History
On these pages you can find collected information on the history of the Centre for Theological Gender Studies.
Prior History
> 1970s
Prof. Dr. Maria Kassel, religious pedagogue, pursues a depth-psychological feminist focus in her seminars and publications.
> 1977/78
As a research assistant at the Chair of Ecumenical Theology (P. Langsfeld), Hedwig Meyer-Wilmes organises the first seminar with a feminist focus on the topic “Partnership of Man and Woman – in the Churches as well?"
> 1980s
The exegete of the Old Testament, Dr. Iris Müller starts to set up a library that should comprise comparative religious literature.
> 1983
Two intermediate seminars explicitly deal with topics of Feminist Theology. One is allocated to the Chair of Prof. Dr. Vorgrimmler (Dogmatics) with the title “Feminist Theology”. The other one is held by Christine Schaumberger, WMA at the Chair of Fundamental Theology (Prof. Dr. Metz), together with an autonomous women’s group on the topic “Feminist Theology in the US and in Europe – question inquiry and challenge”.
Petition to the faculty conference: “Therefore we urge the faculty conference to promote the establishment of a Chair for Feminist Theology.”
> 1986
The faculty council resolves the establishment of a “Centre for Feminist Theology” and an “Advisory Board Feminist Theology” with professor Maria Kassel as the head.
> 1991
Funds from the “Bund-Länder-Hochschulsonderprogramm II” (main objective of the programme: promotion of women in science) allow for the request of the establishment of a Chair (C4) for Feminist Theology.
> 1994
Because of doubts regarding the conformity with the concordat when establishing an independent new subject, the Chair is a combination of Feminist Theology and a theological subject that is acknowledged by the concordat.
> 1995/1996
Marie-Theres Wacker starts her work as an advisory counsellor for the feminist-religious magazine “Schlangenbrut” (1995-2005).
Stand-in-professorship by Marie-Theres Wacker
> 1996/1997
Stand-in-professorship by Anne Jensen
Summer: The professorship is tendered again as a Chair for Systematic or Practical theology in combination with “Theological Women’s Studies”. It ends without result.
> 1997
August: The professorship is tendered for the third time, this time including exegesis of the Old and New Testament.
Seminar for Theological Women’s Studies (1998 – 2007)
> 1998
Marie-Theres Wacker is appointed as professor. She takes over the Chair for “Old Testament and Theological Women’s Studies”.
Stefanie Rieger starts her work as a research assistant (1998-2005).
Expansion of the library “Women in Religions” with the aid of the General Religious Studies
4th-5th of December: Symposium “Kompendium Feministische Bibelauslegung” (“Compendium of Feminist Biblical Interpretation”).
> 1999
The senate of the university decides to establish a Seminar for Feminist Theology. After negotiations with the Ministry of Science it is named “Seminar for Theological Women’s Studies”.
Expansion of the library for Feminist Theology (FemTh) and “Women in Religions” (FiR) with the help of ministerial funds.
10th-12th of December: Symposium “Teaching the Bible in a Post-Biblical Context”, with international participation
Start of the international long-term research project about gender relations in Hellenistic Judaism
> 2000
1st-3rd of December: Symposium „ruach/rewach – Geisteskraft schafft Atemraum“ („Ruach/Rewach – the Spirit Creates Breathing Space“)
> 2001
Prof. Dr. Marie-Theres Wacker and Prof. Dr. Annette Wilke receive the “Frauenförderpreis” (“Award for the Promotion of Women”) of the WWU Münster.
10th of November: Symposium „15 Jahre Institutionalisierung Feministischer Theologie in Münster“ („15 years of institutionalization of Feminist Theology in Münster“)
Visiting professor: Prof. Dr. Kristin de Troyer (Clarement Graduate School)
> 2002
Visiting professor: Prof. Dr. Kristin de Troyer (Clarement Graduate School)
> 2003
First presentation of the Maria-Kassel-Award, in cooperation with the Seminar for Theological Women’s Studies
Visiting professor: Prof. Dr. Kyung-Sook Lee (Ewha Womans University Seoul) as DAAD-fellow
Research assistant (substitution for parental leave, summer semester 2003): Dr. Gunhild Buse
> 2004
6th of November: Dr. Hedwig Meyer-Wilmes, university lecturer for Feminist Theology at the University Nijmegen/NL, and Marie-Theres Wacker receive the Marga-Klompé-Award for their book series “Theological Women’s Studies in Europe”.
