The board of IKETh, the Interreligious conference of European Women Theologians, wants to express our concern for the situation of Lutheran women theologians in Latvia. We find it inacceptable that male gender should be a requirement for ordination to the ministry in a Lutheran church.
We support  the suggestion of the Association of Lutheran Women Theologians in Latvia (ALWTL) to form two theological commissions to prepare a serious debate of the question of the ordination of women in the Lutheran church in Latvia.
We also urge other Lutheran churches in Europe, as well as the Lutheran World Federation, to support the women theologians in Latvia.

IKETh Board
Rev. Dr. Helene Egnell, Sweden
Rev. Christel Hildebrand, Germany
Ms Aysel Kurt, Muslim educator, Germany
Rabbi Lee Wax, England
Rev. Susanne Wolf, Protestant Academy Bad Boll, Germany 

The board of IKETH wish to express our deep concern at the ban of burqa in Belgium, as well as the discussions of a similar ban in France. We cannot say whether Muslim women should wear a burqa or not. However we believe this law is inherently racist, that the Belgian government is spreading Islamophobia under the pretence of advocating women's rights.

We also believe that this law, disguised as a vote for freedom, is a diversion policy from the main problems in the country, and an abuse of their political power. We deplore this ban as something which has very serious implications for women, and for the freedom of religious expression.

Please follow this link to the statement from Amnesty International's expert on discrimination in Europe:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/belgium-votes-ban-full-face-veils-2010-04-30

IKETh Board
Rev. Dr. Helene Egnell, Sweden
Rev. Christel Hildebrand, Germany
Ms Aysel Kurt, Muslim educator, Germany
Rabbi Lee Wax, England
Rev. Susanne Wolf, Protestant Academy Bad Boll, Germany