The topic sprang from the last two sessions on Resistance, Resilience, and Creativity (2017), and Economics: Global and Local Intertwined (2018), reports and videos of which can be found at http://www.waterwomensalliance.org/feminist-liberation-theologians-network/. We persist in our concern with the extraordinary precariousness of the global situation, especially as the Trump Administration in the United States and its colleagues destabilize the world economic and social order. It is fruitful to have colleagues from many countries reflect together on problems and potential solutions, this year in the glaring light of climate change.

More than fifty-five colleagues from ten countries joined in the discussion following brief but always fascinating introductions of each one. Input from Australian scholar and editor Anne Elvey, Honorary Research Associate, University of Divinity and Adjunct Research Fellow, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia as well as from Brazilian/ American scholar Wanda Deifelt, professor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa led the way. Coming from countries where fires and land misuse are rampant lent depth and context to the ensuing conversation. It is clear that climate change is a significant factor in justice-seeking efforts worldwide with special impact on the lives of people who are economically poor and marginalized, especially women and children.

Anne Elvey drew on her duel genres of poetry and analysis, her expertise both in scripture and politics, to offer “Some Reflections on Climate Change from an Australian Context.” She situated Australia in the global climate change phenomenon in terms of continued coal mining, racist border/immigration policies, and the government’s efforts to divide and conquer indigenous communities over business matters. “A new wave of genocide” is how the climate-related issues are playing out for indigenous people.

Dr. Elvey explained that Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza’s analysis of kyriarchy is a useful tool for dealing with concrete life situations. A Kurdish journalist described “The Kyriarchal System” as how asylum seekers and refugees are kept imprisoned. Dr. Elvey concluded, “…in Australia there can be no climate justice without a shift toward foregrounding the epistemologies, experience and sovereignty of Indigenous people..” With fires engulfing Oz at year’s end, this was a timely and insightful contribution to our conversation.

 Our second presenter was Brazilian/American theologian Professor Wanda Deifelt from Luther College. Her training, both as a Lutheran pastor and as a theologian with global reach in the ecumenical world, allowed her to look broadly at the matters at hand with particular focus on the Brazilian situation. She raised several salient points for our consideration in her paper, “How Colonialism and Neocolonialism Resulted in Climate Change.”

Wanda described the origins of colonialism and the central role of religion in shaping it. She distinguished ‘coloniality’ as the way in which many eventually imbibe colonialism and appropriate it in their own approaches. She showed how this dynamic plays out in Brasil in the current political situation. She contrasted it with sustainability which is development that works in the present, with an eye toward the future.

Dr. Deifelt introduced the Quechua term “buen vivir” to describe how cultural, social, economic, and other concerns work together for the good of society and Earth. Clearly theologies that reinforce top down dualisms are not adequate, setting the stage for feminist and other liberation theologies to be useful. She concluded with a focus on intersectionality as the way forward for mutual empowerment. With the Amazon, sometimes called “the lungs of the universe,” under siege in Brasil, this was a timely reminder of what matters for the whole world.

Participants and WATER thank both Anne and Wanda for their excellent input.

This report and video from the sessions are available at: http://www.waterwomensalliance.org/feminist-liberation-theologians-network/.

We moved on to small group discussion with a focus on what resources of feminist liberation theologies are useful for activism and teaching, as well as how climate change is reshaping our common work. The advantage of being in a group of people from around the world for such a conversation cannot be overstated.

Among the issues raised by the small groups were:

1.The importance of listening to real people’s stories with a priority on the experiences of marginalized women

2. Analysis of intersectionality and kyriarchy; critical reading of texts

3. The arts as a vehicle for change

4. Prophecy as valued input

5. The need for movement chaplains, not with denominational focus but providing general support for those displaced and those engaged in activism

6. Relational skills to build networks

7. Liturgy resources—hymns, texts—that can be used with a wide variety of people for spiritual support and inspiration

The session concluded with hearty thanks and eagerness to reconvene in Boston at the 2020 AAR/SBL Annual Meeting on Friday, November, 20, 2020, 4-6 PM. In consultation with our Women’s Caucus colleagues (see below), the theme will be “Feminist Liberation Theologies on the Ground: Acting When We are in extremis”. All are welcome. Please tell your students and colleagues, especially international ones, to mark their calendars now so they can plan travel accordingly.

Please consider volunteering to make a short presentation and/or suggest other scholar/activists whose work you think we need to include. Thank you. Feel free to contact me at mhunt@hers.com for these and other related matters. Thank you!