It was winter in Zimbabwe. The white plastic chairs in the seminar were cold. But that didn’t stop women theologians from gathering at Mennonite World Conference in 2003. A group of African women theologians offered a workshop.
“Let’s go,” said Linda. “I’ll translate.” We listened, and afterward went to talk with the African women. They didn’t have much time right then, but we agreed that we would set up a separate time to meet [at the conference].
Setting up the meeting became my task, perhaps in part because I knew both English and Spanish, and in part because I had a sense of how important that meeting would become. As I think back to all the details involved in finding a time and place and notifying participants, what comes to mind is walking. We didn’t have access to e-mail or cell phones, and the meeting area was quite large. My walking was filled with energy and hope, and often I was amazed and grateful to God for the times I found just the person I needed to find in the midst of the crowds!
The appointed hour came and women started arriving, first two talking together, then a cluster, and finally we were together from across Africa and Latin America. We didn’t have any translation equipment, so everything needed to be said in three languages: English, French and Spanish. Just the introductions were amazing as we learned a little bit about each woman! We soon realized that most of the African women present had more theological studies than the Latin American women, while the Latin Americans held more leadership roles within their own conferences. The Latin Americans were inspired that the Africans had organized. We realized we had gifts to share across continents. We concluded with a powerful time of prayer, and many of the women exchanged addresses.
“It was clear from the beginning that this was to be a movement, not a carefully defined group,” said Linda. While studying theology is encouraged, the active work of doing theology is also recognized. Women teaching and preaching in their churches can be part of Movimiento de Mujeres Anabautistas haciendo Teología desde América Latina (Movement of Anabaptist Women Doing Theology in Latin America), whether they have academic degrees or not.
The movement has taken root. Since then, regional groups of Anabaptist women have met across Latin America and around the world. Together, they work to understand God’s call in the Bible to both women and men, to develop leadership skills, prevent family violence, and provide pastoral care for each other and other women.
Celebrating servanthood
This year, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary recently announced Linda Shelly as the recipient of the 2016 AMBS Alumni and Service Award. The award goes to graduates of AMBS who have dedicated themselves to 10 or more years of service. Linda has been walking with the Latin American churches for 35 years!
