The institutionalisation of Christian women's organisations : from docile recipients to agents of change

Abstract

The institutionalisation of Christian women’s organisations in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa played a pivotal role in constituting women as docile objects in theological discourse. However, Christian women’s organisations later developed as sites for change. This conversion from docile recipients to agents of change was due to the influence of ecumenism. This article reflects on the following: the historical background to the institutionalisation of Christian women’s organisations in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa; the involvement of the Women Mission Society in constituting women of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) into Christian women’s organisations that were divided along the lines of race and gender; the discursive contributions of Christian women’s organisations; and Christian women’s organisations as sites of change.