Women theologians gather in Paraguay.

Martha Basualdo exclaimed, “This is a great spiritual festival,” as she opened the first day of the women theologians’ gathering in July in Asunción, Paraguay.

The purpose of the gathering was to celebrate, collaborate and glorify God, as the group began a conversation with one another and with women all over the world, according to Basualdo. Some women noted that until now the church has left women behind but is now realizing that without women the church cannot expand. When one woman noted that the church is just beginning to address women’s ordination seriously worldwide, there was resounding applause.

It was a great honor for me to be invited to attend the first Congress of Latin American Women Theologians (LAWT) July 13-14, representing Mennonite Women USA (MW USA) in conjunction with the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Assembly in Asunción.

Each day brought new understanding of theology and a sense of solidarity among the women there representing three continents in what has become a worldwide movement of women theologians. Many of the women in leadership from Latin American and African nations were ones who had received or are receiving scholarship funds from MW USA’s International Women’s Fund. MW USA, Mennonite Women regional gatherings and individual women in the church also assisted with travel funds for their sisters to attend this Congress. The women expressed gratitude for this.

The Congress emerged from the Latina women’s contact with the African Anabaptist Women Theologians (AAWT), who were encouraged to organize by Tim Lind of MWC. From that relationship, which began at the MWC assembly in Zimbabwe, the Latin American women saw the need to organize into a group of women theologians themselves. AAWT later developed into a Sister-Link project with MW USA. AAWT and LAWT encouraged women theologians of color in the United States, who planned a gathering with the help of a grant from MW USA and others.

While the diversity, music and sheer size of the MWC assembly were impressive, the women theologians’ gathering was a life-changing event for me.

The first intercontinental Congress of the Latin American Women Theologians took place July 14, with more than 100 Latin American women theologians representing nearly every Latin American nation and Latina women from the United States coming together to reflect on their work and their theology. Several of the women theologians were indigenous women from Guatemala and Panama. The Congress was the first of its kind in Latin America, and LAWT hosted this event.

Also on July 14, the 13 AAWT representatives from five African nations joined the festival along with a dozen or so women theologians from North America who were interested in the event—some Latina, some Anglo.

Nellie Mlotsha of Zimbabwe said: “Unity in diversity endorsed who we are in Christ. I was blessed by the warm love the Latin American women showered on us, the African women theologians. Our prayer and wish to be fully involved in the work of the kingdom was theirs, we discovered. I am of the feeling that it is the motivation and confirmation of the Holy Spirit. It seems we are in agreement that we are here to complement the work men are doing rather than compete with them. All I have said is no doubt a testimony of our togetherness. Praise the Lord.”

For me to hear the women discuss openly the marginalization of women in the church everywhere was a refreshing theological reflection. One woman said that women today, as in Jesus’ time, are living “under the table.” The women likened their situation to that of the Syrophoenician woman (Matthew 15:21-28), whose encounter with Jesus sent a liberating message to all women. Like this woman, they said, we are living under the table today. Yet Jesus leaves the center to come to the margins, where woman actually are. Though the Syrophoenician woman has no name, as is true for most women in the Bible, she approaches Jesus, breaking the boundaries of that time between men and women, Jew and Gentile, speaks to him, then leads him to her home, showing her courage and recognition of Jesus’ authority. And due to the action of the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus gained a new understanding of masculinity, as both men and women shared this transformational experience.

Speakers encouraged the women to follow this example of challenging dogma in our own time. One said, “It is not a holy doctrine if some are excluded.” Another noted how powerful it is when women share their stories. For me, this was the first time I had heard such strong and accurate words concerning the marginalization of women in the church—wherever it is located. It was also the first time I had heard an interpretation of the Syrophoenician woman’s story as a learning experience for Jesus.

A highlight of the first day of the Congress was the evening celebration of the various Latin American cultures present. In the midst of this celebration, Milka Rindzinski of Uraguay, Olga Piedrasanta of Guatemala, and Linda Shelly of the United States were honored for the many years of work they have devoted to the church and the women in Latin America.

Ester Bornes of Argentina, said: “This gathering of fellowship and reflection with women theologians from Latin America and Africa, where dialogue was promoted along with theological reflection from women’s perspectives, … brought enjoyment and happiness, [and] was a great blessing to me. It challenges me to continue sharing with other sisters and brothers, visualizing ourselves in each space, taking away the fear of words, making more profound our Anabaptist theology and opening our hearts.” (Translation by Linda Shelly)

Linda Shelly, Mennonite Mission Network’s Latin American director, said she was “delighted to see women sharing their God-given gifts in leading Bible studies, preaching, singing, supporting each other and praying fervently. Most of the women present are involved in the mission work of their churches, and the connections they made with each other will be valuable for future ministries.”

The Congress developed a concluding declaration that stated, in part: “As Anabaptist women and men we constitute an interdependent community, committed to the challenges in which we propose opening spaces for dialogue between men and women, leading to the formation of communities of faith that foster equality.’ The full declaration was presented at the MWC assembly by three LAWT representatives. The complete document enumerates our commitments to continued dialogue with the larger church and support of one another in our efforts to continue our theological work. (Translation by Linda Shelly)

The Congress concluded on the last day of the MWC assembly (July 19) with a Sister-Link tea hosted by the Paraguayan women theologians to celebrate all we had achieved together. About 100 women attended this tea, which was a time of great joy for all.

Patricia Burdette is editor of Timbrel, the Mennonite Women USA magazine.