14:15 – 15:45 on Tuesday November 21, 2023
K1053 (Unioninkatu 37, Helsinki)
Format: in person and online [Zoom link to be sent to all registered participants]
Please register your participation here.
In many societies, women are socially and economically unequal and such unequal status affects not only their pockets but also their social and spiritual life. My research highlights the theological significance of money in understanding societal structures and the role of money in many churches that function in a context of scarcity in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study also considers the impact of feminized migration, xenophobia, and gendered social hierarchies in the South African context, particularly how migrant women mediate money and build social ties within the church. It explores the concept of relatedness as experienced by church members, highlighting the importance of community fellowship for a church's survival. This research shows how in such contexts, belonging is commodified to ensure the church's prosperity and survival of the fellowship.
Keywords: money; migrant women; Anglican Church; relationships; migration
Grant-Funded Visiting Researcher
Dr. Clementine Nishimwe,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa/University of Helsinki
Dr Clementine Nishimwe is a lecturer in the Department of Religion Studies at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Her academic specialization lies in Christian studies, with her research focusing on migration, gender dynamics, the Anglican church, and Pentecostal churches. Her research framework is deeply influenced by the Concerned African women's theologies, reflecting her commitment to exploring the voices and perspectives of African migrant women in theological discourse. Additionally, she is interested in conflict resolution and interreligious dialogue topics. Her research approach encompasses empirical methodologies with a specific emphasis on ethnographic theologies. Her doctoral research centred on African migrant women at St Aidan's Anglican Church in Yeoville, South Africa. She was involved in an ethnographic study on xenophobia and Pentecostalism in South Africa. She received a fellowship from the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) that led to a research grant to explore religious values in the context of conflict in Johannesburg. Last year, she joined a dedicated research team engaged in an exploration of "The Continuing Sociopolitical Influence of Liberation Theologies in South Africa", and currently, she is collaborating with Prof Auli Vähäkangas to explore how egalitarianism and other religious values are embodied by churches that welcome Ukrainian migrants. She is a member of the executive team of the Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA), and she serves on the editorial board as a treasurer of the Journal for the Study of Religion (JSR). She is also a Society for Practical Theology in South Africa (SPTSA) member. Furthermore, she is a COFP (Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace) ambassador for peace and a member of the Africa Network of Peacebuilders (CANEP).
Commentators: Saana Hansen, Grant-Funded Researcher, Social and cultural anthropology, Helsinki University