First day of the Pre-Assembly

Today the Pre-Assemblies started. At 7.30 I was present at Konzert Haus where WCC staff already had started to prepare for the day. The programme started with morning devotion at 8.30 and the two first hours we were together – all four preassemblies:

A Just Community of Women and Men Pre-Assembly

Ecumenical Youth Gathering

Ecumenical Disabilities Advocates Network Pre-Assembly

Indigenous Peoples Pre-Assembly

It was a moving experience to participate in the devotion. Let me give one example. The text that was read was from John 6. When Jesus multiplies two fish and five loaves of bread. Representatives from all four Pre-Assemblies shared their perspectives on the text. A woman pointed out that it was a woman that had prepared the food, that the boy brought to Jesus. So, the person who made food available isn’t even mentioned in the text. That is really an eyeopener.

At 10.30 we continued in separate venues. We heard a number of short testimonies under the heading: visiting our wounds. I also contributed by giving some examples from the MeToo-movement in Sweden. After that other speakers were talking about mega-trends, like Covid. I was also part of the moderating team this morning. Bishop Rose-Marie Wenner, Ms Maha Milki (and Rev. Damon Mkandawire who is not in the photo) and I have formed the scheduling team. 

After lunch we had a two-hour interactive Bible Study, reading Acts 8:26-39 about Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Again, one woman pointed out that one person in the text often is forgotten. The Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. A powerful and rich African dignitary.

We were also visited by the Moderator of the World Council of Churches, Dr Agnes Aboum. She reinforced the need for gender justice and said that her daughter and granddaughter are having more challenges then she and her mother had. Sad to hear but maybe she is right.

One of the learnings from this day is that violence against women and girls (and men) are becoming worse. Covid didn’t make things better. Wars always mean an increase in rapes. As an ambassador of the Thursdays in Black campaign I will return from this Pre-Assembly and Assembly with fighting spirit. We can do better. I want my grandchildren to grow up in safety.

Contextual Bible Study

Sarojini Nadar in front of Uppsala Cathedral

Today Professor Sarojini Nadar, who holds

the Desmond Tutu Chair of Ecumenical Theology and Social Transformation in Africa

at the University of Western Cape in South Africa, visited us at the Church of Sweden Institute for Pastoral Education. Approximately thirty persons were present at the interactive workshop where we read a Bible narrative together. It was the story about the syrophoenician woman who meets Jesus. We read both the Mark 7 and the Matthew 15 versions. It was reassuring to see the engagement from students and teachers. The group consisted of students preparing to become deacons and pastors, teachers at the institute, academics from the Theological Faculty at the Uppsala University and staff members from Church of Sweden head office.

When a bible study is facilitated by theologians from the Ujamaa* tradition some things always strike me. First of all everybody in the room get an opportunity to participate and to speak. All contributions are written on a flip chart. Second, you never experience a rush, even if there is a time constraint. The facilitator is not in a hurry.

We arrived at interesting conclusions. One thing that a couple of persons picked up was the impression that Jesus didn’t want to help the woman directly. Instead he started a dispute with her which helped her to raise her own voice. Only then did Jesus respond positively. Somehow even Jesus came out from the conversation transformed. He also learnt something from the encounter. A question that was asked was if we are quick to help people instead of first engaging with the other person and wait for her or his own opinion. In such an interaction we might come out as the one who has received.

Much more could be said. Those who were present were very positive. The day before students at our institute, who study in Lund, also got a chance to meet her.

To me this way of reading the Bible together is something that we should use more in the parishes. The question that always comes up towards the end is how we make sense of the biblical text in our own context. How does it speak to us? This is of course essential. Only then transformation can take place.

The theme of the workshop was

Pedagogical underpinnings of the Contextual Bible Study Method

and included also a part where Sarojini explained how this pedagogy works. This was also appreciated.

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* The Ujamaa Centre for Biblical and Theological Community Development and Research in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is an interface between socially engaged biblical and theological scholars, organic intellectuals, and local communities of the poor, working-class, and marginalised. The Ujamaa Centre uses biblical and theological resources for individual and social transformation (from the website).

Anglican and Lutheran

Of course I am a Lutheran. But I also enjoy fellowship with the Anglican Church. In the pew leaflet of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity one can read this:

LENT BIBLE STUDIES

Pontius Pilate and Jesus: About Power Relations.

Every Sunday we mention the name of the ancient politician Pontius Pilate. Why is he so important? In five Bible Studies we take a look at the relationship between Jesus and Pontius Pilate and together we draw conclusions for our own lives.

The Lenten Bible Studies will be led by the Revd. Dr. Anders Goranzon, (MDiv,PhD) on Wednesdays in the Colenso Hall starting at 17:30.

Please make every effort to attend. 

I look forward to this. I will lead the Bible Studies in the tradition of CBS = Contextual Bible Studies. Through engaging with the person Pontius Pilate we will understand more about ourselves and our own time.

This takes place on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning at 06h45 I lead the morning Eucharist and coming Sunday I preside and preach in the first service at 07h00 and in the second service at 08h30 I preach.

This week I spend a little bit more time in the Anglican Church then in the Lutheran. But Sunday the 23 I will be back in my own tradition and preach at the Lutheran Theological Institute - LTI.

After all there is only One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.