Centre for Women's Studies Theology
Overview
Short Presentation
The initiative for the Centre for Women’s Studies Theology (CWST) was taken by "Women in Theology", a group of students and assistants who came together from 1989. As an interdisciplinary academic centre it started to function in the academic year 1994-1995. It is open to all who are interested.
The Centre stimulates research in theology and religious studies and debate from a feminist perspective. The members of the Centre participate in international study days and conferences, and are involved in informal discussions.
The Centre engages itself in making known the results of this research to the Faculty of Theology and others who may be interested. For example, the Centre wants to encourage awareness of gender issues in the education of students and the formation of researchers. This awareness is made concrete in such examples as the organisation of the course ‘Women Studies: Religion and Theology’, the organisation of lectures and study days, and suggestions to the library for specialised literature they may want to purchase. The Centre also has their own publications, aimed at a broader public.
The Centre pays attention to specific problems of female students and staff members of the Faculty of Theology. One of these specific problems includes the use of inclusive language in communication within the Faculty, in courses, theses and publications. Furthermore the Centre seeks to support and encourage existing networks of women at a university level. The Workgroup of Equal Opportunities is also concerned with these initiatives.
This PowerPoint Presentation offers you a very short and animated introduction in the Centre for Women's Studies Theology.
Activities
Research
The Centre for Women’s Studies Theology encourages research on women’s and gender studies by means of long-lasting interdisciplinary research projects.
The Centre received a subsidy for the research project on ‘Women Leaders in Religious Traditions’ (‘Leidende vrouwen in religieuze tradities’) in 2003-2004 from the Instituut voor de gelijkheid van Vrouwen en Mannen of the Belgian Federal Government. In the context of this project, a book devoted to the question of leadership of women in different religions was published in October 2004. The book, entitled Midden in de Cirkel. Vrouwen en leiderschap in diverse spirituele tradities (cf. Publications), consists of interviews conducted by the members of the Centre with a number of female leaders from various religious and spiritual traditions.
A new project was launched in January 2005 with the support of the Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders: ‘Mary Magdalene and the Touching of Jesus. An Intra- and Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Interpretation of John 20:17 in Exegesis, Iconography and Pastoral Care’. The promoters are: Prof. Dr. Barbara Baert, Prof. Dr. Reimund Bieringer, Prof. Dr. Karlijn Demasure, Prof. Dr. Sabine Van Den Eynde. The disciplines of Exegesis of the First and Second Testaments, Art History and Practical Theology will collaborate in this project to investigate the meaning, reception history and present-day relevance of the noli me tangere motif in John 20:17. The element of continuity in this multidisciplinary study of John 20:17 is the theme of touching/holding/letting go. This research resulted in an exhibition on the iconography of the noli me tangere-motif: Noli me tangere: Maria Magdalena in veelvoud/ Noli me tangere. Mary Magdalene: One Person, Many Images (Maurits Sabbe Library, Leuven, Februari 23 - April 31, 2006). The catalogue of the exhibition with the same name was published both in Dutch and in English (cf. Publications). In April 2008 an international conference for experts was organised in the Academia Belgica in Rome: Noli me tangere: Word - Image - Context.
International contacts are very important for the Centre. To this end, since September 2007 active members of the Centre have been given the opportunity to participate in international conferences and colloquia by means of a travel grant, which partly subsidises travel and accommodation costs.
Education and Formation
The CWST stimulates the education and formation of students, researchers and all who are interested.
The Centre was an important impulse behind the initiation of the course ‘Women Studies, Religion and Theology’ (A09B9A). In this course, students can come into contact with the history and methods of women’s studies in theology. The course has been offered since the academic year 1997-1998, one year in Dutch and the following year in English. The coordinator of the course is Prof. Dr. Reimund Bieringer, in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Veerle Draulans. Guest professors are involved on a regular basis, for instance Prof. Dr. Caroline Vander Stichele (1998-1999; 1999-2000; 2003-2004).
Every year the Centre organises both lectures for a broad public and specialised seminars for its members. In honour of the tenth anniversary of the Centre, Prof. Dr. Sandra Schneiders was invited in 2005-2006 for a symposium with the active participation of Flemish women religious. The book Selling all of Schneiders was the starting point of a discussion on the identity and the future of the celibate life of women religious. In the academic year 2006-2007 Prof. Dr. Marcella Althaus-Reid stayed for a week at the Faculty of Theology. She led a specialised seminar From Feminist to Indecent Theology, in which she criticised liberation theology from her own feminist background. According to her, liberation theology is like other theologies in that it is based on the patriarchal (and thus enslaving) origins of Christianity. A liberating feminist theology can be nothing else than indecent, because it questions the basis of Christianity itself, that is the male Trinity or the caring Mother Mary.
