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Conference: EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF WOMEN IN THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
[ 31.3.2003,
Rovné příležitosti > Rovné příležitosti
]
EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF WOMEN IN THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
EUROPÄISCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR THEOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNG VON FRAUEN
ASSOCIATION EUROPÉENNE DES FEMMES POUR LA RECHERCHE THÉOLOGIQUE
On behalf of the Dutch section within the ESWTR we are happy to invite all members to the 10th International Conference 17th – 21st of August 2003 – The Netherlands.
Theme of the Conference:
Holy Texts: Authority and Language,
Heilige Texte: Autorität und Sprache,
Textes Sacrés: Autorité et Langue
The 10th International Conference of the ESWTR will be held at the Conference Centre: Kontakt der Kontinenten in Soesterberg, a small village in the heart of the Netherlands, near the city of Utrecht.
Theme of the Conference
Seen from a mainstream theological perspective, the theme is first and foremost one of hermeneutics. How to make the holy texts of the different religious traditions meaningful and authoritative for the faith and lives of men and women today. However, this does not mean that there are no questions to be raised regarding the relations between holy texts, authority and language.
When ‘gender’ is added as a fourth term, the relations of the terms ‘holy texts’, ‘authority’ and ‘language’ become wringing and even unhinged, because the holy texts of the tradition(s) have been exposed by feminist theologians as androcentric and misogynist. Moreover, the process of the making of the canon of the holy texts has gradually effaced oral traditions and (thereby) the authoritative voice of women. This latter process is far from finished as post-colonial analyses of the Christian missionary activities and the role of (translations of) the bible in Africa and Asia show.
To many women, it is therefore difficult to affirm the authority of the holy texts of the (Christian) tradition, because the issue of the authority of holy texts becomes primarily an issue of power, of the exclusion of the voice and the traditions of women. They hear the argument of the holiness of the text used to set limitations upon their public performance and /or participation in (the) liturgy by reading the holy texts, or upon the possibility to interpret the texts in and through a homily. These are all manifestations of the fact that the notions ‘woman’ and ‘authority’ maintain difficult relations. Authority is not easily ascribed to women neither by men nor by women. Nor do many women aspire to gain authority, because of its strong association with ‘power over’. This analysis in turn raises the question what this would mean for the generation of ‘alternative’ holy texts of and for women. Is the idea of ‘holy texts’ inimical to feminist theology? Is the idea of authoritative texts too much associated with the process of inclusion and exclusion? Or is it the problem that women find it difficult to grant authority to an other woman? Or - is it a problem of women’s difficulty with claiming authority, claiming to speak in the name of God?
This list of analyses and questions concerning the relation between holy texts, authority and language has brought us to the decision to divide the theme of the conference into three central themes for the keynote lectures, notably ‘holy texts and authority’; ‘authority and (body-) language’; ‘language and holy texts’. Such issues as the holiness of images, or the ex- and inclusiveness of translations, will probably not be addressed in the key-note lectures. We hope that they will be addressed in the mini-lectures. We therefore strongly invite members of the Society to send a proposal for mini-lectures which addresses the theme of the conference or one of the questions raised above. This registration form includes forms for mini-lectures, paper sessions and poster sessions. Also, we kindly ask you to fill in a form with information about yourself. This form will be a page in the booklet with conference information, which you will receive upon arrival at the conference.
The Organising Committee:
Dr. Anne Claire Mulder
Dr. Magda Misset-van de Weg
Drs. Mirjam Vermeij
Drs. Willien van Wieringen
Programme:
Sunday
afternoon Arrival and registration (14.00 – 17.00 )
Meeting of ‘Ritual’- women (17.00)
evening Presentation of the Conference Theme
Meeting and Informal exchange
Meeting new conference members / Bar open
Ritual
Monday:
morning Ritual
Theme: Holy Texts and Authority
Lecture: Prof. dr. Anne-Marie Korte: Recapturing the Sacred. Holy Texts, Authority
Recapturing and Feminist Hermeneutics
Co-papers: Prof. dr. Eleni Kassalouri; Dr. Anna-Louise Eriksson; Dr. Gyöngyi Varga;
Prof. dr. Judith Frishman
General Discussion
afternoon Discussion Groups
evening Subject Groups: Poster Sessions
Meeting new conference members / Bar open
Ritual
Tuesday:
morning Ritual
Theme: Authority and Body Language
Lecture: Prof. dr. Adriana Valerio: Texte sacré, langage du corps et autorité dans la
prophétie mystique féminine.
