Discussions at the April 2015 LWF WICAS regional meeting in Tokyo, Japan, included feedback on local translations of the LWF Gender Justice Policy. Photo: LWF/WICAS
By Ms Jong Hee Park
The LWF Gender Justice Policy gives new ideas and thoughts to the Lutheran Church in Korea. The process of developing the translation was good, although we learned there is room for improvements in such a process in the future.
In [South] Korea, men’s and women’s perceptions of gender lag behind other changes in society. As we live in a conservative society, sometimes it is more challenging to address gender justice.
In the church, women are making a lot of efforts for the revival and growth of faith in church. This is a very important role, as it will eventually achieve the growth of the church in [South] Korea.
Many women have a stereotype that fellow women should be silent in the church and be obedient to men, because it is written in the Bible, and because of the customs and cultures of a male-dominated society. In such a context, women in the church have not had a chance to hear and think about gender.
Through this book, women are able to understand the theological and biblical foundations about gender justice, and we begin to know what is wrong. And then gradually, starting with women becoming more actively involved in the churches, women can continue to build balanced relationship with the men.
Ms Jong Hee Park, a member of the Seoul-based Lutheran Church in Korea, is the regional coordinator for the North East Asia Lutheran Communion (NEALUC). The translation of the LWF Gender Justice Policy into Korean was completed in early 2015 with support from the LWF WICAS program.
