Transformative masculinities

On the second day of the Pre-Assembly of a Just community of Women and Men we had arranged separate conversations for women and men. It was too short but still so rewarding. About 50-60 men met and listened to four, short presentations on Transformative Masculinities. We started with a recorded speech by Ezra Chitando from Zimbabwe. I liked it when he – based on Paolo Freire – said that we as men are allies to women and girls and that we need to sit at their feet. Three other presenters were in site and shared views from the Bible, and from their respective contexts. They were Algernon Lewis, originally from the Caribbean, Rastko Jović from Serbia and Thomas Ninan from India.

It was such a strong feeling to see this group of men having vivid conversations on how we can become transformative in the struggle for gender justice. I am grateful for being able to journey with them.

After lunch I was asked to moderate the session when the whole Pre-Assembly was going to discuss our report. It became an almost three-hour long session with some strong emotions. Some of the speakers underscored that the report needs to be phrased in a diplomatic way so that members churches of the WCC should want to read it. Others wanted to use a more direct language. Some issues about human sexuality and about naming patriarchy as a sin are sensitive. After that session I was rather exhausted but also energised at the same time. It was a good experience to hear especially many strong women sharing their anger and lamenting the slow pace when it comes to transformation in this regard.

In the evening I joined a rather different group of people when I had been invited to share a meal with the leadership of the United Bible Societies. This is also a very important group of ecumenical leaders to meet. I understood that the incoming Director General of the United Bible Societies, Dirk Gevers and the incoming General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Jerry Pillay both are Presbyterians from South Africa, and they have worked together before. It is good if the WCC and UBS can continue to cooperate.

Tomorrow the Assembly itself will start. I look forward to that.