Women in the CCAP Nkhoma synod : a practical theological study of their leadership roles

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 'Leave her alone, why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me … I tellyou the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done willalso be told, in memory of her (Mark 14:6, 9). This is how Jesus Christ perceives woman;with gratitude, dignity and respect. Unfortunately, women have often been ill-treated,discriminated against and even oppressed by her own fellow human beings of the opposite sexjust because she was born a woman. Many women have asked themselves, 'Why was I born awoman? Questions such as these motivated the researcher to carry out this current study onwomenThe purpose of this dissertation is to: (1) Determine through an in depth literary analysis factorsthat have contributed to the desperate position of women leadership in CCAP Nkhoma Synod.(2) To conduct empirical research in the different congregations of the Synod among membersof Chigwirizano cha amai, church elders and reverends. (3) To explore a new model of readingand interpreting New Testament texts with regards to addressing the problem of the lack ofwomen in leadership positions in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod.The research has shown that women in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod are denied leadershippositions because of historical, cultural and biblical factors. Historically, the first DutchReformed missionaries who came to Malawi used a patriarchal type of leadership, which sidelinedwomen from leadership positions. Culturally, it was discovered that people brought theircultural beliefs along with them to church, that a man is superior, powerful, respectful and acontroller; while woman are considered to be weak, inferior and submissive. Through SocialIdentity Theory, it was discovered that these beliefs and actions of considering themselves tobe superior and better than women, were influenced by aspects such as self-categorization andstereotyping. This means that the moment men categorized themselves as reverends and elders,they automatically compare themselves with the other group, in this case, 'Chigwirizano chaamai. This resulted in stereotyping women as weak and powerless, not qualified to carry outleadership roles.The research has shown that the biblical factor is the main contributor as to why the church hassilenced women up till now. Texts like 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1Timothy 2:11-12 havebeen used to oppress women from exercising their godly given leadership gifts and skills. Thisis why a new theory of interpreting the Word of God has been suggested in this dissertation. It is called the 'Multi-dimensional Approach. This new approach1 will be achieved by rereadingthe Scriptures through three aspects, namely, the literary, social-historical andtheological-rhetorical aspects. The researcher remains optimistic that through this process ofre-reading the texts, the Chewa culture and missionary history, as well as people's mindsets,attitudes and beliefs will change in favour of women leadership.This research sought to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent are historical andcultural factors, and particularly factors pertaining to the interpretation of the Bible, responsiblefor the lack of women in leadership positions in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod? (2) Complex as itmay be to explore and measure the impact of these factors, would it be possible to substantiateand verify such influences empirically? (3) Once this has been done, would it for instance bepossible to identify alternative readings of history, culture and the Bible? These three questionswere very crucial in that they guided the researcher to know the real problem and how thisproblem can be solved.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University