Abstract
Equality in the light of the 1996 South African Constitution and Scripture In the debate on the role of women in the church the principle of equality (especially gender equality) is of particular importance. Churches and theologians are confronted by a twofold question, that is: • Does Scripture support gender inequality as a consequence of the patriarchal context in which it originated? • Are churches that prevent women from serving in the offices not guilty of gender discrimination? Before these questions can be answered theologians should clarify the concept of equality. The aim of this article is to compare the biblical concept of equality with the ethical content with which the Constitutional Court imbues the South African constitutional value of equality. The central theoretical argument of this article is that there is a fundamental difference in content between the biblical concept of equality and the South African constitutional value of equality. The main differences in content between the two concepts of equality will be highligted by way of comparison. After the comparison of these concepts, a few observations will be made which are relevant for the debate on the role of women in the church.
Highlights
Before these questions can be answered theologians should clarify the concept of equality
The aim of this article is to compare the biblical concept of equality with the ethical content with which the Constitutional Court imbues the South African constitutional value of equality
The central theoretical argument of this article is that there is a fundamental difference in content between the biblical concept of equality and the South African constitutional value of equality
Summary
In die debat oor die plek van die vrou in die kerk kom die beginsel van gelykheid, en spesifiek geslagsgelykheid, prominent ter sprake. Alvorens hierdie vrae beantwoord kan word, is dit nodig dat teoloë helderheid kry oor die vraag waarop die konsep van gelykheid presies dui. In hierdie artikel sal gepoog word om ’n vergelyking te tref tussen die Bybelse konsep van gelykheid en die etiese inhoud wat die SuidAfrikaanse Grondwetlike Hof aan die grondwetlike waarde van gelykheid gee. Die sentrale teoretiese argument van hierdie artikel is dat daar ’n fundamentele prinsipiële verskil is tussen die Bybelse konsep van gelykheid en die Suid-Afrikaanse grondwetlike konsep van gelykheid wat aansluiting vind by die globale menseregtediskoers. Daarna sal in die lig van die vergelyking enkele opmerkings gemaak word wat vir die debat oor die plek van die vrou in die kerk van belang is. Allereers word gefokus op die inhoud wat die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwetlike Hof aan die grondwetlike waarde van gelykheid gee
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