Lutheran women demand inclusion in church activities

Women delegates attending the Asia Pre-Assembly Consultation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called for urgent changes to structures and traditions that promote exclusion.

"Making women visible is the first step in reducing their vulnerability," said Ms Dora R. Hemalatha, women's secretary at the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) in India.

Hemalatha was presenting the women's perspectives on the keynote address by LWF vice president Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan at the 6-9 December regional LWF meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

The ELCJHL bishop in his keynote address had called the church to take a strong stand "against the feminization of hunger by educating, empowering and enabling women for full membership in all spheres of society."

Endorsing the plea, Hemalatha pointed that Church's fight against hunger and related issues can be strengthened by "adding ways in which women in the church in particular can be empowered to overcome these challenges."

The women's response underlined the need to provide opportunities "for women to participate, speak, act and take a lead in their own churches starting from the grassroots level."

Close to 100 delegates from many Asian countries had convened for the consultation which deliberated on the theme - "Give us today our daily bread".

Cultural, traditional and social restrictions often mean that women are more affected by hunger and poverty than men, informed Hemalatha.

"During hard times, the women are the first to give something up: With less food to go around, it is invariably the woman who gives up her food to feed the family," Hemalatha said.

This situation also has an impact on women's health, she noted, citing the example of India, where more than 50 percent of women are anemic.

"Out of 15 women giving birth, eight deliver premature babies with a low birth weight," said the ALC women's leader.

The Asian region women also pointed out the need for the church to become more involved in efforts to counter human trafficking, of which a majority of the victims are women and girls.

"Trafficking of girls is at an all time high. Women are being portrayed as objects of entertainment, bonded labor, slave trade and feudalism. Men feel that women [have an obligation] to bring money to the family to support the family needs. We should especially talk about how churches can help women to change this situation."

On climate change, the APAC women delegates emphasized that the "impact of our energy-hungry lifestyles are affecting people across the world."

They said Dalit and Adivasi (tribal) women were among the most affected as they lack the capacity to deal with climate change.