PERCEPTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN ON LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

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CHAPTER 2 RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DISCOURSES FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF WOMEN

 INTRODUCTION

Chapter one introduced the research problem, presented the aims, methods and philosophies employed to research the topic, in addition, the work done by feminist theology, womanist theology and African women theology was reviewed. Against the background described in chapter one of this study, that this chapter aims at looking into religion and culture as problem discourses from the perspectives of women. In this chapter, religious and cultural discourses controlling women’s lives will begin to become apparent as this chapter captures the voices of women’s theologies approaching women’s issues from women’s perspectives. The work of women is valuable to this study, both as a point of departure and also as an instrument of insight and motivation for the present research.The works of feminist theologians and African women theologians were looked at regarding the following concerns: the way they view the Bible, especially in the context of biblical passages considered to deal with restrictions and qualifications for not ordaining women in church leadership. The present researcher understands that women’s studies on the Bible should not be limited to passages on women only, because it would be a serious omission not to grasp at the opportunity to understand how women lived as they reflected on the scriptures in Biblical times. For the sake of this particular context and the aim of this research, which is to identify religious discourses and cultural discourses that impact on women’s leadership development, passages that concentrate on women’s issues are examined. Accordingly, this study concentrates on the following aspects:
• Firstly, it examines the arguments on the creation story.
• Secondly, the researcher examines Paul’s theology on women’s issues and some perceptions of the New Testament’s teaching on women and the ministry.
• Thirdly, the attitude of Jesus is examined to view how he perceived women.
• Fourthly, women’s ordination in the church is explored.
• Lastly, issues pertaining to culture are appraised in terms of what other perspectives have already contributed to these issues.

THE BIBLE FROM WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVES

Feminist theologians and the Bible

Ringe (1998) refers to the Bible as a book that continues to shape human lives, communities and cultures. In this regard, Ringe points out that the Bible needs to be read through the multiple lenses of women’s experiences in not only ancient but also modern religious and cultural contents. She pronounces that there is a need to understand the contents and also ask questions about the authors and what they wrote about. She alludes to the fact that although the Bible does not address every issue of concern to women of this or any other time, biblical authors, including women characters, introduce issues of special concern to women’s lives. Importantly, she declares that women’s lives are enriched, sustained and empowered in communities that affirm that, within the Bible one encounters not only the divine will for human life and behaviour, but also the very presence of God. On the other hand, the Bible seems to be on their side and on the other hand, it is portrayed as if it is against them. In addition, she asserts that women find inspiration in other biblical women who were blessed and receive encouragement from those who were in the ministry of the Lord. Against all odds and in spite of all the frustrations, women persevere in their quest for fulfilment of their calling in the church. Ringe (1998:3) describes the frustration experienced by women when they read about and hear of other biblical women who were portrayed as being incapable of speaking for themselves as follows:
At the same time, women reading the Bible have found themselves on alien and even hostile turf. Rarely, if ever, do women in the Bible get to speak for themselves. Rather, they are portrayed from the perspective of male authors and in the context of religious communities where authority finally came to be vested in men and where men’s experience was the norm.Ringe (1998) concludes that the ways in which women have experienced the power of the Bible, both as individuals and also as members of different religious, social, and ethnic communities have led to a variety of approaches to the task of interpretation. She observes that women do this in order to find their own stance against the patriarchal values embodied in the Bible. It is true that the Bible shaped the lives of people then, as it continues to shape the lives of people today. Ringe refers to women with power who are still able to persist against all odds and still find inspiration in other women in the Bible. Ringe’s concerns with regard to the role that the Bible plays in the marginalisation of women in the church are also relevant for this thesis as it also engages and challenge the religious discourses that marginalise women and hinders their leadership development in the church.

