Regular Seminar in May 2007

30th Regular Seminar

"The Da Vinci Code" : reading from a feminist perspective
Presentation: Yamaguchi, Satoko
Time & Date: May 12, 2007 from 2-4 p.m
Fee: \500 for members (\700 for non-members)

Direction for the Centre for Feminist Theology and Ministry:
Come out of Mejiro JR station. You will be standing on a bridge. Turn left and walk for about 5 to 10 minutes until you reach a Peacock's supermarket followed by a koban. Turn left at the koban and walk for about 20 metres. The Centre is in the Japan Biblical Theological Seminary.

Events

<2007> 

29th Regular Seminar  (Mar. 10, 2007)
Occupation and Sex : Statement about "pom-pom" in Christianity and Mary Magdalen
by Arai, Eiko

28th Regular Seminar  (Jan. 13, 2007)
Contact with "Gospel of Judas" and "Gospel According to Maria"
by Arai, Sasagu

<2006> 

2006 Liturgy   (Nov. 11, 2006)
Celebrating with hymn
by Komiya, Ikuko

27th Regular Seminar  (Sep. 9, 2006)
Tenrikyo and Gender : Dialogue Between the Religions
by Kaneko, Juri

2006 Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jul. 15, 2006)
Christianity & Sexuality (3) : DV(Domestic Violence) From Various perspectives
by Shoji, Rutuko & Nakamura, Tadashi & Hisako, Kinukawa

26th Regular Seminar  (May 13, 2006)
Can Homosexual accept Church?
by Taira, Aika

25th Regular Seminar  (Mar. 11, 2006)
Domestic Violence and Church
by Takahashi, Katuki

24th Regular Seminar  (Jan. 14, 2006)
Realising the wholeness of Minju Theology and Life
by Chung Hyun Kyung

<2005> 

2005 Liturgy   (Nov. 12, 2005)
Invitation to Japanese Flute and Talk : Yuuzuru and Fragile G*d
by Shimizu, Yasuko & Fukuhaka, Tomohiro

23rd Regular Seminar  (Sep. 10, 2005)
Gender and Religion
by Usui, Atuko

2005 Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jul. 16, 2005)
Christianity & Sexuality (2) : Variety of Sexuality and Feminist Perspective
by Kawada, Takeo & Horie, Yuri & Yamaguchi, Satoko

22nd Regular Seminar  (May 14, 2005)
Fantagy from Feminist Perspective : From Sheep's Reading Diary
by Nomura, Yoko

21st Regular Seminar  (Mar. 12, 2005)
Some Feminist Observations : Christianity and Japan
by Zikmund, Barbara Brown

20th Regular Seminar  (Jan. 8, 2005)
Thai Christianity from Feminist perspective
by Honda, Megumi

<2004> 

2004 Liturgy   (Nov. 13, 2004)
Consider it, confer, and speak up!' : To Break the Violence against Women and Children
by Association of Anglican Women inJapan

19th Regular Seminar  (Sep. 11, 2004)
The "Problems" in Contemporary Marriage : What TRF1.29 Tells Us
by Yano, Kazue

2004 Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jul. 24, 2004)
Christianity & Sexuality (1) : "Comfort Women"'as our task
by Takahashi, Kikue & Kanematu, Sachiko & Kasahara, Yoshihisa & Kinukawa, Hisako

18th Regular Seminar  (May 8, 2004)
An Invitation to Encounter Our Fragile G*d in the Image of Trees and Female G*d as Incarnated in the Whole of Creation
by Shmizu, Yasuko

2004 Special Lecture  (Mar. 30, 2004)
A Critical Christian Feminist Theology
by Schussler Fioreza, Elizabeth

17th Regular Seminar  (Jan.10, 2004)
Maria Magdalena in the Gospel
by Kanazawa, Masayoshi

<2003> 

2003 Specil Lecture & Liturgy  (Nov. 8, 2003)
Holy Life or Holy War? : The Consequences of Paradise-Lost and Women's Inequality
by Block, Rita Nakashima
Dancing Liturgy
by Emika Kikuchi and Mari Arai

16th Regular Seminar  (Sep. 13, 2003)
Involving in a Circle of Asian Women : Participating in CATS IV
by Uesawa, Nobuko

2003 Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jul. 19, 2003)
Women's Stand in Ecclesia(Church/Congregation)
1. In Case of Cathoric Church, by Iyori, Naoko
2. As for Women's Layperon in the Anglican-Episcopal Church in Japan, by Kobayashi, Sachiko
3. In Case of House Church, by Toda, Yoshiko
4. What I Can See From Believer, by Maki, Ritu

