Now Brothers and Sisters

"They are now brothers and sisters, and now death amongst us shall stop."

That's the promise made by Nuer women and Murle women in South Sudan who worked with RECONCILE International - a promise all the more amazing because of the conflict between these peoples.

Milcah Lalam, Programs Manager & Acting Principal for the RECONCILE Peace Institute, told the story during an adult education class at First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York.

Inter-ethnic fighting between the Murle and Nuer tribes claimed many lives during 2009. RECONCILE reports:

There are many explanations for the fighting, ranging from decades-old disputes to third-party spurning and instigation. Whatever the case, the violence has heightened, and now involves relatively new instances of women and child casualties and abductions. Such intense conflict has had an extreme traumatising effect on members of the two tribes, especially women and children.

Recognizing the need to address the emotional and spirtual wounds in the Nuer and Murle communities, as well as the conflict between the ethnic groups in general, RECONCILE sought a way to respond.

With the support of Presbyterian Women, RECONCILE led three workshops in November, 2009 - two in Murle communities and one in a Nuer community. From these workshops, the Nuer and Murle women began a written conversation that focused on the desire to meet and work for peace among their peoples. This conversation led to meetings between the women. And at one of those meetings, RECONCILE reports:

The women ‘shared’ babies with each other. This act carried a very deep traditional peacemaking commitment. The women explained the significance this way: “My baby is yours and yours is mine, and now these are our children. They shall not fight against each other for they are now brothers and sisters, and now death amongst us shall stop.”

Supported by RECONCILE, the Murle and Nuer women continue the journey to peace.

Milcah also talked about RECONCILE's work to heal the trauma endured by the people of Sudan through years of war and violence. Often this trauma-healing involves the use of art, drama, and games.

Watch for video clips of Milcah's presentation.

Milcah is present in New York for the Commission on the Status of Women. Her visit is made possible byPresbyterian Women.

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations hosted the Presbyterian participants in the Commission and arranged for Milcah to lead the adult class at First Presbyterian.

Intergenerational Empowerment and the Work of the Church at the 55th Commission of the Status of Women

By Honna Eichler

I am currently sitting in the PC(USA) office in the UN Church Center, peering out the window at the busy UN complex below. The streets below are vibrantly full and include many from an international community dedicated to the rights and empowerment of all women. In the moments between the dozens of competing events, secondary events and parallel events, I pause to reflect on my experience at CSW so far and how it has informed my conviction on the responsibility of church in accompanying women worldwide wide. I will focus on a theme I have quickly become aware of: empowering an intergenerational community of religious advocates.

I first became acquainted with the other Presbyterian delegates to the 55th Commission on the Status of Women through email and Facebook. I was truly blessed to find that the people I knew only as user names on a screen transformed into a community when I entered the Ecumenical Women's CSW Orientation just two short days ago. As a PC(USA) delegate, I met and heard from a Presbyterian delegate from the newly formed South Sudan (!!!) and delegates from parts of Africa, New Zealand, the Middle East, South America and Europe. We were joined with similarly minded Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians from around the world.

I could tell right away that this collection of Ecumenical Women was unique for two reasons. First, it was the only ecumenical event I attended (or heard about) that was intergenerational: there was a good balance of women (and a few men) of all ages. The affirmation of the empowerment of a young adult delegation was obvious and enthusiastic. Secondly, there was an emphasis on articulating one's theological conviction through advocacy in the public sphere.

As a young adult, I am thankful for the generous distribution of collective wisdom from the women here who have gone before me. Several women I have met have decades of experience with Presbyterian Women, social policy and public advocacy and have openly shared their stories, experiences and wisdom. I would say a teaching spirit exists in this space - one I have not frequently encountered. These conversations helped me realize that the church must seek to accompany and empower women at all stages of life.

Accompanying women world-wide begins locally and only then moves abroad. Locally, those within a church can seek to foster intergenerational relationships that are affirming and empowering. (This goes against the age-based segregation often common to many worship communities.) Intergenerational relationships and empowerment can occur as women seek to hear each others stories and find ways to articulate their theological convictions in the public sphere. Often this is difficult and complex work and can only be accomplished through the open sharing of resources and collective wisdom.

In the same vein, the church must listen to the stories from those outside its local context. Some of my greatest learning these past few days has come through personal stories of oppression from women around the world. In short, there is a need to become aware of the voices of women through intentional outreach and engagement. This doesn't happen absent hard work, which is often hard to come by, but it must happen in order for theology to be inspired by the relevant events of its historical context.

When there is a lack of intergenerational empowerment, relationships break down and it is harder to continue the work inspired by the dedication of those who have gone on before.

Those who have power within the church must affirm the empowerment of women at all stages. I am thankful and hopeful for the many examples I have already experienced of this empowerment while at the CSW. Through intergnerational empowerment, those within the church become aware of existing and forming oppressive structures and accompany the suffering and oppressed, and, importantly, do so in a way that is sustainable for future generations.

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Church: Edgewater Presbyterian Church
Blog: State of Formation
Twitter: @HonnaEichler
Facebook: Honna Eichler
Work: Interfaith Worker Justice

Coming Soon...The Commission on the Status of Women

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations is preparing to welcome Presbyterian participants for theCommission on the Status of Women from February 22 through March 4. Presbyterian Women is a key partner in this event.

The Commission on the Status of Women is dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

This year's commission will address the theme - "access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work."

Presbyterians will gather with women and men from around the world - meeting, networking, sharing stories and ideas, and building community. They will worship, learn, and advocate as the commission works on agreed conclusions - recommendations for ways the nations of the world can work to promote the equality and advancement of women.

Watch Swords into Plowshares, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Facebook page, Presbyterian Women's Web page and Facebook pagefor stories about the Commission on the Status of Women

By Mark Koenig, Director of The Presbyterian Ministry at the UN, cross-posted from Swords into Plowshares