Browsing by Author "Chifungo, Phoebe Faith"

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    Women in the CCAP Nkhoma synod : a practical theological study of their leadership roles
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-12) Chifungo, Phoebe Faith; Nell, Ian; Mouton, Elna; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: “Leave her alone, why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me … I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also 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 sex just because she was born a woman. Many women have asked themselves, “Why was I born a woman?” Questions such as these motivated the researcher to carry out this current study on women The purpose of this dissertation is to: (1) Determine through an in depth literary analysis factors that 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 members of Chigwirizano cha amai, church elders and reverends. (3) To explore a new model of reading and interpreting New Testament texts with regards to addressing the problem of the lack of women in leadership positions in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod. The research has shown that women in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod are denied leadership positions because of historical, cultural and biblical factors. Historically, the first Dutch Reformed missionaries who came to Malawi used a patriarchal type of leadership, which sidelined women from leadership positions. Culturally, it was discovered that people brought their cultural beliefs along with them to church, that a man is superior, powerful, respectful and a controller; while woman are considered to be weak, inferior and submissive. Through Social Identity Theory, it was discovered that these beliefs and actions of considering themselves to be superior and better than women, were influenced by aspects such as self-categorization and stereotyping. This means that the moment men categorized themselves as reverends and elders, they automatically compare themselves with the other group, in this case, “Chigwirizano cha amai”. This resulted in stereotyping women as weak and powerless, not qualified to carry out leadership roles. The research has shown that the biblical factor is the main contributor as to why the church has silenced women up till now. Texts like 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1Timothy 2:11-12 have been used to oppress women from exercising their godly given leadership gifts and skills. This is 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 rereading the Scriptures through three aspects, namely, the literary, social-historical and theological-rhetorical aspects. The researcher remains optimistic that through this process of re-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 and cultural factors, and particularly factors pertaining to the interpretation of the Bible, responsible for the lack of women in leadership positions in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod? (2) Complex as it may be to explore and measure the impact of these factors, would it be possible to substantiate and verify such influences empirically? (3) Once this has been done, would it for instance be possible to identify alternative readings of history, culture and the Bible? These three questions were very crucial in that they guided the researcher to know the real problem and how this problem can be solved.