Indian Women Theological Forum
Wina India
WINA, born in August 15, 1982, was primarily an
effort to build a network with women’s groups in the Third World.
Hence, WINA stood for Women in India, Asia and Africa. Experience
over this period of growth brought about an awareness that the
organization should focus on women in India. Thus, it was decided
to retain the logo the acronym WINA which now stands for Women’s
Institute for New Awakening. WINA was registered under the
Karnataka State Societies Registration Act S. No. 89/89-90 of April 29,
1989. WINA also enjoys 80G Exemption under the Section 12A Acts
No. 718/10A/Vol/A III/W.23 of 29.4.1989.
PURPOSE
DISSEMINATE - New ideas, concepts, knowledge and
information about women and girls leading to a better understanding of
their situation and to action on all fronts. >more
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us any time at winaindia@yahoo.com. Wina India website was launched on 29.12.2004. URL is www.winaindia.com
The contributors of this book write on these and a variety of other issues pertaining to the life and work of Christian women, particularly in India. Some writers reflect on theological considerations, some on women's self images. Some discuss women's contributions which have already been made, others foresee what women can do now and in the future, given the opportunity and freedom to participate more ully in Church work, community service, and in development work. In the context of their ecumenical backgrounds and varied cultures, all these writers bring together their special concerns, competences and experiences to their writings. From their discussions it is evident that the current revolution in the status and roels of women which has quite significantly affected the social environment of the entire world has not left the Christian woman untouched. She too, like the educated woman of today, has a new self-esteem and a new readiness to shed for modesty and to affirm her strengths.THE EMERGING CHRISTIAN WOMAN is a book of the day. Implicit in it is the need for Christian women to review their history and to consolidate their talents for greater impact on Church and society. It opens the way for Indian women to seek solidarity with Christian women in other pasrts of Asia of similar cultural affinity, and possibly with Christian women of other continents. he book is timely. It will serve as the much-needed resource material to many global conferences which are being convened or will follow on similar or allied themes.
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When one thinks of The Bible. the persons who first come
to mind, from the Old Testament, are Adam and Eve,
Noah. Abraham. Moses and Kings David and Solomon.
From the New Testament it is Jesus and His disciples.
Seldom do thoughts or images occur of women.
though they have contributed to the communities of their
time and place.
More than ten years ago. Anna Vareed Alexander.
researched and compiled the stories of Biblical women,
women who have lived before us and are our foremothers.
Fortunately for us, they provide role models for their
modern counterparts, inspiring and giving courage
during moments of grave crisis or decision making.
Therefore, WINAIndia has for a long time been planning
to bring these stories together as a book.
Anna was to work on these stories further. adding to
their number and placing them within the Indian context.
while sharing her reflections with us. But her time. as
that of most women, was fragmented by her duties as
wife, mother and housewife. Yet she responded to the
call of the community as much as she was able, always
trying to do only her very best. But. Anna was cruelly
snatched by death before she could complete this task
which had absorbed her so completely.
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Interview with Gabriele Dietrich
Introduction:
A person of whom I often wondered and wanting to know more about her was Gabriele Dietrich. She is German by birth and how she naturalised herself to India is a constant question in my mind, whether it is an identity issue, or a survival issue or even a issue of choice. One fine day in February 2004 I took a trip to Madurai to meet Dr. Gabriele Dietrich. I want to the Social Analysis Center at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai to meet her. That was the several occasions I met Dr. Gabriele Dietrich and our meeting was relaxed. I had several questions in my mind and I formulated them point by point. I was impressed because all of my questions to her ware addressed in a proper manner, without a word of minimizing.
I am using initials for our name. RR stands for Rini Ralte. Many people know me with Rini in India because people cannot pronounce my full name, and GD stands for Gabriele Dietrich.
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In May 1999 a small group of women theologians from different church backgrounds came together at the United Theological College (UTC) to discuss the need for more literature on women’s issues and Theology and also to recognize a historical event, namely, the silver jubilee of the ordination of women in the Church of South India (CSI) in May 2001. The process of envisioning a national workshop on Feminist Biblical Hermeneutics, the celebration of the silver jubilee of the Ordination of Women and also bringing out a publication began. It resulted in a three day national consultation on Feminist Biblical Hermeneutics. The consultation began by recalling the history of Ordination of women in the Church of South India. The late Rev. Elizabeth Paul (Betty Paul) became India's first woman Minister to be ordained as a Deacon on May 6, 1976 at Madras (Chennai). She was ordained by Bishop Sundar Clarke, the then Bishop in Madras of the CSI. A week later on May 12, 1976, Rev. Nirmala Vasanthkumar was ordained as Deacon in Bangalore by Bishop Kenneth Gill. It was only in the year 1984 that the first Presbyter Ordination of women took place in Bangalore.
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