Interview with Rev. Au Sze Ngui on the LWF Gender Justice Policy and the meeting of the WICAS Asia network
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/Geneva, 29.08.2014.
From 8 to 13 August, participants from 12 Asian countries took part in the meeting of the LWF “Women in Church and Society” Asia network in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The aim of the meeting was to highlight the contribution of Asian women to the Lutheran reformation and to explore the implementation of the LWF Gender Justice Policy. In an interview, Rev. Au Sze Ngui (Basel Christian Church of Malaysia) talks about the importance and relevance of the Gender Justice Policy.
What, in your view, are the most needed outcomes following this WICAS meeting?
Good representation of all the Asian sub-regions is already a gain. 37 participants coming from various Asian situations and gathered around issues of Gender Justice is a significant step forward for the church.
The fact that the participants have expressed their commitment to translate the LWF Gender Justice Policy document into many Asian languages shows that they have a passion to take it on, to find in it the strength to transform their churches and society. Personally, the encouragement from WICAS to participate in this process as a theologian is very important to me.
Taking the Asian context into account, what is your vision for the implementation of the LWF Gender Justice Policy?
Asian society is developing. Migration to the cities, the growing freedom of women, their becoming part of the workforce, has led to a broader understanding of gender roles. In such a scenario, the transformative dimension of the gospel, which envisions gender justice, will foster opportunities for implementation.
The gospel paves the way into reflection on gender justice, and that is what we have been doing throughout this meeting. Successful implementation of the policy will happen when the transformation brought by an understanding of the gospel has taken place.
What are the possible challenges for this process of transformation in relation to gender justice in the Asian context?
The understanding of justice is contextual. In each society it can mean different things. Yet we Lutherans, because we believe in a just God who created women and men equally, can share the same fundamental values that the Gender Justice Policy reflects.
It is important to emphasise this theological foundation in order to avoid the misunderstanding of gender justice as a Western perspective. In Asian societies, traditions play a central role. Finding a way to illuminate gender justice in a context where ancient practices are still highly valued could be a challenge.
This is especially observable in rural regions, where there are still strict gender roles that can deny women and girls the benefit of equal opportunities, where often they suffer from discrimination and exploitation that is accepted and perpetuated by family and institutional systems. The LWF has made a significant contribution by standing against such situations and has encouraged women. Nevertheless, it is still a challenging context.
What contribution can women theologians make to the regional discussion on gender justice?
Faith is a refuge from uncertainty. We read the Word of God seeking comfort. But if we decide to promote greater gender justice, then we as women theologians must introduce critical thinking in order to question those interpretations of the Bible that incite injustice against women. The practice of questioning is not characteristic of Asia, but it is necessary.
I would add that we should address both women and men theologians. Based on my experience of participating in the theologians’ group of the LWF Asian Lutheranism symposium, I have understood that we analyse things differently and complementarily.
The richness of women’s experience in working with theology is often rooted in a much more practical approach, but discussions with men theologians are critical in order to cover the full range of issues relating to gender justice that the church as a whole must reflect on and act upon.
photo: LWF/C. RendónLWF/C. Rendón
report prepared based on information provided by the LWF http://www.lutheranworld.org
Translated from English by LELBĀL pastor Ieva Puriņa
Proofreader Mag. Theol. Milda Klampe