Co-paper Prof. dr. Lisa Isherwood
General Discussion
Theme: Authority, Gender and Speaking God
Lecture: Dr. Ina Praetorius: Sprechen als Gott. Als Frau. Nach der Aufklärung.
Co-paper Dr. Brigitte Enzner-Probst
General Discussion
afternoon Mini Lectures
Subject Groups: Paper Sessions
evening Preparatory groups (General Meeting; per theme)
Party
Ritual
Wednesday:
morning Ritual
General Meeting
afternoon Public Lecture: Dr. Melissa Raphael: Witnesses to Presence: Daring to Read Jewish Women’s Holocaust Memoirs as Holy Texts
Discussion
Conference Dinner
evening Ritual
Thursday:
morning Ritual
Closing Lectures: Dr. Andrea Günter, Drs. Monika Walus
Farewell Ritual
afternoon Departure
Conference Languages
English, French, German.
During all lectures, co-papers, closing lectures and the General Meeting, interpreters will be available for translations into the three conference languages.
Subject Groups
Subject groups are established around research areas. The list of subjects-groups mentioned below has grown over the years. This year the subject groups are divided into two sessions:
1. A Poster Session during which (junior) researchers can give a short presentation (7 minutes, 1000 words) about their research and
2. A Paper Session in which (senior) researches present a longer paper (15 minutes, 2000 words) on their research.
Each subject group is led by the co-ordinator who structures the group(work). The co-ordinator usually contacts the inscribed participants and/or supplies further information
List of Subject Groups:
1. Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
2. New Testament
3. Teaching the Bible in a Post-Biblical Context
4. Women and History
5. Systematic Theology
6. Spirituality
7. Ritual/Liturgy
8. Hermeneutics
9. Eco-feminism
10. Pastoral Theology/Practical Theology
11. Religious Education and Socialisation
12. Feminist Ethics
13. Feminist Liberation Theology
14. Comparative Studies in Religion
15. Arts and Literature
16. Philosophy of Religion
17. Psychotherapy and Religion
18. Ecumenical Theology and Women Studies
Please let us know in which subject group you wish to participate by indicating your first and second choice in the enclosed ‘Registration Form’ (p.9).
Call for Papers: Subject Groups
(Junior) researchers are invited to read a short paper (7 minutes; 1000 words);(senior) researchers are invited to read a longer paper (15 minutes; 2000 words).
Please send us your proposal for a short or a longer paper. Use the form Poster or Paper Session.
In these sessions no simultaneous translation is available. You are asked to bring along a handout with an abstract of your lecture in as many of the conference languages as possible.
Mini-lectures
As said, issues as the holiness of images, or the ex- and inclusiveness of translations, will probably not be addressed in the key-note lectures. We hope that they will be addressed in the mini-lectures. We therefore strongly invite members of the Society to send a proposal for mini-lectures which addresses the theme of the conference or one of the questions raised above.
Two sessions of mini-lectures have been scheduled. These lectures should not exceed the 20 minutes (2400 words). During these sessions there is no simultaneous translation available.
Everyone is invited to participate and/or to give a mini-lecture on, preferably, the theme of the Conference.
Call for Papers: Mini-lectures
All women are invited to send proposals for a mini-lecture (20 minutes; 2400 words) on the theme of the Conference. Please fill in the enclosed form ‘Mini-lecture’. We will inform you in good time whether your mini-lecture is accepted or not and when it will take place.
Because translations are not possible during the sessions, you are asked to bring along a handout with an abstract of your lecture in as many of the conference languages as possible.
Morning and Evening Ritual
Morning and evening rituals at the conference should reflect the different traditions and religious backgrounds of participants. Therefore we call upon you to prepare one of the scheduled rituals (morning or evening). If you would like to prepare a ritual, please fill in the form ‘Ritual ’. We will let you know in time, whether and when your ritual will take place.
New members
Special meetings are scheduled for the women participating for the first time. More information will be supplied upon arrival
Conference venue:
KONTAKT DER KONTINENTEN
Amersfoortsestraat 20
NL – 3769 AS Soesterberg
Tel: +31 346 35 17 55, Fax: +31 346 35 47 35
Internet: http://www.kdk-nl.org
Private transport: A28 (Utrecht - Amersfoort), exit 4: Soesterberg/Soest Kontakt der Kontinenten is on the left after some 200 meters, before you come to N237. Ample free parking is available.
