violence and support single mothers. Katja Dummer from the EKiR*, presbyter in Wuppertal and head of a partnership committee, spoke about her experience of learning in concrete partnership work: "There are no problems, only challenges". This also applies to women and leadership, in her perspective.

"The whole conference was about telling each other your own story, listening to each other and discovering common ground. The 'we' and 'you' that is often still used in partnerships became a common 'we' around a joined topic. Despite Zoom, we entered into a real relationship and exchanged ideas openly," said UEM co-workers, Dr Elizabeth Silayo and Claudio Gnypek, both from the Regional Service of the UEM, and Frauke Bürgers, Officer for Partnerships of UEM, summing up the two days.

Many thanks to all participants!

*ELCRN = Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia

*RCSA = The Rhenish Church in South Africa

*EKiR = Evangelical Church in the Rhineland

The country seminars as part of the partnership work of UEM have a long tradition within the UEM communion of churches. In face-to-face and online events, people from all three regions come together to learn together and share their experiences on a specific topic.

You are cordially invited!

Next date: 14 - 15 March 2024 Online seminar Rwanda/Germany: More information!