Paul's Perspective on the Role of Women in Leadership and its Relevance to the Church in Africa

Abstract

Many African societies are androcentric. Evidence of gender inequality reflects in their education, economic, political, and religious systems. Some church denominations are struggling to establish women's roles in church leadership. The struggle is to what extent is it culturally acceptable and biblically justifiable to allow women to assume preeminent leadership positions? This paper examines women's roles as presented in Pauline epistles to discover Paul's view of women's ministries in the church within the purview of diverse cultural orientations of his days. It argues that Paul adopted a progressive and transformational approach to address the age-long controversial issue of women's roles in the church. In some areas, his approach is countercultural, and in others, it is conventional. The paper adopts an analytical approach to unravel Paul’s perspective of women's leadership roles from Pauline's literature and scholars' opinions. It ascertains that the Church in Africa should develop cultural sensitivity and appreciation, ensure the Husband-Wife relationship and mutual development, maintain orderliness in worship, campaign for gender equality, and safeguard against heresies. It is recommended that pastors in churches and theological educators should adopt Paul's position concerning women's ministry roles in the church and encourage women to take their place beyond cultural limitations.