Dissecting the women and church leadership paradox

Despite  patriarchal traditions, churches are coming under increasing pressure to elevate women to assume leadership positions

It is August again and everyone is hyped up about Women’s Month. In fact, every year South Africans from all walks of life set aside this month to commemorate National Women’s Day on August 9. Society uses this month to celebrate the strides women have made in the different sectors of society and reflect on the challenges they still face, 19 years after the attainment of democracy in South Africa.

The day looks back on the national march of 20 000 women in 1956, and other women protests before then, to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry a passbook “pass”; or a special identification documents which curtailed an African’s freedom of movement during the apartheid era.

Not only, this, but August also offers an opportunity to give focused attention to the status of women in South Africa. As president Jacob Zuma put it: “…We recall the struggles of generations of women towards the achievement of a free, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.

Thanks to the struggles of women, our country’s constitution recognises women as equal citizens, with equal rights and responsibilities. The democratic dispensation also continues to be craven by this sensitivity to the rights of women, recognising women’s rights as human rights.”

Numerically, what this equity means is attainment of a 50/50 parity between men and women in leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. In other words, this parity should be evident across the broader spectrum of society, in all spheres of life.

However, one institution that continues to be (timidly) criticised for kowtowing to antiquated patriarchal tendencies is the church. The institution, which has served as the moral compass for societies since time in memorial, has not covered itself in glory as far as women empowerment and emancipation is concerned.

Women have never played any significant role in churches of all religions. In fact religion has, in most cases, being used to subjugate women and justified their subservient role to men in society. Even though women account for the bulk of many churches congregants, the leadership structures of these establishments continue to be predominantly male, with some churches having openly opposed emerging trends of catapulting women to positions of influence and power while systematically sidelining and effectively subjugating them, all in the name of God.

However, there are progressive denominations that have embraced women leaders and elevated them to senior clergy positions. One such woman is Reverend Mary Lebopo, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who has full confidence in women’s abilities to lead the church to greener pastures.

“I am a leader in my church and I have realised that churches that are led by women prosper more than those that are led my men. This is because women are mothers and their intuition is to care for the family. So if woman is in charge of a church, she is always thinking of ways to help and protect her flock.” She cited examples in the Bible of women who were used by God to perform leadership roles.  “These were examples of women who respected the authority put in place by God.

Their contribution to their nations was that of a helper or assistant. Let me tell you about few of them; Queen Esther, clearly she was not king, but she was a queen who played an important role.

“The other one is Ruth, she was not a leader, but a loving mother who loved her family and God; and Deborah, a prophet not a leader of a nation. They played very important and empowering roles and I look up to them as I fulfil my roles of a Christian woman.”

Another woman, Moipone Moiloa, also a churchgoer, insists that such roles are by no means demeaning to women, but highlighted the good qualities women possess that have brought ‘unity and cohesion in God’s plans’.

“According to Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 11, verses 11 and 12, neither is woman without man nor man without woman. All things are out of God.” Thus, although women make valuable contributions to the activity of the congregation, there is no provision for them to preside, or to take the lead by instructing the congregation, when qualified men are present.

Another scripture that is used by domineering men to abuse women is Genesis 3:16 where God said to the woman “your craving will be for your husband, and he will dominate you”.  This declaration was made after Adam and Eve had sinned. It was not a statement of what men should do but of what God foreknew they would do now that selfishness had become part of human life.

This is the reason that a number of Bible accounts therefore tell of the very unhappy situation that develops because of such selfish domination by men. But the Bible does not say that God approved of such conduct or that it is an example for others to follow.
- Additional information from www.jw.org

Is christianity sexist?

Christianity is accused of sexism from within the church itself as well as from outside. The church grew up in a patriarchal society where women and men were not seen as equals. Over the last 100 years, society has changed dramatically in its treatment of women, and the church is lagging behind. Here we ask whether sexism goes against the teachings of the church and the example of Jesus, or christianity is fundamentally sexist.

Ordination of women
The issue of whether to allow women to become priests, and whether it is sexist not to, is such a big question that it needs to be considered in its own right.
Here are the arguments for and against the ordination of women:

Arguments for the ordination of women

• Jesus came to break down barriers of sex, nationality, race, etc.
• Jesus’ attitude towards women was revolutionary – see above.
• Men and women are made in the image of God.
• In the past, society did not allow women a leading role, but times have changed.
• Jesus chose men because women were not listened to publicly in his society. If Jesus came today, he would choose men and women without question.

Arguments against the ordination of women

• Jesus chose men to be his Apostles and the foundation of the Church, not women.
• Jesus’ authority has been passed on through men – we should not ignore this powerful tradition.
• 2000 years of tradition cannot be wrong, surely?
• Ordaining women is a stumbling block against great unity between churches. The R.C. and Orthodox churches are totally opposed to women priests!
• When celebrating Eucharist, the priest represents Christ who was a man. Women cannot play this role. – Source: rsrevision.com