Recently, I met a senior pastor in a high administrative position in the church. I introduced myself as teaching women's studies, and he said: "Oh, so you teach women". Women's studies for him were studies "of the women, for the women and by the women". Sadly, this is a common response by those who are unaware of the emerging trends in the field of education, especially theology. Not all those who are presently involved in education, including theology, get these perspectives automatically either.

Some of the common reactions to gender sensitization are: "Why can't patriarchy be considered as a natural/normative principle for the peaceful functioning of society? Are there not more pressing issues than women's issues in the church? If you want women's studies, there should be men's studies too!!" Thus, denying or trivializing the gender issue can be expected in the process of gender sensitization. To go ahead despite the inevitable resistance is, I believe, a step towards justice and liberation.

Women's studies is a necessary discipline, in secular as well as theological studies, if we are to critically evaluate our past and present and to see how far the programmes, content and method of education, pedagogy, value system, ways of functioning, use of power, etc., affirm the dignity and equality of both sexes. A women's desk is a necessary unit, in every institution, if we are to bring a gender corrective to all aspects of thinking, decision-making, acting, and living.

In the late 80s, the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTE SSC) revised the curriculum of theological education at the B.D. level in the light of new disciplines such as social analysis, communication studies and women's studies. Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai, was ahead in initiating some of these new thrusts in theological education.

Though BTE SSC made a deliberate effort to include at least one course in women's studies as a compulsory subject for B.D. students, there was not an equal amount of interest and effort in ascertaining whether those who teach the subject were themselves conscientized about gender issues. Women's studies cannot be considered as "knowledge gathering about the status of women in different periods in history, or even statistics about various acts of violence against women at different levels". It is not an uncritical gathering of knowledge about women, but the bringing in of a critical perspective that looks at every discipline through the eyes of women.

It includes of course, critique of the past and the present status of women in every level, but also aims towards building, reconstructing the future - imaginatively and creatively - so that women and men march into the future as partners in the common task of shaping a just world.

The United Theological College (UTC) initiated its women's studies programme in 1994, with the effort of the former Principal Rev Dr Gnana Robinson. Several women and men worked hard to put forward the proposal of women's studies through various academic and administrative committees. The vision of the College was to see a fully-fledged department of women's studies instituted. As the BTE SSC women's studies initiative was relatively new in India, there were not many Indian women who were specifically qualified in the field of women's studies at the Master's or the Doctoral level. Nevertheless, the programme was initiated with the help of Dr Rini Ralte from Mizoram, who had completed her D.Min. in the Episcopal Divinity School, USA, and the support of women's studies committee members like Dr Nalini Arles, Ms Corinne Scott, Mrs Iris Devadasan and others.

Women's studies took off in the UTC as a programme concentrating on various aspects of gender sensitization and gender education, both within the college and outside. The UTC became a networking partner with other women's organizations in Bangalore. Programmes for International Women's Day (March 8) were organized, bringing women and men together from different parts of Bangalore to discuss various issues current in our society. One of the most effective workshops was on communalism and how women are affected in India. Gender sensitization/inclusive community workshops were organized for the whole UTC community, including all the non-teaching and maintenance staff.

As part of an academic programme, women's studies offers three courses for students at the ministerial level. They are: introduction to feminist theology, women in religion and society and feminist hermeneutics. The first is a foundational course. Students are expected to take at least one of the other two. Doing courses in women's studies at this ministerial level would certainly provide an opportunity for students to qualify for higher studies in the field of women's studies, at the M.Th. and D.Th. level.

There are several criteria laid down by the BTE SSC before a programme can become a department, such as qualified persons in the field, availability of books, journals and periodicals on the subject. For the UTC women's studies programme to become a department, at least one more qualified person would be needed to teach in the department. It is also important to find sources to make available at least five scholarships for (women) students to do their M.Th. and later their doctoral studies in women's studies. A constant flow of recent books and journals on women's studies into the library is also the need of the hour.

We look for the help of women and men, individuals and institutions, across the world, in this regard. Correcting the content, method and form of theological education in the light of a gender perspective is a step towards creating a just and transformed world order. We invite those who are interested to be partners in this struggle for justice.

Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar, United Theological College