Covenant News - North Park Lecturer Wins Theological Competition

Covenant News

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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