Addressing Christian and Xhosa cultural obstructions towards women ministerial and Christian leadership development in the OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

The research study focuses on the prejudices women encounter in both the church and society concerning the recognition of their leadership potential. Women’s leadership is largely defined by men in their cultural context. The church also imposes expectations on traditional African churchwomen, which seem contradictory to what the Word of God teaches. This condition is ironically supported by men who do not necessarily go to church because of their cultural convictions. Thus, the dissertation argues extensively that this untenable situation needs to be challenged. The study interacts with Biblical texts that are often subjected to erroneous interpretation drawn in support of oppressive cultural practises and used to militate against women leadership. The approach is not entirely subjective as it considers the perspectives of some renowned African theological writers, readers as well as women role models in exploring the extent of women’s burgeoning in leadership positions in the Assemblies of God (AoG) church in the O R Tambo district Eastern Cape, South Africa.