Commentary: Mozambican women step out in faith
 |
|
United Methodist women in Mozambique gather in
Maputo for the Mozambican Women's Seminar on the Social Principles,
facilitated by Linda Bales (left)
of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
A UMNS photo courtesy of Linda Bales.
|
A UMNS Commentary by Linda Bales*
April 3, 2007 | MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS)
 |
|
"Love is the most important action we take for
ourselves and others. We cannot do our work without it," says Lidia
Zacarias in her closing devotional. A UMNS photo
by Linda Bales.
|
The room was quiet as Lidia Zacarias began to speak quietly, sharing one
of the most cherished chapters in the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13.
"Love is the most important action we take for ourselves and others," Lidia said. "We cannot do our work without it."
The love passage served as a closing devotional during the Mozambican
Women's Seminar on the Social Principles, which brought together 20
United Methodist women to study the denomination's biblical and
theological positions on a variety of contemporary human issues. The
March 14-16 event in Maputo was sponsored by the United Methodist Board
of Church and Society.
The spirit of loving oneself and one's neighbor permeated the
gathering as evidenced by spontaneous singing and a willingness to seek
out God's word through Bible study followed by discernment on the
critical social issues of the day facing women. The women came to pray,
learn and act!
The primary issue addressed was HIV & AIDS.
"We have to do something about this!" declared a woman named Enia
after listening to a conversation about men having multiple wives or
partners - resulting in increased HIV infections. The session
highlighted the trend that marriage has become a risk factor since many
women are now contracting the virus from their husbands.
Challenging some of the cultural practices in Mozambique was among
pledges made by these bold and courageous women and, no doubt, they will
face opposition.
Other issues addressed were domestic violence, mental health,
depression and suicide, women's rights and how to develop a political
consciousness.
“Challenging some of the cultural practices
in Mozambique was among pledges made by these bold and courageous women
and, no doubt, they will face opposition.”
"This special seminar is a blessing and will transform our country
and world. We say thank you," said Ilda Suzana, staff person on women's
concerns for the Mozambique Conference.
The spirit-filled women face an uphill battle in their desire to
correct some of the injustices happening in their country, given the
dire statistics.
Mozambique has a population of 19 million and is twice the geographic
size as California. On the Human Development Index, it ranks last out
of all the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, having a literacy rate of 48
percent and only 50 percent of its women educated. Life expectancy has
dropped from 43 in 1990 to 39 in 2006 due to the AIDS pandemic. An
estimated 1.8 million people have the HIV virus and more than half are
women.
One reality facing the women is the lack of open discussion about
sexuality and the transmission of disease. According to one participant,
women can talk about sex, but when a man enters the room, the
conversation stops. A related cultural taboo is the belief that sex is
not discussed when a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law are in the same
room.
 |
|
Linda Bales
|
While there are laws protecting women against domestic violence and
guaranteeing inheritance rights, they are rarely enforced. Women are
routinely discriminated against either through patriarchal systems in
place or cultural practices denying basic rights.
Several of the seminar participants will visit the United States in
April to meet with the Board of Church and Society and representatives
of the Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries. They also
will speak in local churches in the Virginia Annual Conference - one of
their partner conferences.
Instituting a Department of Social Principles within United Methodist
Women was an action idea identified at the seminar's conclusion. The
department would sponsor ongoing training and education on the Social
Principles for women throughout the conference with the hope of bringing
higher quality of life to women, children and families.
*Bales is program director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population
Project and children's concerns for the United Methodist Board of Church
and Society.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Related Articles
African church needs more women in authority, bishops learn
Mozambican ministries receive HIV/AIDS program support
Bishops meet outside U.S., greet Mozambican president
Resources
Mozambique: Land of Contrasts
Mozambique Profile
UMCOR: HIV/AIDS ministries | 
Translate
Korean News
