IDENTITY AND THEOLOGICAL DISCOURSE OF CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN THAILAND: A CASE STUDY OF KAMOL ARAYAPRATEEP

Abstract

This paper aims to propound the first comprehensive resource about the identity and theological discourse of Reverend Dr.Kamol Arayaprateep of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT). Arayaprateep is well known in Christian communities both inside and outside Thailand as the first Thai woman Biblical theologian. However, little attention has been given to her theological discourse itself. This paper investigates her life history by conducting interviews with women theologians at theological seminaries in Chiang Mai and in Bangkok. This paper also examines major concerns and themes of her theological discourses by reviewing her major papers in English and in Thai. The author concludes that her discourse was based on her great longing to be “truly human” by converting to Jesus Christ himself which had emerged from her own experience of conversion. Thus, the major concerns were to promote universal “ecumenism,” to establish faith-based relationship among Asian Christian women, and to continue to serve God until her senescence with confidence and enjoyment.