Doing Church Differently Crafting a Church Using the Circle’s Theologizing Methodologies in a Xenophobic and Gendered Context
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Keywords
Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, Mercy Amba Oduyoye, African women's theologies, Xenophobic contexts, St. Aidan Anglican Church (SAAC), African migrant women
Abstract
The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, alternatively known as the Circle, are a group known for their circle of knowledge sharing, whereby they sit together and share stories with participants actively listening and engaging with what is offered. The Circle is also known as a young forum for theological dialogue and mentorship. Launched in 1989 under the leadership of Mercy Amba Oduyoye, the concept of the Circle has been prominent in African women’s (practical) theologies. However, it has yet to be explicitly applied to xenophobic contexts. Using the stories of selected African migrant women congregants at St. Aidan Anglican Church (SAAC), this article argues that employing the Circle’s methodologies of theologizing offers an alternative way of creating a relevant church in a xenophobic and gendered context. This argument is premised on three sub-arguments: First, employing such methodologies requires voicing migrant women’s experiences of gender-based marginalization and violence to inform the church’s support to victims. Second, their experiences of inclusion in the church would shape how cultural diversity is handled. Third, migrant women’s “individualized” experiences of God would inform the church’s communal approach to living together and promote sisterhood among migrant women and between migrant and host community women. This article focuses on the sensory aspects of the Eucharist including the sharing of food, smells/incense, and narratives to explore and examine the experiences of African women migrating within Africa. It also examines the potential of the Circle in nurturing a more vibrant and inclusive church.
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