By Marcia D’Cunha

Bengaluru, Oct 6, 2022: the Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM), an ecumenical forum, has resolved to admit trans persons and LGBT+ persons as members and engage with social and Church issues with “the lens of feminism, liberation and gospel values.”

The resolution emerged at the third ICWM convention held September 29-October 2 at the United Theological College in Bengaluru, southern India.

“After braving two years of pandemic, as caregivers, voices against injustice, supporting victims or survivors of violence, abuse and various atrocities it was energizing to meet again,” says a statement issued after the convention.

The convention addressed the theme, “Who will Roll the Stone Away,” alluding to the various “stones” that bar the path of women towards full equality in all areas of their lives.

Aruna Roy, president of the National Federation of Indian Women and founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, pointed to the various ways where women could work to remove the “stones” in different areas of their lives.

“While the personal is political, we have to be careful of how we use faith in politics. Our politics should be reflected in our personal lives,” Roy said and shared how she chose to move out of her privileged urban lifestyle to live with the rural poor, in a hut so that she could understand their struggles.

She reminded the Christian women that they have inherited the tradition of Christ and are keepers of his compassion and love which is badly needed in politics today.

She asked the participants to articulate women’s idea of power and to interpret the Indian Constitution as a women’s document. She reminded them that the Constitution helps them stay alive with secular values. “The Constitution becomes our text to deradicalize India. It is a political tool,” she explained.

Roy also urged them to speak truth to power and reminded them that patriarchy and secrecy are two great factors that work against women, so they have to fight them and use legal processes to question impunity.

The participants deliberated and deepened their understanding of discrimination and marginalization based on caste, gender, region, religion and sexual orientation.

Using the lens of feminist theology, they realized their strength lies in plurality and unity. “We affirmed the leadership and strength that comes from women’s collectives to bring about transformative change. We stand strongest when we stand together, allowing God’s grace to work through us,” the statement adds.

The participants encountered local activists, including trans persons from the grassroots. This convinced the Christian women the need to engage with people on issues to help them understand and do something about them. “We should engage with our differences in a non-combative way, but never invisibilize differences,” the statement says.

It also sees “a structural difference when it comes to women and power. Women are uncomfortable with power. We need to step into power in order to discover our power.”

The convention resolved to engage with issues inside and outside of our churches with the lens of feminism, liberation and gospel values, strengthen local collectives to rise and engage with issues of local and national concern in our churches, and build local units that are diverse and representative of the plurality of our Churches.

The Christian women vowed to stand for gender justice and inclusion, by including “trans persons and LGBT+ persons in our membership as well as our concerns.”

The high point of the convention was an all-women Ecumenical Eucharist where a Catholic nun and a transwoman joined as non-ordained con-celebrants.

“The [Participants found the Eucharist deeply moving, prayerful and meaningful,” the statement claims.