With Courage and Compassion celebrates the contributions of women to nations, societies, churches, and the ecumenical movement. Through creative forms of resistance and daring theological exploration, women have enriched and advanced theological discourse and called for transformations in within human relationships with one another and with the earth. The World Council of Churches (WCC) has, since its inception in 1948, responded to the call of women for recognition of their leadership and theological gifts with efforts at affirmation and inclusion. However, all is not well. Structures and processes that permit many forms of exclusion and even violence against women in societies in the church and the ecumenical movement persist. This book analyses what lies at the heart of the struggle women go through and why the vulnerability of women continues to be exploited. It calls for a new theological vision and political imagination to transform unjust attitudes and systems that still exist, particularly in the ecumenical movement.
Aruna Gnanadason was director of the Women in Church and Society and the Justice, Peace and Creation programs of the World Council of Churches from 1991-2009. She staffed the WCC's Ecumenical Decade of the Churches in Solidarity with Women. She earned a D.Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California.
"With Courage and Compassion highlights women's pilgrimage of resistance against injustice and discrimination in the ecumenical movement and women's principled and persistent perseverance and courage in pursuing a just community of women and men. It lifts up women icons from ecumenical history as living and intergenerational sources of wisdom to inspire and encourage present and future leadership. A must-read for all in the ecumenical movement." --Agnes Abuom, moderator of the World Council of Churches' Central Committee "Courage, pain, tears and laughter, anger and fear--the history of women in the ecumenical movement is full of life and faithfulness to God's dream for the world. This book retells many women's stories as honest and beautiful accounts of the blessings and complexities of being the church and transforming oppressive structures." --Anna Karin Hammar, former director of the World Council of Churches' Women in Church and Society program "With Courage and Compassion is an invitation to journey with amazing women who have nourished the ecumenical movement with critical feminist perspectives and approaches. It speaks powerfully about life, hope, resilience, love, and gratitude. It provides food for the journey and enthusiasm for what is possible with the vision and leadership of women." --Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Presbyterian minister, CEO of Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation
