WCC NEWS: Uganda consultation explores theological contributions to promoting gender equity

A consultation for theological institutions in Uganda, held 12-15 September, harnessed the contribution of theological institutions in promoting gender equity in the context of HIV and sexual and gender-based violence. Participant of the consultations. Photo: Yona Ahabwe/Uganda AIDS Commission 19 September 2022 The gathering was organized by the World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy Eastern Africa Office. Participants included theological institutions who are key partners in addressing gender equity and gender justice and holistic health in the context of AIDS and stigma, gender-based violence, and teen pregnancies. Discussions explored behavior drivers, socioeconomic facilitators, and religio-political sustainers and their impacts. Theologians also gained knowledge and skills from speakers, shared their own experiences, and enhanced partnerships among participating institutions. “The Uganda national HIV action plan 2021/22-2024/25 considers theological institutions as major stakeholders in its implementation,” reads an opening statement from the consultation. “Successful implementation of the entire action plan requires that theological institutions in Uganda, partly align the goals of their theological education and ministerial formation practices to the goal of the action plan.” The consultation also interrogated the challenges of gender inequalities and existing gaps, as well as suggested ways in which they could be addressed through theological education. Participants identified ways of modeling theological institutions’ commitments to gender equity and strengthening collaboration among theological institutions, church leaders, and other stakeholders in promoting gender equity and ending AIDS by 2030. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland