Teologanda: walking the ways of justice and peace
One of the many lasting gifts of my time in Argentina has been my continued connection with Teologanda.
I first encountered Teologanda through a doctoral intensive on feminist explorations of theological anthropology or human identity. The course was jointly organized by ISEDET, where I studied, and Universidad Católica Argentina. It was led by Nancy Bedford, Marta Palacio and Virginia Azcuy, and looking back on the list of participants, I see how those three days grounded me in a community of women activists and scholars.
Over the next three years, I regularly attended Teologanda seminars and study days in and around Buenos Aires, making many dear friends in the process. This was a community of scholarship which celebrated and supported each other, encouraging excellence at every level.
I've written elsewhere about the I Congreso De Teólogas Latinoamericanas Y Alemanas organized by Teologanda in 2008. Published papers from this and the following Congreso can be located here.
From conversations before and during the Congreso, I worked with three other theologians, two from Argentina, and one from Uruguay, on an article exploring violence and resistance:
As a collaborative and committed piece of work, which took shape over coffee and medialunas in the cafés of Buenos Aires, and through emails sent back and forth across the Río de la Plata, this article exemplifies the belief that the theological locale is not only, ‘specialist discussion panels…councils and other official spaces [but also]…the kitchen table or the table at a party, with much food, chatting, conversation, dialogue, different plates, dancing, colours, much beauty’ (de Lima 2002: 21).*
And when I finally completed my thesis and returned to Buenos Aires for the defence, members of Teologanda were there to both examine and support me, as well as to congratulate and celebrate with me.
In the last week of my visit, I was able to be part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of Teologanda, participating in reflections and recollections thanks to the kindness of various members who turned up early one Saturday morning to drive me to San Antonio de Padua, ensured there was food and coffee waiting for me, and, as always, happily made space for me around the table.
The move online at the start of the covid pandemic provided new opportunities to connect. I took part in one of a series of online conversations about the impact of the pandemic organized by Teólogas en diálogo and featuring many friends from Teologanda.
This week I'm working on a chapter for a forthcoming Teologanda publication (one of many) and once again, am more than thankful to be so generously welcomed to the table and encouraged on the way.
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Citing: Silvia Regina de Lima Silva (2002) ‘Comed, Bebed, Celebrad’ en CLAI Beber de Fuentes Distintas: Teología desde las mujeres indígenas y negras de Latinoamérica (Quito: CLAI), 16-27.
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