Every year the Centre asks a professor the Faculty of Theology to give a lecture about the relevance of female researchers and feminist studies, focussing on their own research area. In 2007-2008 Prof. Dr. Dehandschutter (church history) presented his lecture with the curious title Wanted: Church Fathers: m/v?!
Forum for Women's Studies Theology
The Forum for Women’s Studies Theology (previously the "Women in Theology") is the meeting place for the members of the Centre for Women’s Studies Theology. At the meetings, one can discuss all kinds of topics related to women’s studies and theology. This discussion can happen on the basis of a presentation of one of the members or a lecture from a guest spokeswoman. The diverse background of the members encourages an interdisciplinary perspective on the themes which arise in any given meeting. The Forum gathers every six weeks.
Members
Membership of the Centre is open to everyone interested, including students, assistants and professors of KULeuven and other universities, as well as those who do not have any official links with an academic institution but are willing to commit their time and energy to get involved in the Centre. Most of the present members come from various disciplines and levels of the Faculty of Theology. Both the English and the Dutch Section are represented. Meetings are conducted, for the most part, in English.
Members 2007-2008:
Goedele Baeke, Elisabeth Bayley, Reimund Bieringer, Anneleen Decoene, Karlijn Demasure, Ria Demeulenaer, Annekatrien Depoorter, Carine Devogelaere, Hannelore Devoldere, Annemie Dillen, Amy Hereford, Maria-Szilvia Hubel, Marilou S. Ibita, Kristien Justaert, Beatrice Kamusime, Dominika A. Kurek-Chomycz, Joke Lambelin, Marianne Moyaert, Gesila Nneka Uzukwu, Gladis Priya, Marilù Rojas Salazar, Hanna Tervanotko, Leen Trommelmans, Isabelle Vanden Hove, Sabine Van Den Eynde, Mbabazi Veneranda, Annie Pan Yi Jung.
Publications
CENTRUM VROUWENSTUDIES THEOLOGIE, Midden in de Cirkel. Vrouwen en leiderschap in diverse spirituele tradities, Antwerpen: Halewijn, 2004 (Available through mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(105,115,97,98,101,108,108,101,46,118,97,110,100,101,110,104,111,118,101,64,116,104,101,111,46,107,117,108,101,117,118,101,110,46,98,101)+'?subject=Midden%20in%20de%20cirkel'">Isabelle Vanden Hove).
BARBARA BAERT, REIMUND BIERINGER, KARLIJN DEMASURE, SABINE VAN DEN EYNDE (ed.), Noli me tangere. Mary Magdalene: One person Many Images (Documenta Libraria, XXXII), Leuven, Peeters, 2006 (Available through Peeters Publishers).
Through the years, individual members have published a lot about women’s studies and theology. Click to see this list.
Theses and dissertations
Fortunately there is a growing number of women who receive their STD/PhD at the Faculty of Theology. Click to see the list from 1969 to present.
Women who receive an honorary doctorate from KULeuven are unfortunately a minority. You will have to search for yourself in the list from 1966 until now (with for instance Catherine Verfaille in 2003, Carla del Ponte in 2002 and Sr J Devos in 2000).
Networking and links
Since students and researchers of various disciplines are active in the Centre, there are links with several departments of the Faculty of Theology and beyond. Networking with academic and professional initiatives is one of the aims of the Centre. At this moment, the Centre is in contact with the Centre for Equal Opportunities (Centrum voor Gelijke Kansen, KULeuven); the thinktank Women and University (Vrouw en Universiteit, KU Leuven); the Inter-University Thinktank for Feminist Theology (Interuniversitaire Werkgroep voor Feministische Theologie, IWFT, the Netherlands); the Dutch School for Research on Theology and Religion (NOSTER, the Netherlands); and the European Society of Women in Theological Research (ESWTR; contact person in Belgium: Sabine Van Den Eynde).
Interesting links on women’s studies on the internet:
http://www.nolimetangere.net: Website of the interdisciplinaire research project on noli me tangere from the Centre for Women's Studies Theology.
http://www.kuleuven.be/gkg/ : Centre for Equal Opportunities with information of the Equal Opportunities policy of the KU Leuven (in Dutch).
http://www.ESWTR.org: Homepage of the European Society of Women in Theological Research, containing a database of the members, announcements of conferences and vacancies (in English, French and German).
http://www.EPWS.org: Homepage of the European Platform of Women Scientists, containing a databse of the members, announcements of conferences and vacancies (in English).
Archive
FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES THEOLOGY
invite you to a lecture by Prof. Dr. Barbara Baert
and Opening of the Exhibition:
NOLI ME TANGERE
Mary Magdalene, One Person, Many Images
on Thursday, February 23, 2006, at 5:30 pm
The exhibition is open from February 23 to April 30, 2006.
Contact
Centre for Women's Studies Theology
Faculty of Theology
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Sint-Michielsstraat 6
B-3000 Leuven
+32 (0)16 / 32 64 56
