THE IDENTITY OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCHES OF POST SOCIALIST COUNTRIEs
AUGUST 22-25, 2002, RIGA, LATVIA
34 women from 10 different countries and of 7 different denominations gathered for the Third ESWTR Central and East European Regional conference in Riga, Latvia. The opening night of the conference gave a possibility for everybody to meet each other at the diner table and then enjoy a concert of spiritual music at the Dome Cathedral of Riga. The powerful music of Gaya Kanchelli in arches of medieval church rose special emotions as it was performed by famous musicians, such as Gideon Kremer. The light summer night let enjoy the Old Town of Riga in its full beauty.
August 23 appeared to be the main day of lectures. The conference took place at the Small Aula of the University of Latvia. The opening speech was given by Professor Irmtraud Fischer, the president of ESWTR. She encouraged the members of ESWTR from Central and Eastern Europe to take active part in defining the European theology and developing new tendencies of academic work.
Then I, Ieva Klavina, President of the Association of Lutheran Women Theologians in Latvia, gave brief introduction to the current situation of women ministry in Latvia. Many participants heard for the first time the sad story of forbidden ministry of women in Latvian Lutheran Church. The unique factor in Latvia is that there has been women ordination for almost 20 years and then it was stopped leaving many students of theology with nothing. Therefore nowadays many young Latvian Lutheran women have left their country for a life in exile, but with possibility to serve as ministers.
The next lecture given by Kornelia Buday from Hungary on the spiritual roots of Hungarian women: "The Earth Had Given Birth to the Sky - Images of the Divine and Women in the Archaic Hungarian Folk Prayers" took all the attention of listeners as she described historical witnesses on female spirituality.
Dzintra Ilishko and Anta Filipsone from Latvia gave lecture "Toward an eco-feminist response to challenges faced by Latvian women in terms of identity building." As they both just finished their Doctorat studies in USA they spoke of the ideas they would like to implement or rather create anew in Latvia. They also described the current ambiguous situation of women in different aspects they have seen in Latvia.
The lecture by Dace Balode, Latvia: "The Samaritan woman - new identity of women in church" showed the crucial turning point for recognition of women in the times of New Testament. And it is still important and relevant today.
Ela Osewska, Poland, in her lecture "The Changes of Family Catechesis in Poland" showed the tendencies of development of religious view over years in Poland.
After a long day of lectures the participants of conference were guided through the Old Town of Riga to discover the pearls of beauty it has nursed through centuries.
Saturday, August 24 was divided among mini-lectures in morning, plenary session in afternoon and a tour to the medieval castle of Turaida and Sigulda - the Switzerland of Latvia.
The mini-lectures revealed a common questions asked by women from different countries - self identity and image, our wishes and visions, violence and peace. The themes of mini-lectures covered wide spectrum of such questions.
Elzbieta Adamiak, PL: "Brauchen wir eine Theologie der Frauen in der "Zweiten Welt"? Was wurde sie bedeuten?" (Do We Need Women Theology in the "Second World"?);
Kristina Ivanauskiene, LT: "The Role of Christian Feminists in Lithuania"
Antonia Himmel-Agisburg, A: "Sources for Women's Spirituality in the Orthodox Church"
Miroslava Holubova, CZ: "Violence Against Women Issue as a Positive Example of a Synergetic Effect in the Czech Society"
Edite Vetra, LV: "On Ecofeminism and Rituals in Latvia"
Ieva Zeiferte, LV: "Violence Against Women and Children - a Part of Identity?"
Zilgme Eglite, LV: "Images of Women Yearning Towards Clergy - Scandalous Rioters or Obedient Lambs?"
Dessislava Stolincheva, BG: "The Women - Keeper of Orthodox Christian Tradition in Totalitarian Unity"
Laime Kiskune, LT: "The Ancient Women's Rituals in Lithuania".
The participants agreed at the Plenary Session that the conference schedule gave very good balance between lectures and free time in brakes to let it be most enjoyable in discussions and conversations.
It was decided that the next conference in two years should take place in Bulgaria.
The conference was closed by the common liturgy on Sunday morning. Although it was impossible to conduct liturgies on other days, this only one lasted for more than hour and compensated for the lack. The liturgy was prepared by Kornelia Buday and Gyongy Varga from Hungary, Ruth Gensler-Rehse from Germany and Diana Hristova from Bulgaria. I believe that the blessing we all received being together then and there, and also the previous days, is still with us.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank all the women who took part at this conference and made it alive. God bless you!
Ieva Klavina
President of Association of Lutheran Women Theologians in Latvia
