Ignorance of God's will on the part of governments and secular society usually causes confrontation with the people of God and leads to serious consequences for the least-protected segments of society.

These governments and social classes react violently when faced with threats to loss of power and privilege. This reaction is transformed into indiscriminate use of violence in order to maintain the status quo. One of these violent actions as we see it is to levy unjust taxes, often necessary to maintain that same repressive system. Life is often devalued through ignorance of the rights and basic needs of people, especially of the poor, women and children.

Political and military power in Latin America is dominated by economic power, and economic power in its dehumanized form-exemplified by Egypt's Pharaoh-inflicts oppressive labour. Low salaries perpetuate this enslaving situation and leave little hope for the future. At present the "annulment" of the human being is accomplished by denying him the possibility of leading a life of dignity; by removing access, among other things, to education and health. Power is placed above human life: death above life. Another strategy of oppressive power is to cause division among various sectors of the population, illustrated by the offering of prebends to some churches while refusing them to others.

In our societies these signs of death are embodied principally in the male sex. And in this biblical passage, women are shown as being the agents of life. Today, as in the past, it is the God-fearing women who often challenge oppressive laws in order to save their loved ones, using all the weapons in their possession. These women take the decision to run risks for the sake of life. Fortunately, they find community solidarity with other women and some men who join them in their struggle. Sometimes women in government circles, such as in the case of Pharaoh's daughter, are moved to compassion upon seeing the suffering of the weak.

Examples of committed women

The women of the Plaza de Mayo
The march of the women of Urabá
Bolivian peasant women

Recommendations

Create networks of solidarity within the churches of Reformed tradition
Create consciousness within the communities that it is possible to resist unjust and inhuman policies by grounding action on the Word.

Poem (p.98)

This poem was written by one of the participants of the groups who was moved by the reading and discussion of the biblical passage.

The Samaritan

John 4.1-42

Problems of women today

They are told when they must remain silent or be allowed to speak.
Feel insecurity and fear in themselves.
Obliged to confront a double or triple work day (in the home and outside).
For equal work they receive less pay than men.
They are frequently abandoned by the men.
Women are seen as objects and not as persons.
They suffer from sexual harassment including abuse and sexual violence.
They are not allowed to practice family planning; procreation is not seen as a gift but as an obligation.
They are confronted with other women who are not willing to change things or with women who take on a "macho" attitude (authoritarianism, etc.).
Their low self-esteem can lead to an inferiority complex.
They are victims of physical/ecclesial/social/moral violence.
They are given little space in the church's decision-making process.
They receive little support from the clergy on issues concerning women (very few development programmes).
Everyday speech in society and in the churches and the grammatical gender of the ruling languages in Latin America are used as instruments of "macho" domination.
The practice of religion is not enough to break the social structures of domination.

Summary: Women are conditioned and oppressed victims, as was the Samaritan, of the socio-cultural system in place.

Insights offered by this text concerning the role of women

Free from dogmatic bonds and geographic barriers, Jesus breaks social and cultural constraints and incites women to do the same. Jesus values women, and that is why he

encourages them to take risks, to give up their water jars, (all that oppresses and inhibits their freedom)
gives them the freedom to establish new relationships (of respect, mutuality, equality and partnership)
gives them the freedom to be prophets, evangelizers, missionaries and witnesses
calls men and women to be ready to listen to women as the bearers of good tidings
discovers in them a special sensitivity to the "revolutionary" message which leads to change
reveals to them his face of love and mercy.

How to create an inclusive community?

By using inclusive language (example: brothers and sisters, boys and girls, etc.).
Look for alternatives, creativity to overcome the cultural limitations and other barriers which separate women and men.
By giving equal opportunities/rights/obligations/responsibilities to women and men, in accordance with their abilities.
Give priority to the training of women until they achieve full partnership.
Promote activities which further the emergence/discovery of gifts in all areas of work.
Harmonizing needs (sexual and other) of couples, within a framework of fidelity and trust.
Building a community open to various expressions of faith, with a contextual and inclusive liturgy which combines the rational and the emotional, and which is wholly reflected in worship services.
Encourage a profound theological dialogue between men and women around the well of the water of life, the sole source of growth and development in love and solidarity.

Women with opportunity and voice

Acts 16.11-15 and 18.1-4; 24-26

Reactions to the text

Rejoicing because Luke, overcoming the cultural barriers and prejudices of his time, mentions women in his vision of the history of salvation.
Rejoicing because women give witness to their faith and the first meetings take place in their homes, a symbol of dynamic communities that are not tied to the "temple".
Nevertheless, there is a touch of sadness because it is the men who continue to write and interpret history.

Perceptions and challenges

Recognize woman as:
1. a protagonist with authority
2. as someone who takes initiatives and leads in the process of community integration
3. as someone who speaks and acts and who makes use of her opportunities
Remember the importance of women in the history of salvation. This means that women in the Latin American and Caribbean context should reclaim their place in history and in its interpretation in full partnership with men.
Not to erect barriers against women's capacities and gifts. God himself promotes and inspires the search for women (Acts 16.14) and directs the steps of women and men towards an encounter with missionary objectives.
Promote equal opportunities for men and women.
Imitate the example of Priscilla and Paul, a mixed team inspired by love of others, which produced concrete results through the Holy Spirit.
Have a strong temperament (Priscilla), but be willing to work in solidarity as a team.
Promote meetings in homes as a means of evangelization.

Recommendations

Challenge men to accompany women who are struggling to make use of their opportunities and to have their voices heard.
Create "cells of hope" (M. Schwantes), cells of life, to prevent the church, built around the temple, from dying...
Promote a church which is "on the way", dynamic, open to challenges, to changes, to new winds.
Stimulate sermons in the form of dialogues in the congregations.
Promote pastoral care in the community for both men and women.
Promote debate within the churches on the diversity and importance of various ecclesiastical ministries, questioning the supremacy of the so-called "sacred ministry".