Since the last half of A New Face (ANF) programme ended last November in Taiwan, ANF has embarked on its second programmatic phase from 9 September to 1 October, this time primarily in Wales in the United Kingdom (UK) where the event was hosted by four CWM member churches—United Reformed Church, Congregational Federation, Union of Welsh Independents, and Presbyterian Church in Wales.
A two-year programme designed for women from both clergy and laity backgrounds, ANF offers a broad and deep exploration of female leadership as well as delving into specific areas where women can make fruitful, effective contributions in different cultural settings.
Through ANF, participants are encouraged to develop and cultivate networks that are culturally sensitive and a source of blessings to local contexts.
Ten participants from various CWM African and Pacific member churches, together with CWM ANF facilitators, member church leaders, and ministers from CWM organisational partners gathered to seek ways in which women can be intentional in their contributions, towards the growth of the church and Gospel. The participants were also partnered in pair mentoring relationships.
“These women are deep-thinking and called by God to be spiritual stirrers—catalysts and activators—across the church. I hope their member churches benefit from their wisdom and use their unique skills and perspectives to… [contribute] to global mission,” said Rev. Dr Amelia Koh-Butler, CWM Mission Secretary for Education and Empowerment and ANF Programme Coordinator.
“Just like the women of Easter morning, I believe that women in the church are able to bring perspectives and methods of interaction that can further the work of God. We may find that things work better if we [work towards] supporting and equipping them to prepare the way for the church,” Koh-Butler added.
Participants, through a theological lens, closely explored and connected with European cultural contexts which offered a different perspective on the shaping of women’s roles in European churches, as well as attitudes towards doctrines, ecclesiologies, and approaches to mission activities.
Exposure trips unveil missiological roots, worldviews
Participants were brought on numerous exposure trips to various significant locations that have helped birth missional movements and communities including the Mary Jones’ Centre in Bala, Wales that was established to remember the 15-year-old Mary whose 26-mile walk to buy a Welsh-language bible inspired Rev. Thomas Charles to advocate for the formation of the Bible Society. The participants also took a walk along Mary’s historic route as a way of pilgrimage and reflection.
The women also visited the Strawberry Fields Children’s Home in Liverpool, England where they learnt about its connection with John Lennon, a member of The Beatles.
There, they learnt of Lennon’s childhood as he lived near the institution that is run by The Salvation Army and how it played a memorable part in his formative years, finding itself being written into a Beatles song, cementing the Strawberry Fields Children’s Home in pop culture.
A key fixture of the UK ANF programme was the focus on the history and culture of the region, particularly evident in the series of visits made to the British Library and Museum as well as the SOAS CWM Archives. A trip was also made to the St Fagans Welsh National Museum of History, a repository of knowledge on the Welsh language, culture, and history.
An intriguing part of the exposure trips was the visit to Bath where the participants witnessed firsthand, the evidence of the extent of Roman Imperialism.
As the only UK city to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bath featured statues of women from the Roman Empire, with hair braided to signify social statuses from citizen to slave or religious roles such as prophets or priestesses. These statues helped the participants form a better grasp of the context of Paul’s writings about women and hair-coverings in the Bible.
Understanding slavery in the Roman Empire and the significance and limitations for women of the time also helped release assumptions that Paul was anti-women leadership in the minds of some of the participants. Instead, it revealed that Paul’s own ministry was enhanced, enabled, and realised frequently by women.
Summing up the ANF experience in the UK, one participant said, “Women need each other. We need allies, for we are often isolated. The church needs women leaders, who are intentional about speaking out. The most effective expressions of the Mission of God are often led by women. Churches that seek to be missional should invest in making the most of female wisdom and empowering women leaders.”
