Women and leadership in Nigerian Pentecostal Churches

Abstract

The leadership role of women is a controversial theme in contemporary African Christianity. This paper is an overview of the place of women in Nigerian Pentecostal churches. Particular attention is paid to the leading role of selected women in the African Indigenous Pentecostal churches and the Neo-Pentecostal churches, in contrast to the subjective status of women in most Classical Pentecostal churches in the country. The paper highlights the contributory roles of some women leaders in Nigerian Pentecostal churches and also reveals the extent to which women are marginalised in some circles. Reasons for this are suggested, along with possible solutions.