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Dr Stephanie Dietrich during a Women's preconference to the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

Dr Stephanie Dietrich during a Women's preconference to the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

More than 50 women from across the globe, representing diverse faith traditions, gathered on 6-7 March in Arusha, Tanzania, for a pre-conference on the theme “Women in Mission on the move of the Spirit: Mentorship for Transformation”.

The event preceded the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism, organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 8-13 March.

At the pre-conference, women shared through storytelling, group discussions, Bible study, ritual and prayers.

Metropolitan Dr Geevarghese Coorilos, moderator of WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, acknowledged that the global church continues to be in a patriarchal disposition, with very few exceptions. “Women continue to be at the margins of our society. That needs to be reversed,” he said.

Faustina Nillan, director for Women and Children in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, said holistic mission is a unique contribution of women. “We are not only preaching the Bible but we are also focusing on development,” she said.

Septemmy E. Lakawa, professor of Mission Studies at the Jakarta Theological Seminary in Indonesia added that women are also leaders in interreligious dialogue. “Women can shape new understandings especially in interreligious relationships in the aftermath of violence,” she said.

Dr Fulata Lusungu Moyo, WCC programme executive for the Just Community of Women and Men, said women have played a very critical role in mission. “They participated in mission and evangelism as an expression of true compassion and love for humanity.”

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Conference on World Mission and Evangelism