ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) – For more than 10 years, women have supported each other’s ministry across Latin America through connections within the Movimiento de Teólogas Anabautistas de América Latina (Latin American Anabaptist Women Theologians Movement).
“These meetings have been such a blessing for us,” said Zaraí Gonzalía, the executive administrator of the Seminario Bíblico Menonita de Colombia (Colombia Mennonite Biblical Seminary). Gonzalía is also the regional co-coordinator of the Andean Zone for the women’s movement. “Friendships are established and strengthened within communities and throughout regions. These relationships are fundamental in encouraging us because we know we have other women who are walking with us in mission.”
About 80 women from throughout the continent met Feb. 8-10. The theme for this year’s continent-wide workshop was “Toward a holistic renewal from the Word of God: Spirit, mind and body.”
Linda Shelly, director for Latin America for Mennonite Mission Network, is an advisor to the Latin American women theologians, and supports the movement by helping develop connections, funding relationships, and plans.
“It was clear from the beginning that this was a ‘movement,’ the idea being that it’s open to broad participation,” said Shelly, in a 2013 reflection. “The MTAL encourages women to study theology, support each other in their ministries, and help their churches understand God’s call to both women and men.”
The movement, with support from Mennonite World Conference and member churches in the north and south, highlights the gifts of women in ministry. Shelly said, “This is especially helpful in places where churches have traditionally emphasized the verses that speak against women’s leadership in the church rather than emphasize the lives of women leaders included in the Bible.”
Milka Rindzinski, a theologian from Uruguay who is an advisor for the women’s movement, was denied ordination in the 1960s after she graduated from the Seminario Evangélico Menonita de Teología (Evangelical Mennonite Theology Seminary) in Montevideo.
As a student, church leaders had encouraged her to take on pastoral responsibilities like preaching, counseling, and mentoring other believers. But after her ordination was denied, she found other ways to serve the church.
“In reality, a woman can still use all of her God-given gifts, even if she isn’t ordained,” said Rindzinski, in a blog post she wrote for the movement’s blog. “But it can be frustrating to be discriminated against and unvalued. Nevertheless, the example from this movement spreads and makes the church review their beliefs. And now there are Anabaptist Mennonite churches in Latin America that are ordaining women pastors.”
The movement started when Latin American women and the African women theologians met during the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Zimbabwe in 2003. The Latin American women were impressed by the African women and motivated to also organize women in their continent.
“I was inspired by their vision of liberation, which was not limited to merely a secular feminist view, but was one of liberation that came from the Bible, from Jesus,” said Ofelia García, a pastor from Mexico. “This inspired me to think about women in my own context of Latin America who experience the same difficulties the African women did.”
García and Alix Lozano, who was then the director of the Mennonite Seminary in Colombia, took the initiative to organize a movement in Latin America. The group received a formal blessing from Mennonite World Conference, where MTAL is connected with the Faith and Life Commission.
Over the years, many women have worked hard to expand the movement. They define the word “theologian” to include the theological work that women do in all areas of church leadership. No degree is required to participate in the movement, but women are encouraged to study theology.
They also connect their events with regional church gatherings in order to increase participation. Although there is no formal membership, more than 1,000 women have participated in different events.
During 2013, Mennonite Women USA facilitated regional Sister Care seminars in Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia and Bolivia to prepare Latin American leaders from 19 countries. These leaders have in turn facilitated more than 40 local and national workshops, with more scheduled in 2014.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
