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North Park Lecturer Wins Theological Competition
CHICAGO, IL (April 13, 2005) - A paper on the role of women in Japanese
churches has earned a first-place award for Yumi Murayama, lecturer in
Biblical and theological studies at North Park University and recent
graduate of North Park Theological Seminary. She was honored in March
at the 50th annual meeting of the Midwest Regional of the Evangelical
Theological Society in Kansas City, MO.
Murayama had submitted her paper, "Hindered Mutuality – 1 Corinthians
11:2-16: A Case in Japan," for the society's 2005 Student Paper
Competition. Her paper discusses the role of women in Japanese culture
and specifically their role in the church.
In her opening paragraph, Murayama writes, "Although Japanese society
has been more open to recognize women's talent and skills, generally a
woman unattached to a male
figure–whether it is a father, husband, or boyfriend–is considered to
be 'abnormal' or 'unhappy.' Women are continually seen as sexual
objects. There is no place for them in the society if they are not
'suitable' in men's eyes. As a result, women lack identity, dignity,
and significance apart from men."
She goes on to write that there is even more pressure on women to
conform to traditional gender roles within the Japanese church.
Murayama believes that this is due to the Japanese translation of
passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:3, which refers to the man as the
"head" of the household. The term translated in the Japanese language
takes on meaning like, "ruler," "boss," "chief" and "commander."
Murayama writes, "Consequently, any Japanese person who reads 1
Corinthians 11:3 gets the idea that men are in a position of absolute
authority over women, just as political rulers ruled over people in
middle age feudalism Japan."
Murayama said she hoped the paper would let others know about the role
of women in Japanese culture and church, and "open dialogue for
change." Murayama attends and helps lead worship at Immanuel Covenant
Church in Chicago.
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