In January 2003 a handful of women from churches in Southern Africa visited women in the UK to share what it is like for women in leadership in their countries and churches. Here is a photo taken from that visit of a world church night sharing together in song, dance, poetry and story. In October a group of 10 women from the United Reformed Church UK will spend 10 days with women in either Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and then all gather together for a women's conference in Botswana. The group of women is made up of church leaders - ordained as ministers and elders and it is intended as a solidarity visit. One of the dilemnas is whether we should still visit Zimbabwe since it is very unstable at present. Last week I heard of a severe petrol shortage, the bulldozing of hundreds of homes and of people being referred to as 'rubbish'. It is a scandal that in a world where the US and it's military might choose to invade one country with the idea of establishing democracy, that another country with dictatorial leadership is left to fend for itself and it's people starve or have their homes flattened. This is a second solidarity visit in my life. The first one was to El Salvador in Central America as part of an ecumenical group. I am wary of this second visit much more than the first since in Zimbabwe the lives of many people are in danger. It may be that we can only visit neighbouring countries and learn from the women there of their struggles and stories. And just today a woman living locally came to share of her vision with a small group of women in Zambia - to establish a school with training skills and workshops for children and young people so that they see a future for themselves and can learn to live sustainably. Lots of things relating to Africa for me at the same time...many connections to be made and relationships built so to share of women in ministries internationally and cross-culturally. It is good that the United Reformed Church is small enough and flexible enough to organise itself...more of it is needed though.
