Paul's Gender Theology and the Ordained Women's Ministry in the CCAP in Zambia

Lazarus Chilenje

Description

The Ministry of Women in the church for has for a long time attracted scholarly attention. This book investigates Paul's Gender Theology in the book of Galatians in the light of understanding contentious biblical texts and on the background of the position of women in the Greco-Roman World. The results attained are then related to wides issues about the role of women, particularly in CCAP Zambia, and divergent positions are noted. A historical critical reading of these texts, especially Gal 3:28, provides an alternative Pauline Gender Theology to achieve respect, equal opportunities and equal roles for all.

Informations

• Publié par: Mzuni Press
• Date de parution: 17 mai 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9789996060939
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Paul's Gender Theology and the

Ordained Women's Ministry in the CCAP in Zambia

Copyright 2021 Lazarus Chilenje

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the publishers.

Published by Mzuni Press P/Bag 201 Luwinga Mzuzu 2 Malawi

ISBN 978-99960-60-92-2 eISBN 978-99960-60-93-3 Mzuni Press is represented outside Malawi by: African Books Collective Oxford ([e-mail])

www.mzunipress.blogspot.com www.africanbookscollective.com

Editorial assistance: Hope Kaombe

Cover: Josephine Kawejere

Paul's Gender Theology

and the Ordained Women's Ministry in the CCAP in Zambia

Lazarus Chilenje

Mzuni Books no. 48 Mzuzu 2021

Dedication I dedicate this work to my wife, Shera Sakala-Chilenje, who has lovingly stood by my side all these years of my studies, and to our three wonderful children: Victor Chilenje, Richard (Joseph) Chilenje and our little girl Mervis Chilenje.

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Acknowledgements

First and foremost, in a special way, I extend my sincere and heartfelt thanks and appreciation to my beloved supervisor, Associate Professor Jonathan Samuel Nkhoma, who has tirelessly helped me at every stage of the research. When I stood on the threshold of the building of Gender Theology in Pauline Literature, Associate Professor Jonathan Nkhoma was the one who provided a map I could not have found on my own. His vast knowledge of New Testament and non-Theological disciplines prevented me from getting lost. His genuine loyalty to students allowed me to wander on my own, and this is how I discovered the fun of doing research. I truly appreciate him for his patience, love, generosity, guidance and constructive criticism.

I acknowledge gratefully the contribution of Professor Dr Klaus Fiedler who assisted me from the inception of the topic of my study before I was assigned to Associate Professor Jonathan Nkhoma as my supervisor up to the completion of this dissertation. Professor Klaus Fiedler challenged me to remain focused on the subject and recommended books to make this project relevant. I am indeed grateful for his guidance and constructive criticism. I am also grateful to Dr Rachel NyaGondwe Fiedler for the encouragement and a source of inspiration to pursue studies on women. Her writings on women's need for liberation indeed motivated me.

Special thanks also go to the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA) Leadership International Development, for their continued financial assistance for the period of four years. May God richly bless the PCUSA Louisville office via Mrs Nancy J. Collins, Regional Liaison for East Central Africa. Also, I am grateful to Nancy for editing my first draft of this work. I will always live to remember her gesture.

I am greatly indebted to CCAP Zambia for allowing me to study with Mzuzu University even at times when I was required to discharge certain duties.

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I thank all those who contributed to my research when I looked for information. I am grateful in particular to Rev M.R. Kabandama, General Secretary of CCAP Zambia for not only allowing me to conduct research in the Congregations and Presbyteries but also sending questionnaires to Synod Executive members. I sincerely thank all those I have not mentioned by name but have immensely contributed to my studies up to this end. I also thank my wife Shera, sons Victor and Richard, and daughter Mervis for being patient, cheerful, supportive and flexible while I was busy with my 'book thing.' Also, when I worked during odd hours of the night and travelled for weeks to Mzuzu University. Shera, our relationship proves to me that it is true relationships that are a source of healing. Glory to the Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Lazarus Chilenje, -April 2020

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Abbreviations CCAPZ: Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian Zambia CCAPLA: CCAP Synod of Livingstonia Archives CLAIM: Christian Literature Association in Malawi JETS: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society JMTUC: Justo Mwale Theological University College JMU: Justo Mwale University MZUNI: Mzuzu University NT: New Testament PCUSA: Presbyterian Church of United States of America UPCSA: Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

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Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 The Provision of Space for Women Leadership in CCAP Zambia Chapter 3

The Place of Women in the Greco-Roman World Chapter 4 Gender Theology in Pauline Literature Chapter 5 Toward a Theology of Gender in CCAP Zambia Bibliography

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9 9 13 13 51 51 79 79 142 142 147

Chapter 1

Introduction

The Bible is the foundational document for Christianity. Indeed, 'the 1 Bible is the engine that is keeping the church running." The Bible is central in Christian life and is daily used by Christians all over the world. Despite the fact that the Bible is widely honoured as the soul of 2 theology by Christians, it has not contributed to unifying adherents of the Christian faith. This could be attributed to divergent interpretations of the Bible. One major contributing factor is probably how the Bible is interpreted.

People using the same source of knowledge arrive at different conclusions. With numerous problems faced in the continent, the Word of God is regarded as a source of answers and even of solutions to all the mind-boggling questions and experiences. Indeed, in the Bible the people of Africa find hope and answer as to the meaning of life. The mere fact that users of the same book arrive at widely different conclusions requires scholars to investigate critically what constitutes a responsible reading of the Bible. The word of God has some passages that are relatively easy to interpret as well as others that are difficult. Many Bible readers find texts, especially those written by Paul, among other writers, difficult. This calls for scholarly work which will enable members of the church to understand the Bible and avoid polarizing opinions. The debate has become completely polarized in the treatment of many writers for whom there are just two sides: those who oppose the participation of 1  Hilary Mijoga, "Bible and Church Growth in Malawi,"Religion in Malawi, no. 8, 1998, pp. 27-33 [p. 27]. 2  Joseph A. Fitzmyer,Scripture, the Soul of Theology,Nairobi: Paulist Press, 2005 (1994). 9