Association of Theologically Trained Women of India

The Association of Theologically Trained Women of India (ATTWI) is an association of Indian women theologians which was constituted in 1979 in Chennai.

It is an ecumenical organisation with more than 500 members.^[1]

In 1977, Shanti Solomon and D. Hoeffer, a German missionary pioneered a conference for theologically trained women in Chennai with a three-fold purpose:^[1]

• to help the theologically trained women to explore ways and extend responsible participation in the total life and mission of the Church.
• to focus the attention of Churches on the presence of theologically trained women among them and to recognise their potential.
• to encourage theologically trained women to organise themselves into an all-India association to develop strategies for meeting their needs.

Another conference was organised in 1978 in Chennai. In 1979, an ad hoc committee^[1] was constituted to draft a constitution for forming an association. ATTWI became a reality in 1979.

Membership to ATTWI is presently restricted to those who hold a degree in theology offered by the Senate of Serampore College (University) or such other theological degrees recognised by the Senate.^[1]

• Wati A. Longchar, Consultant, World Council of Churches:

  ... ATTWI is an inter-denominational organisation which strives to uplift women and girl child, deal with issues pertaining to women and girl child rights, have dialogue with the concerned organisations, and make representation on their behalf and by doing so help the society to develop a healthier community by creating awareness.^[2]

• Feminist Hermeneutics, Lalrinawmi Ralte, Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002,^[3] ISBN 81-7214-710-4.

The executive committees:^[4]

Notes

Further reading

• Gill, Kenneth (1990). Count Us Equal: The Ministry of Women in the Church of South India. Bangalore: Association of Theologically Trained Women in India. p. 216.
• Ralte, Lalrinawmi; Anderson Rajkumar, Evangeline (2002). Feminist Hermeneutics. New Delhi: ISPCK. p. 164. ISBN 9788172147105.
• Chatterjee, Sunil Kumar (2006). Hannah Marshman - The first woman missionary in India. Hooghly: S. K. Chatterjee. p. 106.
• Richard, Jessica (2012). "Association of Theologically Trained Women in India". In Hedlund, Roger E.; Athyal, Jesudas M.; Kalapati, Joshua; Richard, Jessica (eds.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198073857.
• Athyal, Jesudas M. (2012). "George, Annamma". In Hedlund, Roger E.; Athyal, Jesudas M.; Kalapati, Joshua; Richard, Jessica (eds.). Annamma, George. The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198073857.
• Richard, Jessica (2012). "Women's Studies". In Hedlund, Roger E.; Athyal, Jesudas M.; Kalapati, Joshua; Richard, Jessica (eds.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198073857.

• Women's Studies Department of UTC
• Women's Desk of the UELCI