Honouring ANNIE IMBENS FRANSEN

When I first met Annie in 2008 one of the first things she said to me was, “If you choose to continue working in interfaith remember the higher you climb the lonelier it gets.” How prophetic! I knew she didn’t say it to discourage me but to warn me of the reality women face in the mainly male dominated world of Interfaith and Multifaith.  But let’s start at the beginning…

Ari van Buuren, “It started in 1997. Annie Imbens, feminist theologian, and I, as representatives of the Netherlands, are invited to the first URI consultation in Europe. This took place at the 'Brahma Kumaris Global Retreat Centre' near Oxford.

The consultation follows a route of four D's: Discovery, Dream, Development and Destiny.”

In May 1997, Annie Imbens and I reported on the URI consultation in Oxford at the Spiritual Academy of Brahma Kumaris in Amsterdam. The newspaper Trouw immediately reported in this context on August 1, 1997 about Bisschop Swing and URI.

 

“Swing zei 'ja' Een leven gewijd aan United Religions / Swing said 'yes' A life dedicated to United Religions”

“In April this year, the first European consultation for this United Religions Initiative took place in Oxford. Invited were about fifty representatives of fourteen religious and spiritual movements, which are active in various areas in society. The Dutch guests were feminist theologian Annie Imbens-Franssen and Ari van Buuren, head of spiritual care at the Utrecht University Hospital. Van Buuren was initially rather hesitant about vagueness, but returned very enthusiastically. “We listened to each other with great respect. Concern for the well-being of mother earth connected and united us. What we need is global ethics, a global ethic.”

Ari continues: “ In our opinion, the 'R' in URI can have a restrictive effect. We live in a pluralistic: multi-religious, multi-spiritual and secular context. We explicitly choose to speak in the Preamble of our UR Initiative as “people of different religions, spiritual movements and indigenous traditions” with their “wisdom and values”. And Annie Imbens continues to take the lead in fighting tirelessly for equal participation of women and men in all levels of the URI, which culminates in Principle No. 8. 

 

 

In 2002 Ari and Annie participated in the URI Europe Assembly in Berlin. Anne Roth, one of the  founding member of the WIN-URI (Women’s Interfaith Network) CC, who also attended the Assembly wrote in her personal journal:  

“The second half of the afternoon was devoted to a workshop entitled "The Contribution of Women in Interreligious Dialogue" which was led by Annie Imbens-Fransen and myself/ Anne Roth. We began it by sharing words (from so many different language-speakers) around the concept of "feminine." Annie had copies of the very new statement from the European Parliament on the rights of women and there was time for dialogue around the contents and implications of that statement. And we followed by sharing a brief overview of the many new and growing organizations that women are creating around peacebuilding worldwide. A statement in support of this document of the European Parliament was not made due to problems within the language of the document itself.”

Anne also wrote, in memory of Annie: “I first met Annie in the courtyard of the dormitory at Stanford.  It was 1998, and I was managing the Registration tables for the Global Summit that year.  We spoke to one another and connected at a very practical level.  As I got to know her, I realized she is a passionate woman for those who have been considered “second class citizens” throughout Western history – the women of every country.  I guess she must have been in Pittsburgh for the Charter Signing of URI, because she was already embedded in the leadership of the movement by then. Annie has been at the core of the URI work from almost the beginning.  She has been a practical organizer and a fierce promoter of the values that she holds dear.  She deserves all the honour she is being given today.  Warm greetings to her from me as well.”

Patrick Hanjoul, Former Chairman of URI Europe, knew Annie very well. At one point she was Treasurer of URI Europe. He tells:

“I will irreversibly associate Annie with the United Religions Initiative. Together - and therefore very closely - we went through the pioneering years of this then ambitious world network, a dream for a better, more harmonious world.

Annie was without a doubt one of the most important pulling forces within URI Europe. For example, she has worked as Treasurer with great zeal and dedication. Everything she did was finished, perfect. In fact, in terms of statutes and accounts, URI headquarters in San Francisco later adopted the European model as an example for other regions of the world. I was able to do a lot of preparatory work with her. I visited her/you in Eindhoven several times to discuss and clarify things. With every goodbye at the door I always had that certainty: you can count on Annie. After all, she had a great sense of responsibility. She stood there, firmly!

