What is it about?

This article analyzes the experience and self-understanding of pan-African women of faith with a missional focus on their contributions and invitation to a “pilgrimage of justice and peace.” The article concludes by detailing recent and future work of PAWEEN–the Pan African Women's Ecumenical Empowerment Network–in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Why is it important?

The article is timely in that it is a focus of the 2018 World Mission and Evangelism Conference in Arusha, Tanzania where Pan African women will have an unique place of leadership. The article addresses the missional leadership shift of "mission from the margins" as the growth of Christianity moves to Africa and other non-western contexts. This "mission from the margins" considers the importance of three theological foci of pilgrimage of justice and peace in such a movement: (1) Via positiva: celebrating the gifts; (2) Via negativa: visiting the wounds; and (3) Via transformativa: transforming the injustices.

Perspectives

This article is theologically grounded and contextually relevant as it makes the case for the recognition and engagement of missional leadership of Pan African Women of Faith. They have often been forgotten or barely mentioned in the history of the Bible and the churches. The article points to ways in which the churches can accompany their missional leadership and their contributions to the Christian pilgrimage of justice and peace. It is my honor to contribute to this changing of the churches' narrative that more intentionally includes their theological perspectives and stories of celebration, woundedness and transformation.

Dr. Angelique K Walker-Smith
Bread for the World

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: The Legacy, Leadership, and Hope of Pan-African Women of Faith in Building Sustainable Just Communities as a Missional Focus, International Review of Mission, November 2016, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/irom.12146.
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