You can also apply www.locatienet.nl or www.routenet.nl for your personal route.
Public transport: There are buses from Driebergen Station, Amersfoort Central Station and Utrecht Central Station. The most frequent service is from Amersfoort (buses 52 and 56, 4 buses per hour in the daytime, one per hour in the evenings). The best connection from Schiphol Airport is via Amersfoort. Kontakt der Kontinenten can also be reached by train taxi from Amersfoort Central Station. A train taxi ticket can only be used in combination with a valid train ticket. At Schiphol Airport train tickets, train taxi tickets and ‘strippen-kaarten’ for transport by bus, tram and metro, may be purchased in the main hall at the Dutch Railways ticket-windows. Buying a strippenkaart in advance is much cheaper than buying one from the bus driver. Strippenkaarten come in two quantities, as 15 or 45 strips. A 15-strips card will be sufficient.Bus time tables (in Dutch) may be found at http://www.kdk-nl.org.
Train and bustables can be found at www.ovr.nl by clicking on the button ‘reisadvies’. Soesterberg is less than ten miles away from the historic cities of Amersfoort and Utrecht. It is situated in the middle of a wooded region with excellent opportunities for walking and hiking. Kontakt der Kontinenten has recently been refurbished. It features a restaurant, twelve conference rooms, two bars, recreational facilities and over 100 bedrooms. The chapel, built in the style of the Amsterdam School in 1933 by the architect A.J. Kropholler, is of special interest. This chapel reminds the visitor of the days before 1961 when Kontakt der Kontinenten was a mission home, then named St. Jan. In 1961 a number of priests founded the Stichting Kontakt der Kontinenten, with a view to furthering international education of adults and young people. Nowadays the aims have been extended considerably. The centre is well-known for its conferences, courses and training in international relations, intercultural communication and management.
Finances
Conference-fees (including lunch, dinner, non-alcoholic drinks with lunch and dinner and during the breaks):
A. For participants with good income and women who are financed by institutions:
payment before 15.03.2003: 250 Euro
payment before 15.04.2003: 285 Euro
B. Reduced Conference-fees:
payment before 15.03.2003: 225 Euro
payment before 15.04.2003: 250 Euro
C. Solidarity fee (in support of women with low income): 285 Euro + … Euro (each amount is
welcome)
Accommodation:
Hotel Accommodation has been booked at the conference Centre “Kontakt der Kontinenten”.
Please remember that the cost of hotel accommodation is not included in the conference fee.
Single Room per night p.p. 42,50 Euro
Double Room per night p.p. 33,25 Euro
We will do our very best to provide you with the room of your choice but ask for your understanding if this appears to be impossible.
Registration
You can register by filling in the registration form and mailing it, faxing it to +31 30 253 5851 or sending it to the address mentioned on the registration form. The final date of entry is the first of July 2003.
Please register as soon as possible and preferably before the 15th of March 2003! You are registered through sending in your registration form and paying your conference costs before the 15th of April. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by e-mail or post. If you pay with a credit card, you will receive a conformation as soon as the authorisation is confirmed. There will be a reduction of the conference costs for those paying before the 15th of March. You will be registered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. In July you will receive a second confirmation of your registration, with additional information.
N.B. If you register by e-mail, please send your photo (see form regarding personal information) by regular mail or as scanned document.
Cancellation
If you need to cancel you registration, please send a written cancellation to Ms. Inge van Gaal, PO box 80125, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Pre-registration fees are refundable (less a 25% service charge) until 30 April 2003.
Pre-registration fees are partly refundable (less a 75% service charge) until 30 June 2003.
No refunds after 30 June 2003. Refunds must be requested in writing by Ms. Inge van Gaal.
You are advised to take out an insurance policy which covers the costs of cancellation.
In case of cancellation it might be possible to be replaced by another ESWTR-member. Please contact Ms. Inge van Gaal.
Posters/Papers/Mini-lectures/Rituals
When you want to give a paper, a poster, a mini-lecture or prepare a ritual, you have to register before 15 April 2003.
Application for bursaries
Financing the Conference is extremely difficult. We are doing our best to find financial support so that we can award bursaries to women with a small income. If you wish to apply for a bursary, please contact before 30 April 2003 Magda Misset - van de Weg, Purcelldreef 53, NL 5012 AH Tilburg, m.misset-vandeweg@planet.nl.
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