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Winnipeg, Man.
Mennonite women’s concerns group shares ideas


A small group of Mennonite women in Quebec are making their collective voice known.

Calling themselves Femmes en Action (Women in Action), six women from MB churches in the Montreal area have been exploring ways to unite Mennonite women in their province.

Femme en Action is linked to Mennonite Central Committee Women’s Concerns. Gineete Rolland, coordinator of the Femme en Action, reported at the MCC Women’s Concerns bi-national meeting in Winnipeg at the end of April. This was the first time that both MCC Canada’s and MCC US’s Women’s Concerns committees met together. About 20 women attended the meetings, including five from the US.

Rolland, who oversees the translation into French of brochures and articles on family violence and sexual abuse, said there is a significant need for this kind of French-language Christian material. The translation process is expected to be completed by fall.

The six founding women of Femmes en Action recently surveyed other Mennonite church women on their interests and concerns. Two main themes emerged: the role of women in society and self-esteem.

Events, such as an informal brunch and a fall retreat, are now being planned to encourage discussions on those topics. “We’re not trying to be too directive,” says Rolland about future goals. “I expect it to be a long and slow process as with any kind of significant change. That is what Christianity is all about – a healing process that challenges people towards wholeness in Christ.”

 – MCC Canada release

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Last modified May 26, 2000.

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