What drowned out everything else was her unwavering zeal for women's rights. Even earlier this year I had a telephone conversation with URI's former International Director, Rev. Charles Gibbs. During that conversation he reminded me that in the run-up to the founding of URI in the year 2000, it was always Annie who brought a women's rights manifesto into the search process that preceded the writing of URI's 'Preamble, Purpose and Principles'. It was thanks to her that there was - and is - continued attention for equality and equality. Although Annie was not always easy, it was precisely because of this that she got things on the agenda and managed to push through. A strong lady. Someone for whom I will always have respect and gratitude, because she was so decisive for the development of URI. Not only in Europe, but also worldwide.

She has contributed to a better world and helped create a different future for the international community. With great certainty, may she rest in peace!

(Signing the URI Charter in Pittsburg, USA in 2000)

Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, former URI Executive Director: added " I have had the great privilege of working with Annie for many years in founding URI, both globally and in Europe. She was a bright light for peace, justice and healing; and a fierce advocate for women's rights. I am honoured to have counted her as a colleague and friend.

Annie has taught me and all of URI important lessons about the importance of fighting for the full and equitable inclusion of women. She is uniquely credited with one of the key principles of URI's Global Charter: "We practice fair participation of women and men in all aspects of URI."

(Another historic moment …)

(Patrick, Karimah & Annie.. and URI Europe )

Karimah Stauch/ Regional Coordinator Europe remembers working with Annie in those early years too: “Annie was a strong woman, courageous, pertinacious and clear in her commitment for standing up for the inclusion and rights of women. She was also a  great supporter of younger women, including myself. It was great that she made sure that principle 8 was included in the Charter.

She served as the URIE treasurer for years. She enjoyed being in charge of the money. She did a lot of work here, too. She also made a strong point that URI should be grassroots with different cultures and ways of organising etc. taken into account.”

Maria Crespo, Director of Member Support, describes how  Annie has influenced her, and continues to inspire here even today: “Coming from Buenos Aires to the initial Stanford meetings was as you may imagine VERY impressive; a whole new world was opening for me specially represented by different people from different parts of the world with a lot to offer and teach me.

Even in this crowd of amazing people and experiences one stands in my memory because it really changed my perspective, and this is my meeting with Annie Imbens- Fransen. From a big conservative Christian family, I was not that conscious of my special contribution as a woman and my power as such. I loved how Annie not only spoke about it but also lived into this conviction. Preamble, Purpose and Principles went back and forth through faxes but there was a last face- to- face meeting before signing URI Charter.

All of us felt happy that this collective effort was coming to an end when Annie stood up and said it was incomplete. I have to say that we were all paralyzed by the idea of starting the discussions again, the process could be never-ending. But it was not because Annie stood there, brave, firm, convinced…”A principle of equity among women and men should be included” . So, with little debate principle # 8 was incorporated:

“We practice equitable participation of women and men in all aspects of the URI.”

I have to say, I read the PPPs very frequently and every time I see principle 8 my mind takes me to her in admiration, in deep appreciation for what she gave to URI and particularly to me. I wouldn’t be

the same as if I hadn’t met Annie. My she be in Peace!

 

(Sally Mahe, Anne Roth amongst others in Antwerp)

Sally Mahe  URI Senior Advisor wrote this tribute , “URI holds a debt of gratitude to Annie Imbens. As a founding Global Council Trustee and passionate first responder to URI’s vision, Annie advocated for women to be included in positions of leadership. At a time when consciousness about the vital need for justice and inclusion of women was awakening around the world, Annie pressed URI to create a core principle calling for equitable participation of women and men in all parts of the URI community. We stand on her shoulders today as we continue to embrace the calling to lead with compassion and uphold the awesome contributions women bring to URI  and to leadership throughout the world.

Women’s Rights

It is evident that Annie was a champion for the Rights of Women. One of the most important contributions from Annie was her commitment to CSW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and CEDAW./ The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly. From these groups emerged ‘The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’, which is 25th November, the day of our conference..

Today, the UN Women Nederland are launching ‘Orange the World’, stop violence against women. Throughout the Netherlands events such as ours are being held. Carola and I signed up and are wearing our pins to support this important cause.

I am positive that Annie will be waving in approval!

May she always be remembered and never be forgotten! Blessings to Annie!