SUMMARY
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL FRAMEWORK
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 THE AIMS OF THE STUDY
1.2.1 Identifying and describing the impact of Christian religious discourses and the African South-African cultural discourses on the leadership development of women in the ministry
1.2.1.1 The impact of religious (biblical) discourses on the lives of women
1.2.1.2 The impact of cultural discourses on the lives of women
1.2.2 Determining the impact of religious and cultural discourses on the present roles played by Vhavenda women in the church
1.2.3 Presenting a vhusadzi (womanhood) perspective of empowerment to women in the ministry
1.3 THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
1.3.1 Biblical interpretation as problem discourse
1.3.2 Culture as problem discourse
1.4 THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.5 RESEARCH POPULATION
1.5.1 Race
1.5.2 Gender
1.5.3 Economic status
1.5.4 Theological training
1.5.5 Religion
1.5.6 Leadership/ordination status
1.5.7 Age
1.6 BACKGROUND TO TERMINOLOGY
1.6.1 The title
1.6.2 Religion and the ministry
1.6.3 Culture
1.6.4 Leadership and ordination
1.6.5 Discourse
1.7 MOTIVATION FOR THE VALIDITY OF THIS STUDY
1.8 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1.8.1 Feminist theology
1.8.1.1 General overview
1.8.1.2 Feminist theologians and ordination
1.8.2 Womanist theology
1.8.2.1 General overview
1.8.2.2 Womanist theologians and ordination
1.8.3 African women theologians
1.8.3.1 General overview
1.8.3.2 African women theologians and ordination
1.8.4 Bosadi (Womanhood) and other South African theological perspectives
1.9 METHODOLOGY USED FOR THIS STUDY
1.9.1 The philosophical framework
1.9.1.1 Social construction theory
1.9.1.2 Post structural theory
1.9.1.3 Kanyoro and cultural hermeneutics
1.9.1.4 An African South-African context – A vhusadzi (womanhood) perspective
1.9.2 The methodological framework
1.9.2.1 A qualitative and quantitative research method
1.10 DELIMITATION AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
1.11 POSTULATION OF HYPOTHESIS
1.12 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY
CHAPTER 2: THE RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DISCOURSES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 THE BIBLE FROM WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVE
2.2.1 Feminist theologians and the Bible
2.2.2 African Women theologians and the Bible
2.2.3 South African women theologians and the Bible
2.3 THE CREATION STORY
2.3.1 Feminist theology and the creation story
2.3.2 African women theologians and the creation story
2.4 NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ON WOMEN
2.4.1 Feminist theologians’ view on the New Testament scriptures on women
2.4.1.1 1 Corinthians 11:3-10
2.4.1.2 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:8-15
2.4.1.3 1 Timothy 2:8-15
2.4.1.4 Ephesians 5:22-27
2.4.2 African women theologians’ view on the New Testament scriptures on women
2.4.2.1 Ephesians 5:22-27
2.5 THE BIBLE AND WOMEN’S ORDINATION
2.6 WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH
2.6.1 Women and church practices
2.6.2 Women and church leadership
2.6.3 Women redefining leadership
2.7 AFRICAN WOMEN AND THE EXPERIENCE OF CULTURE
2.7.1 African women and rituals
2.7.1.1 The birthing of a child
2.7.1.2 Female genital mutilation
2.7.1.3 Lobola
2.7.2 African women and the language of proverbs
2.8 SUMMARY 
CHAPTER 3: VIEWS OF MEN AND WOMEN ON THE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
3.1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
3.2 QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS
3.2.1 The questionnaire
3.2.2 The interviews
3.3 PERCEPTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN ON LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
3.3.1 Views of men on women as pastors
3.3.2 Views of women on women as pastors
3.3.2.1 Women supporting women’s ordination.
3.3.2.2 Women against women’s ordination
3.4 THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DISCOURSES OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
3.5 DETERMINING THE ROLES PLAYED BY WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
3.6 SUMMARY
CHAPTER 4: A VHUSADZI (WOMANHOOD) PERSPECTIVE
4.1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
4.2 THE VHUSADZI PERSPECTIVE OR APPROACH
4.3 THE VHUSADZI APPROACH AND AFRICAN CULTURE
4.3.1 The vhusadzi approach deconstructing the problematic cultural discourses
4.3.1.1 The vhusadzi approach and the image of women in the Venda and other African proverbs
4.3.1.2 The vhusadzi approach and female circumcision
4.3.1.3 The vhusadzi approach and widowhood rituals
4.4 THE VHUSADZI APPROACH DECONSTRUCTING THE PROBLEMATIC RELIGIOUS DISCOURSES
4.4.1 The vhusadzi approach and God the creator
4.4.2 The vhusadzi approach and Christology
4.4.2.1 The vhusadzi approach and Christ’s salvation
4.4.2.2 The vhusadzi approach and the ministry of Christ
4.4.3 The vhusadzi approach and the Holy Spirit
4.4.3.1 The vhusadzi approach and the experience of Pentecost
4.4.3.2 The vhusadzi approach and the call to the ministry
4.4.4 The vhusadzi approach and Paul’s most powerful statements regarding women
4.4.5 The vhusadzi approach and church practices
4.4.5.1 The vhusadzi approach and single women
4.4.5.2 The vhusadzi approach and xenophobia
4.5 SUMMARY 
CHAPTER 5: THE ROAD FORWARD AND RESEARCH FINDINGS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT TO WOMEN
5.2.1 Women and formal training as a form of empowerment
5.2.2 Women and mentorship as a form of empowerment
5.2.3 Women networking and team building as a form of empowerment
5.3 WOMEN AND THE CALL OF GOD FOR LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH
5.4 RESEARCH FINDINGS
5.5 UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION
ADDENDUM A- QUESTIONNAIRE SCHEDULE
ADDENDUM B- STANDARD ETHICS PROTOCOL
ADDENDUM C- INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DISCOURSES ON THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY: A VHUSADZI (WOMANHOOD) PERSPECTIVE