> 2005
In March, Andrea Qualbrink starts her work as a research assistant (2005-2009).
11th-13th of November: Symposium “Mannsbilder” (“Images of Men”).
> 2006
Publication of the “Bibel in gerechter Sprache” (“Bible in a just language”), in which Marie-Theres Wacker contributed to the translation (translation of the Book of Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah)
Employee at the secretariat: Iris Oji (2006-2007)
Guest for further qualification in Old Testament: Congolese biblical scholar Pascaline Nzosa Muyumbu
Start of the research project: „katholisch – weiblich – promoviert. Die ersten Promovendinnen an der Katholisch-Theologischen Fakultät der WWU Münster“ (“Catholic – Female – Graduated. The first Female Graduates at the Catholic Theological Faculty of the WWU Münster”)
> 2007
6th of July: Andrea Qualbrink is honoured with the “Frauenförderpreis” (“Award for the Promotion of Women”) from the WWU Münster.
As the first Catholic member, Marie-Theres Wacker is appointed for the extended group of editors of the “Bibel in gerechter Sprache” (Bible in a just language).
Stefanie Rieger-Goertz finishes her PhD project about gender roles in Catholic adult education.
Centre for Feminist Theology and Gender Studies (2007-2018)
> 2007
31st of July: Closure of the Seminar for Theological Women’s Studies and establishment of the Centre for Feminist Theology and Gender Studies, under direction of Marie-Theres Wacker, who is the head of the Seminar for Exegesis of the Old Testament at the same time.
Research assistant (until 2009): Andrea Qualbrink
> 2008
7th of June: Opening Symposium: „Feminismus, Geschlechterforschung und geschlechtersensible Theologie: Erfahrungen und Perspektiven“ (“Feminism, Gender Studies and Gender-Sensitive Theology: Experiences and Perspectives”)
Lecture-series: „Gender Under Construction. Aktuelle Debatten in der Geschlechterforschung” („Gender Under Construction. Current Debates in Gender Studies“) in the summer semester of 2008
13th-14th of June: CONCILIUM-Symposium: „Being Human and the Reality of Evil Today“ in cooperation with the Seminar for Exegesis of The Old Testament
> 2009/2010
Research assistant: Dr. Aurica Nutt (2009-2013)
14th-16th May 2009: Symposium „Geschlechter bilden. Perspektiven für einen genderbewussten Religionsunterricht“ (“Gender Formation. Perspectives for Gender-Sensitive Religious Education”)
Study days for Christian-Islamic dialogue on the 26th June of 2019 and the 2nd of July 2010 on the story of creation in Bible and Quran and about Mary from Christian and and Islamic perspectives
6th of April-6th of July 2010: Visiting professor: Prof. Dr. Mercedes Garcia Bachmann
> 2011
22th January: Ceremonial act in celebration of Maria Kassel’s 80th birthday
> 2012/2013
3rd of November: Ceremonial act in celebration of Marie-Theres Wacker’s 60th birthday (in cooperation with the Seminar for Exegesis of the Old Testament)
From October 2012 until January 2013 and between April and July 2013 Prof. Dr. Juliana Claassens does research at the Centre and at the Seminar for Exegesis of the Old Testament with a scholarship from the Alexander-von-Humboldt-Stiftung for advanced researchers.
> 2013
Research assistant: Daniel Bugiel (2013-2018)
From July until December 2013, Liria Andrioli from the University Ijui in South Brazil resides at the Centre as a fellow from the Brazilian government (capes-programme).
After 120 issues and 30 years, the magazine “Schlangenbrut” finishes its publications.
> 2014
7th-9th November: Annual meeting of the ESWTR in Münster: „Verwundbarkeit: natürlich, göttlich, gefährlich. Christliche und muslimische Perspektiven zum Vulnerabilitätsdiskurs“ (“Vulnerability: Natural, Divine, Dangerous. Christian and Islamic Perspectives on the Discourse on Vulnerability”)
26th of June: Beginning of diverse modes of cooperation in teaching with the Centre for Islamic Theology
> 2015
5th-7th June: International Symposium “Early Jewish Writings” (in cooperation with the Seminar for Exegesis of the Old Testament)
> 2017
Andrea Qualbrink finishes her PhD project about women in executive positions in the church.
