Ecclesia of Women in Asia

Ecclesia of Women in Asia (EWA) is a forum of Asian Catholic women theologians or women doing theology in Asia. The group's first conference, "Ecclesia of Women in Asia: Gathering the Voices of the Silenced" was held in We Train International House, Bangkok from November 24 to 29, 2002. 55 women theologians from more than 20 Asian countries attended, with 30 women presenting papers on the themes: Women and Violence, Women and Spirituality, Women and Church Structures, Eco-feminism and Theological Method, Women and the Bible, and Women and World Religions. In her keynote address, Dr. Evelyn Monteiro, S.C. of India explained that the dream to hold the conference was born a year earlier at the Asian conference to reflect on the Asian post Synodal document “Ecclesia in Asia.” Dr. Lieve Troch, professor of systematic theology in Nijmegen, the Netherlands provided a look behind the individual themes and issues to the broader context of what it means to be “ecclesia”: the democratic assembly of free citizens.
The second conference in Yogyakarta in 2004 was remarkable for the originality of the papers and the animated discussions on the theme "Body and Sexuality: Theological and Pastoral Perspectives of Women in Asia." Dr. Christine Gudorf, award winning author of Body, Sex and Pleasure: Reconstructing Christian Sexual Ethics, and Professor of Religious Studies at Florida International University, U.S.A presented her paper “Body, Self, and Sexual Identity: Reflections on the Current Evidence,” during the conference.
In 2007, EWA met in Colombo, Sri-Lanka for "Reimagining Women, Marriage, and Family, a 21st Century Challenge." Among the high-lights of the 3rd conference were a dialogue with famous Sri-Lankan Liberation Theologian Fr. Aloysius Pieris, and the interreligious dialogue with women active in the Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim communities in Colombo.
The 4th conference had the theme "Practicing Peace: Towards an Asian Feminist Theology of Liberation." It was held from August 25 to 29, 2009 in Hua-Hin, Thailand.
EWA's Vision and Mission
EWA's vision is "the development of theologizing from Asian women’s perspectives and the recognition of Asian Catholic women theologians as colleagues in theological discussions within the Church and the Academe." The group's Mission is to encourage and assist Catholic women in or from Asia to engage in research, reflection and writing towards theologizing that is - inculturated and contextualized in Asian realities; built on the religious experience and praxis of the socially excluded; promotes gender mutuality and the integrity of creation; and fosters dialogue with other disciplines, faiths or religions.
EWA's Programs
EWA organizes conferences that encourage the writing of original and creative theological papers for publication; fosters communication and discussion among Catholic women theologians through a cyberspace group and a website; dialogues with feminist, grassroots, or theological movements and women from other faiths; and conducts such other programs and activities as shall help in the attainment of EWA's vision.
Sources of Funds
EWA's conferences have been funded by the Catholic Committee Against Hunger and for Development (CCFD, French acronym) in Paris, Institute of Missiology -Missio in Aachen, Germany, and the Swiss Lenten Campaign Fund, and other agencies. EWA's Coordinating Committee or Coordinating Team has been led by Dr. Evelyn Monteiro (India), Dr. Pushpa Joseph (India), Dr.Agnes Brazal (Philippines), and Dr. Sharon Bong (Malaysia). Anthologies of the papers of the first three conferences have already been published.

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