From Hurt to Hope: Women of the Church Confronting Institutional Violence

Women of faith are reinterpreting the traditional understandings of sacred texts of Christianity to challenge violence condoned and promoted within the church.  What can we learn from such efforts about confronting all forms of institutional violence?

On 6 March 2013, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Young Women’s Leadership Development of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Women Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Interfaith Worker Justice co-hosted a parallel event at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The event explored Ecumenical Women’s talking point on structural violence against women. The reading from John’s Gospel of the woman taken in adultery served as the lens through which the presentations and conversations approached the issues.

Women with a variety of perspectives shared stories of experiencing and overcoming institutional violence in the church, workplace, legal system and educational environments.  Attendees were invited to discuss their own stories in small groups and work with presenters to plan action steps to take home.

• Opening
• Scripture reading – John 8:1-11
• Exegesis
• Biblical reflection
• Ola Leasi
• Ann Rhee Menzie
• Mary Ann Pedde
• Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow
• Commitments