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PAWEEN conference in Washington, D.C., United States, 2016. © Joseph Molieri / Bread for the World

PAWEEN conference in Washington, D.C., United States, 2016. © Joseph Molieri / Bread for the World

Women of African descent have made important contributions to the ecumenical movement and to their societies' sustainable development. However, their stories often remain untold and their potential unfilled.

A seminar organized by the Pan African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Network (PAWEEN), a project of the Ecumenical Theological Education department of the World Council of Churches (WCC), at the WCC's Ecumenical Institute Bossey will help give voice to these unheard stories. Twenty-eight representatives of churches, faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, Pan African women’s organizations, and academic institutions will gather at the institute in Switzerland from 10-14 July.

“The pilgrimage of justice and peace, on which the WCC has embarked since its Assembly in 2013, is a pristine opportunity to learn from each other and to journey together in solidarity. This seminar offers both perspectives by highlighting the often underscored contributions of Pan African women to church, society and academia worldwide,” says Amélé Ekué, WCC programme executive for Ecumenical Theological Education and one of the co-organizers of the seminar.

The event will include sessions, through and from the perspective of Pan African women, on agency and resilience; historic and contemporary wounds; advancement of rights and sharing solidarity; transformation and empowerment. Selected sessions will be live streamed at www.oikoumene.org/live

More information on the Pan-African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Network

Read also: Theological education key to women’s empowerment in the church (WCC press release of 25 June 2016)

Schedule of live-streamed sessions