15th Regualr Seminar  (May 10, 2003)
Developing Model and Feminist Therapy of Femist Identity
by Mori, Hiroko

14th Regualr Seminar  (Mar. 8, 2003)
Dilemma of a Person Who Becomes a Pastor in Traditional Churches : Do I Become a Missionary of "God of Violence"?
by Shirai, Masaki

13th Regualr Seminar  (Jan. 11, 2003)
The Image of Women Missionary in the Second Century : In the Case of the Acts of Thecla
by Arai, Sasagu

<2002> 

2002 Liturgy  (Nov. 23, 2002)
Thanks to Aging
by Komiya, Ikuko & Usuki, Midori

12th Regular Seminar  (Sep. 28, 2002)
What we are given through Women's Theological Seminar in Seikokai Theological Seminary : Trial to Recover Women's Lost Voice
by Yamano, Shigeko

2002 Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jul. 27, 2002)
Women Ministry : Past, Present, and Future1.
1. As to the Actual State of Women's Ministry in the United Church of Christ in Japan, by Masuda, Koto
2. Deep-rooted Genderism in Japanese Churches, by Hamada, Miyako
3. In Searching of My Pastor's Image, by Tenma, Yukari

11th Regular Seminar  (May 25, 2002)
Voluntary Theology : What We Can See From the Stephouse of Kyofukai
by Isshiki, Yoshiko

10th Regular Seminar  (Mar. 23, 2002)
Reading Ruth Ｔhrough Marriage and Family
by Yano, Kazue

9th Regular Seminar  (Jan. 26, 2002)
Sexual Harassment : How do churches confront it
by Fushi, Maki

<2001>

2001 Liturgy  (Nov. 23, 2001)
God Called me, I move
by Komiya, Ikuko & Usuki, Midori

8th Regular Seminar  (Sep. 27, 2001)
The Corinthian Women Prophets : Learning from Antoinette Clark Wire
by Kasahara, Yoshihisa

7th Regular Seminar & Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jun. 21, 2001)
Recovering Miriam
by Trible Phyllis

6th Regular Seminar  (May 24, 2001)
Dreaming for Equal and Sharing Community : From the Experience of the Women Church Ministry in Korea(Genesis 4:1-16; Luke 8:1-3; 10:38-42)
Chung Sook Ja

5th Regular Seminar  (Mar. 22, 2001)
Initial Question : Galilee in Jesus' Time : Women and Men in the Farm Villages
Yamaguchi, Masahiro

4th Regular Seminar  (Jan. 25, 2001)
Questioning "Word of God's Judgment and Sexual Violence : Reconsidering the Sexual Expressions of the Prophets from a Gender Perspective
by Arai, Eiko

<2000>

2000 Liturgy  (Nov. 23, 2000)
Let Us Celebrate Together : in Search of a New Liturgy

3rd Regular Seminar  (Sep. 28, 2000)
Womb Metaphor of Compassion : Thinking about God's Motherhood
by Takayanagi Tomio

2000 1st Summer Intensive Seminar  (Jul. 20, 2000)
Questioning "God the Father"
1.Rich Images and Metaphors for God : as Found in ghe Hebrew Scripture, by Kinukawa, Hisako
2. Divine Metaphors in the Biblical Context : the Christian Testament, by Yamaguchi, Satoko
3. Arai Osui's Father-Mother God : Some Feminist Reflections, by Corl, Daniel
4. Some Thoughts on the Metaphor "Chichi-Haha"(Father-Mother) in the Inclusive Bible(Japanese Version), by Arai, Sasag

2nd Regular Seminar  (May 25, 2000)
What Kind of Woman was Mary of Magdalene?
by Kinukawa, Hisako

1st Regular Seminar  (Mar. 23, 2000)
Reading the Creation Stories from a Feminist Perspectve
by Yamaguchi, Satoko

Contact Information

Address:

Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan
c/o Oizumi Church
2-23-54 Oizumi Gakuen-cho
Nerima-ku, Tokyo 178-0061
Japan

TEL/FAX: +81-3-3922-3614

Overseas Supporters

Application for Overseas Supporters

  The Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan welcomes overseas. The annual fee of \5,000 or US$50 entitles a member to the year's issues of CFTMJ's English(or Japanese) newsletter and discounts on regular seminar and events. The English newsletter will include full translated texts of each main presentation from our regular seminars, as well as selected from responsive messages, Q&A sessions and letters received from CFTMJ members.(Due to the effort and time involved in preparing English translations, there is a possiblity that the publication of English newsletters will take longer than Japanese.) It is our sincere hope that this newsletter will serve as a forum for members to exchange views and experiences.

