- During a panel discussion at the fifth Annual Memorial Lecture in honor of Prof Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel, female theologians highlighted ongoing gender inequality in the URCSA.
- They shared personal experiences of patriarchy within the church and reflected on the challenges faced by women in ministry.
- The event also included the launch of a book featuring Plaatjies-van Huffel’s published articles.
Gender-insensitivity is still alive and well in the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa (URCSA) 30 years after the late Prof Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel from Uitzicht in Bellville became the first woman of colour to be ordained as a minister in the Dutch Mission Church in Robertson in 1992. The same patriarchal problems in the church she experienced and vocalised in published articles in her lifetime are still experienced by current female ministers.
This was highlighted by four women in theology in a panel discussion at the fifth Annual Memorial Lecture of Plaatjies-Van Huffel at the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University on Monday 12 August.
At the same event, the book of all 21 of her printed articles was launched, Learning from Ma Ingonyama.
The panel that reflected on her life and work featured Dr Marlene Mahokoto of the faculty, Prop Sabriena September, Rev Nobuntu Penxa-Matholeni and Rev Noxolo Fihla with Prof Anita Cloete, also of the faculty of theology at Maties, as the facilitator.
Mahokoto spoke about the wellness of female ministers, which had to be done undercover as it was seen as a weakness in female ministers.
Another aspect grappled with is being the first woman of colour to be a professor at Maties. While this is an achievement, according to Mahokoto, it was seen as a token of gratitude and that she should stay in her lane and not ruffle feathers.
A lot has still to be changed in the URCSA for males and females to stand side-by-side and not by males still being seen as being better than their female counterparts.
Family
Her husband, Rev Dawid van Huffel, and two of her four sisters attended the lecture and People’s Post spoke to her eldest sister, Evy Olivier, and her sister Francis Fourie in Abu Dhabi and this is what they had to say after the event.
Francis Fourie: “It’s almost midnight here in Abu Dhabi and I (have been) ‘formulating’ this post since Monday. The reason being that I am lost for words.
“My sister was a gift from our Maker to our family, the church, the academia, the ecumenical body and the community at large. Monday night, the book Learning from Ma Ingonyama: The Life and Work of Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel: Minister, Intellectual, Prophetess, was introduced to the audience. The book contains all the articles that Anne wrote and which were published through the years.
“What a Wow! What a phenomenal woman. A woman of strength and power that needs to be saluted.
“I recalled how she fondly referred to Dr Natie Philander, editor of the book, as Broer Natie. When he gave insight on the book, he said: Ingonyama means ‘Lion’, so Anne was a lion, king of the animal kingdom, insightful and meaningful.
“A follow-up is in the making about all the books she wrote. We, as her sisters and husband, each received a signed copy and I teared up when he autographed mine. My heartfelt thanks to all who were involved in this heartwarming gesture. I am shedding tears.”
Memorable
Evy Olivier says: “Last night was a memorable evening. We attended the annual memorial lecture at the Theology Department, US in honour of my late sister Prof MA Plaatjies-Van Huffel. Prof Anita Cloete was the facilitator of the round-table discussion by Dr M Mahokoto, Rev Penxa-Mathaleni, Rev Fihla and Proponent S September. Each one gave insightful reviews and reflections on speeches by my late sister. They all agreed that female ministers still have to deal with patriarchy in the church.
“Dr Natie Philander discussed the recently published book which contains all the articles my sister had published through the years. We were the proud recipients of the first edition of this book. Heartfelt thanks to Prof Reggie Nel and the panel facilitator Prof Anita Cloete, Dr Natie Philander and the rest of the Theology Department (who) arranged this memorable evening. Be blessed.”
Plaatjies-Van Huffel passed on in 2020 but her work and words still ring true after her passing, Cloete says.
