First intercultural experiences...

I always have been fascinated to discover new horizons, to connect different perspectives and learn by it all. I remember my first "intercultural" experiences: When I was a child, my aunt, a missionary, explained to me mysterious Chinese characters, when I was a teenager Tibetan refugees arrived in our village bringing with them an alien world, when I was 19, during a "social year" in Marseilles, I lived for the first time among Muslim people.

 

Feminist theology opens perspectives...

Studying theology (in Zurich / Rome / Berlin and Montpellier) it was the feminist analysis that gave me new insights. I realized that the traditional European theology, while having reached academic heights, had totally neglected the background and the experiences of women - in its use of language and its contents. I was looking for a life context in which theory and practice, experience and its reflection were more intertwined.

 

From practice to theory, from theory to practice, from practice to...                               agriculture and director of studies

My inclination went to agriculture. For 10 years I did organic farming in a women’s project (Provence/Cevennes - F). As far as the work on the farm allowed we reflected our experiences theologically - organizing seminars and workshops. Then, in the years that followed, I worked as a director of Studies (Studienleiterin; Arbeitskreis für Zeitfragen, Biel-CH). It was my task to put current political and cultural issues in relation to feminist theological perspectives and to support women's projects.

 

The transforming Word - in dialogue:   parish ministry

Desiring to fathom my Christian identity I chose now to work as a Minister (Reformed Church of Zürich-CH). This led me into new areas of dialogue as well within the Church as in an increasingly multicultural and multireligious society. One particular question continued to come to my mind: How the Word of proclamation should come along in order to have an impact and to transform - remaining at the same time Word of dialogue? It was also the main concern of my dissertation in which I endeavored the dialogue between the theology of John and the psychoanalytic “word-event”.

Other tasks...

Beside my parish-work there emerged other tasks: board-member of  “Boldern” and president of its “formation-commission” – Boldern being a Swiss protestant center where from a Christian perspective social and theological issues were debated; daily meditations on the national Radio DRS (“Wort zum Tag”); journalistic activities, lecturing.

 

New Horizons:                                   Madagascar / African Continent...

2006, 50 years old and after 13 years of parish ministry, I started once again for new horizons. A time of travelling began. It led me among other places to Madagascar and the African Continent. I got into new realities and encountered other ways of living Christian faith. Through teaching at the theological faculty in Antananarivo and in Yaoundé (Cameroon) began an exchange with Malagasy / African theology students and pastors. I discovered new approaches to biblical texts, e.g. by the theologians Musa W. Dube (Botswana) and Gerald O. West (South Africa). And I realized how relevant all this was for my own European-Swiss context. I decided to furthermore explore these discoveries and exchanges.

 

The outcome of this is:

The network "Tsena Malalaka”: it facilitates personal contacts and relationships between African and European women theologians and promotes theological exchange: www.malalaka.org

 

The Institute: "The intercultural Bible - institute in migration": it focusses on the topic: “Bible and healing processes”. More about on this website: www.bible-intercultural.org

The publication: "Das leere Grab - ein theologischer Reisebericht". It reflects issues of inter- and intra-religious dialogue from the perspective of the empty Easter-tomb. 87 pages, CHF 25. –, to order at :  mail (at) bible-intercultural.org