> 2018
Andrea Qualbrink receives the Elisabeth-Gössmann-Award from the Catholic Theological Faculty of the University Graz for her dissertation.
5th-6th of July: Symposium „Gender braucht die Theologie“ (“Gender needs Theology/Theology needs Gender”)
Centre for Theological Gender Studies (since 2018)
> 2018
A working group is created in order to discuss the future of the Centre for Feminist Theology and Gender Studies (Heimbach-Steins, Könemann, Seewald, Zwick) and to develop a concept.
Judith Könemann and Marianne Heimbach-Steins take over the direction of the Centre for Theological Gender Studies together. Judith Könemann is professor for Religious Pedgogy, Educational Research and Gender Studies. Marianne Heimbach-Steins is professor for Christian Social Ethics and Gender Studies.
6th of November: The faculty council adopts the new order of the Centre for Theological Gender Studies. It provides the opportunity for professors and research assistants to become members of the Centre. Eight professors and 14 members of the non-professorial teaching stuff are founding members.
Verena Suchhart-Kroll starts her work as research assistant.
> 2019
24th of April: first general meeting of the Centre
Start of the research project “Spiritual Direction/Accompaniment in the German Catholic Women’s Association (kfd)“ under direction of Prof. Dr. Judith Könemann and Prof. Dr. Reinhard Feiter
Start of the initiative – supported by the ATG – by junior researchers of the Catholic Theological Faculty “Perceiving Human Beings in Societal Contexts – Analysing Differences – Shaping Diversity”
28th-29th of November: International Conference “Gender (Studies) in Theology – Why and What For?”
> 2020
10th of January: The ATG receives the Gender Equality Prize for the Project Teach Tank “Lehrbausteine Gender in Theologie” at the New Year reception of the WWU Münster.
Start of the project Teach Tank “Lehrbausteine Gender in Theologie”
23th-24th of November: Conference “gewählt – beauftragt – gesendet” on the results of the research project “Spiritual Direction/Accompaniment in the German Catholic Women’s Association (kfd)”
> 2021
16th-17th of September: Symposium “Frauenpower und Männermacht. Potentials and Obstacles of Equal Participation in the Catholic Church” together with the Franz-Hitze-Haus
11th of November: First Working-Lunch of the ATG including a lecture by Dr. Maricel Ibita on the topic “Flood, Famine, Pandemic: Building Back Better with Women in/and the Bible”
Publication of the Conference Proceedings “Gender (Studies) in der Theologie. Begründungen und Perspektiven”
> 2022
Since August: Fellowship by Dr. Ini Dorcas Dah from Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (Ghana); Humboldt-Fellowship
16th of October – 15th of November: Fellowship by Ass.-Prof. Dr. Ma. Maricel S. Ibita from Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines); WWU-Fellowship
19th of October: „Gender Studies at Tea Time“, including the official launch of the TeachTank: Lehrbausteine „Gender in Theologie“ and a guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Tina Beattie (Roehampton) on the topic: „Running in order to stand still: the challenges facing feminists in times of radical political and cultural change“
10th of November: Working-Lunch together with Dr. Maricel S. Ibita on the topic „The Syrophoenician Woman, Synodality and the UNSDGs“
> 2023
16th of January: Guest lecture by PD. Dr. Veronika Bachmann on the topic „‚Und ihre Gesetze sind anders…‘ (Est 3,8). Ein neuer Beitrag zur masoretischen Esterbuchversion im innerjudäischen Tora- und Gesetzesdiskurs“, invitation by ATG and IBET
16th of May 2023: Guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Sharon Bong on the topic “Gender, ecology and religions: A queer proposal for climate justice and gender justice”, invitation by the Institute for Missiology and Theologies beyond Europe and the ATG
17th of May 2023: Working-Lunch together with Dr. Ini Dorcas Dah on the topic “Gender and Holistic Mission: A Christian Response to the Lobi/Birifor Marriage for an Effective Transformational Development in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Cȏte d’Ivoire and Ghana)“
> 2024
September to November 2024: Parental leave replacement by Anna Hack
Publication of the anthology “Theologie: Biographisch - Kontextuell – Intersectional”/“Theology: Biographical - Contextual – Intersectional”
> 2025
Since February 2025: Anna Hack joins the ATG team as a research assistant in the project “Handbuch Theologische Genderforschung”