Membership fees and/or donations are payable by personal cheque to;

    CFTMJ, Hisako KINUKAWA
    (Re: Membership fee and/or Donation)

When you register, please provide your mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address ( like a following example) to;

    Hisako KINUKAWA
    Kamiyugi 3-3-11-201
    Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0373
    Japan:

***********************************

Name :
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
E-Mail:
URL:

I can contribute the Center through
(   ) donation (US $ 50 or JP \ 5,000)
      Personal checks accepted
(   ) giving copy/ies of my papers/books
(   ) exchanging information on feminist theology through e-mail or fax networking

Center

The Center is composed of multiple circles: members, overseas special supporters, a serving committee, and co-directors.

Membership is open to all who share the basic stance stated above and will support the activities. The broad circles of members will support the Center by paying annual membership fees as well as by taking parts in its activities. Members are entitled to receive newsletters and discounts on workshop fees and published materials.

The smaller circle of the serving committee, which includes the co-directors, will serve to promote the Center's activities and respond to the interests of its members. The serving committee consists of those members who (1) acknowledge the importance of the Center, (2) give priority to participating in the Center's activities, and (3) provide practical support by offering creative ideas and constructive criticism as well as utilizing and providing available resources and talents.

The circle of overseas supporters provides cooperative assistance such as donating copies of their publications and exchanging information.

As stated, the Center consists of various participants who form overlapping multiple circles. We would like to invite all who share our hopes to join us, each in one's own way of participation, so that members with different talents from diverse contexts and situations may work together.

Activities

1. Workshops: Planning and sponsoring lectures, regular seminars, summer intensive seminars, and liturgy(worship).

2. Publications: Publishing newsletters periodically in Japanese and English.

3. Collection of resource materials: Collecting books, journals and papers related to feminist theology.

4. Networking: Creating various nets of communication, national and international, ecumenical and interfaith, with social and political grass-roots movements, and academic societies etc. Also, opening channels to support women who want to further their study in feminist theology.

Purpose

The Center intends on "doing theology" through integrating Christian theology and ministry from feminist perspectives. We hope to raise voices of the marginalized, especially those of women, through participating in global and inter-religious dialogues.

The Center's intent is to grow as a community of those who hope to bring together voices from various corners and margins. In this sense, the Center is open to all who share concern for and support of the aims of the Center which are stated in the following.

We use the term "feminist" for two reasons. First, we use it because our basic stance does not set men against women, but is political and socio-cultural as discerning the structures of patriarchy as oppressive and problematic. We challenge discrimination based on sex, race, class, etc. so that we may transform our society as well as participate in mending the creation. As long as we can share this basic stance, we seek to be fully inclusive and respect diversity, across biological difference and sexual orientations.

On the other hand, our choice of the term "feminist" rather than "human" is intended to make it clear that we understand "women's" experiences typically reflecting those of the marginalized as "others" throughout the history of patriarchal societies. Just as situations at the margins are diverse, so too are women's experiences.

We thus intend to take diverse lived experiences of both women and men who would stand in compassion with the pain of "others/women" as our point of departure for diverse forms of critical reflection and action of the Center.

Theology, as "God talk," is primarily a body of disciplined knowledge about the relationships between the divine, the human and the world/universe. It is indispensable for human liberation that access to such knowledge be open to all and shared on a just basis. With this understanding, we aim at doing theology which takes as its starting point the diverse experiences of "others/women" who have been ignored and denied access to ' theological knowledge.

We understand ministry as engagement in service and struggle to realize the wholeness of life. Furthermore, we believe that ministry and theology function in tandem like two wheels on an axle. Ministry is inseparable from theology, and the theological endeavor must take into consideration the struggle for peace and justice that ministry faces. Since there is a huge gap between theological endeavor and that of ministry, building bridges between the two will be one of our main tasks.

Although global perspective is basic for us, Japan is our primary context. This context is not monolithic, but diverse ethnically, socially, culturally and religiously. As Japan is our common locus of life and we are aware that Christians are the minority of the minority, we choose to bear our specific witness and primary activities in this country.