WCC Program to Combat Racism, Women, and the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians

The WCC Program to Combat Racism and Women

Despite the inception of the Program to Combat Racism (PCR) in 1969, which was a response to the fourth assembly in Uppsala in 1968, the specific issues faced by women under racist systems were not initially prioritized. This oversight occurred despite the increased presence of women at the assembly, the growing independence movements in African nations, and the active roles women took in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The push for an equitable position for women within the ecumenical community, voiced by a generation of Pan-African women, was also a factor. It wasn't until the 1980s that the program directed its focus specifically to women's issues.

Women Under Racism Program and the Sisters Network

Pamela Ohine Nyako's work highlights the significance of the Women Under Racism program and the Sisters Network, both established in the 1980s and early 1990s. Led by figures like Dr. Jean Sindab, Marilia Schuller, and Reverend Yvonne Delk, who was part of the PCR's program executive committee, these initiatives served as a crucial bridge between generations of Pan-African women, paving the way for future leadership. Nyako's research provides a valuable record of this initiative and the women involved.

Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (The Circle)

The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, or simply "the Circle," emerged in 1989 under the guidance of Dr. Mercy Odouye, in collaboration with Dr. Borrelia Bam and other African women theologians forming the International Planning Committee. The World Council of Churches (WCC) supported the establishment of this Africa-centered initiative. Both Dr. Oduyoye and Dr. Bam had leadership roles within the WCC, contributing to the vision and theological focus of Pan-African women both in Africa and the diaspora. During this period, Dr. Bam led the WCC community, while Dr. Oduyoye headed the youth program office.

Together, they allocated resources, partnering with African women theologians who were already conceiving what would become the African-based Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians during the 1980s and 1990s. Rachel Fielder's book on the movement's history notes that other movements addressing gender inequalities in church and society existed before the Circle. While WCC-affiliated theologians, such as Professor Dr. Letty Russell from Yale Divinity School, engaged in discussions with Dr. Oduyoye and others, African women had independently initiated their own biblical theological work within their specific contexts. The Pan-African women leaders serve as an example of this independent initiative, maintaining contact with earlier voices advocating for women's liberation.

Distinctiveness of Circle Theologies

Dr. Fielder emphasizes that Circle theologies are unique from other women's liberation movements because they are rooted in African culture and religion. Since the Circle originated in Africa and was created by and for African women, including those in the diaspora, Circle theologies are referred to as either African feminist theologies or African women's theologies. While distinct from feminist theologies developed elsewhere, they remain part of the broader category of feminist theology and can be classified as liberation theologies.

Fielder's work is a significant contribution to understanding the Circle and the theological contributions of African and African diaspora women to this important movement, both historically and in the present day.