Have you ever seen Christian women in arenas of power? The fact is that in most faith communities, women have faced the indoctrinating force of the Christian patriarchy and have sought to occupy leadership arenas within the churches. “I see the ministry of women in the most varied religious traditions as a testimony to the possibility of a better world,” said Marinez Bassotto, Anglican Bishop Primate.
On 8 March, to celebrate women’s lives and discuss Christian women in arenas of power, we talked to Marinez Bassotto from the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil: IEAB), about Christian women’s pursuit of arenas within the churches, breaking away from a position of submission and encouraging women’s fights for equitable spaces in society. With the growth of profoundly conservative ideologies, which curtail women’s fundamental rights, being a woman and a religious leader has become a great challenge. But, it also creates opportunities: “I see the ministry of women in the most varied religious traditions as a testimony to the possibility of a better, more equitable world with more justice, love and peace. That is what I’m seeking to witness with my ministry” she declared.
Marinez enters our story as the first bishop primate of her church. But she had to pass through a number of stages to reach this position. In 2018, she was consecrated as the first female Bishop to undertake this ministry in the Anglican Church in South America, paving the way for the election of two more women and, in 2022, she became Bishop Primate, a pioneer for this role in the Anglican Community in the southern hemisphere. “By participating in the election, I was fully aware that I was also making available my name in favour of women’s ordination,” she said.
Marinez Bassotto, Bishop Primate of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil: IEAB) – personal archive
Marinez enters our story as the first bishop primate of her church. But she had to pass through a number of stages to reach this position. In 2018, she was consecrated as the first female Bishop to undertake this ministry in the Anglican Church in South America, paving the way for the election of two more women and, in 2022, she became Bishop Primate, a pioneer for this role in the Anglican Community in the southern hemisphere. “By participating in the election, I was fully aware that I was also making available my name in favour of women’s ordination,” she said.
For her, from the start, the IEAB has been very bold and innovative in giving women access to the three holy orders. Even with this openness, a little more than three decades passed and no Diocese had had “the prophetic courage” to elect a women to the episcopate: “I sincerely believe that the biggest challenge was breaking down this barrier,” she recalled.
The situation of women in the church
“In the churches, attendance and social action are mostly in the hands of women, however when we look at the ‘government’ positions and decision-making arenas, this is not equally reflected. In other words, in some denominations, the empowerment of women in the church environment remains a distant reality.”
In Brazil, according to the most recent data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística: IBGE), 86.8% of Brazilians self-declare as Christians, including evangelicals and catholics. Women represent the majority of these. There are about 60 million female catholics and 23.5 million female evangelicals. Although women represent the largest proportion, it is men who occupy leadership roles within the churches, which can lead to the politics of domination and control over the lives of women.
Christian women in arenas of power: it’s not always like this
Compared to men, women’s positions of decision-making and power are very far behind, because of the patriarchal and structural society in which we live, and this is no different in the church environment. “In the churches, attendance and social action are mostly in the hands of women, however when we look at the ‘government’ positions and decision-making arenas, this is not equally reflected. In other words, in some denominations, the empowerment of women in the church environment remains a distant reality,” declared the Bishop Primate. For her, this occurs “through mistaken biblical interpretations, because of cultural contexts or the structural patriarchy.”
Contrary to the notion of submission, Marinez exemplifies how female ordination has helped to break away from the sexism in the churches and has strengthened the struggles of women generally: “The election of women to the episcopate in Brazil strengthens the struggles of women in the whole of Latin America and impacts on the theological reflections and ecclesial life of both the Anglican Church and other Christian denominations. It encourages women to continue to try to occupy more decision-making arenas in the churches, to establish arenas for discussion, for the training and capacity-building of other women, internationally and in ecumenical movements, and it also supports and encourages the social movements of resistance and the fight for rights.”
Networking and training for Christian women
“We must encourage the social movements of resistance and the fight for rights, including those that seek to protect the rights of women and to confront and prevent violence.”
From the moment that women recognize sexism and the reproduction of violence in their communities of faith, they begin to fight and get organized. “Thanks to the feminist struggle, many barriers have already been broken down. But so many others need to be addressed,” Marinez said. It is the women that support the churches. Women, only visible through their work to maintain and organize the spaces, are tired of invisibility and silencing.
Many women have proposed new readings of the bible for the role that they play in the family and the religious community. They do not accept that the Bible be used as a resource to justify oppression and submission. Regarding this new context, the Bishop Primate declared that the growth of fundamentalism increases discrimination and violence against women, disrespects their rights and criminalizes their struggles: “Unfortunately, in various ways and countless times, many Christian denominations (or conservative groups within them), have justified this discrimination and even reinforced female subjugation using the Bible as a justification.”
But change is underway and this has enabled the greater inclusion of women in arenas of power. Certain pathways are able to deconstruct the patriarchal and sexist interpretations that still permeate Christianity. Marinez believes that the alternative is to continue along the pathway of networking and creating forums for discussion, training and capacity-building for women within the churches and ecumenical movements. And to work from the perspective of the defence of rights: “We must encourage the social movements of resistance and the fight for rights, including those that seek to protect the rights of women and to confront and prevent violence,” she asserted.
Initiatives that Marinez exemplifies, such as the Anglican Service of Diakonia and Development (Serviço Anglicano de Diaconia e Desenvolvimento: SADD) and the online platform “Empower Your Sister” are important instruments for confronting gender inequalities and raising the profile of the activities undertaken by women of faith. These are places where they can dialogue about these issues and defend the right of women to exercise their faith, without losing sight of the need to confront religious and domestic violence, include that against girls.
Christian women in motion
“My faith dialogues with equity and justice, love and inclusion, because from my perspective these are the pillars of being a follower of Jesus.”
Anglican Bishop Primate Marinez Bassotto shared her life and faith experiences and her view of the world. From the start of her journey, the struggle for rights and justice for women have always been part of her ministry. ““My faith dialogues with equity and justice, love and inclusion, because from my perspective these are the pillars of being a follower of Jesus.”
There are so many other women who, like her, have rediscovered the Bible through a feminist lens. There are also those damaged by violence, who have found in women’s bible stories the inspiration to break down the barriers of silence and fear. Faith and religion are both environments for listening, outreach and training. And Christian women have increasingly taken advantage of these spaces to make their struggles resonate.
That’s why, on 8 March this year “in defence of bodies, territories and identities,” Christian and ecumenical women, from different confessions of faith, will take to the streets! They will take their beliefs and their demands for rights, for more arenas of power and decision-making in society and for a better world for all women.
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