Experiences of women clergy in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod

Abstract

This study is an investigation of the experiences of women clergy in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP),1 Blantyre Synod in Malawi. The study focused on the exclusion of women clergy from the powerful and influencial positions in church leadership which originated from the issue of the delay iof women’s ordination to the Ministry of Word ad and Sacrament. Although CCAP Blantyre Synod holds to the spirit of the Reformed tradition which advocates for the priesthood of all believers and distribution specific offices of minister, elder, and deacon according to gifting, the Synod continues to exclude women clergy in positions of power. It is a qualitative study that used a story telling to highlight experiences of women clergy in church leadership through feminist narrative methods of enquiry. In order to obtain the required data, the study used in –depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. A purposely selected group of fifteen women ministers from ten Presbyteries of CCAP Blantyre Synod were individually interviewed on their roles, the perceptions and experiences in different congregations about experiences of women clergy. In addition, two group discussions with members of the women’s guild were conducted and in total eigthty church members that included women and men were interviewed in order to determine christians’ perceptions of women in church leadership. The aim of the study was to assess the experiences of women clergy in their cry for inclusion and exclusion in and from all leadership positions using the experiences of women clergy in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod from an African feminist Theological perspective. By reflecting on the various experiences of the few women clergy in the synod, the study has demonstrated that tensions and struggles over ordination and leadership were not disappearing. Since the inclusion of women ministers in leadership positions, the synod has restricted them to pastoral ministry. No woman minister has ever been elected to the position of General Secretary, although the constitution of Blantyre Synod stipulates that both men and women share equal rights in the professional life of the Church. Despite such right, it appears that opportunities and privilegies between female and male clergy in the ministry remained less than equal. The synod continued to elect women ministers to lesser positions of power. However, the study has established that of all the Synods that form CCAP General Assembly, Blantyre Synod is to be commended for allowing women minister to hold some of the hierarchy positions in church. The study calls for inclusion of women in all leadership positions at all levels not only in CCAP Blantyre Synod but in different denominations within the country. This will make the church in particular CCAP Blantyre Synod an inclusive church.