THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION): PERSPECTIVES FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 14:26-40

SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Religion And Human Relations

CONTRIBUTORS:

Chukwuedo, M. U.
Chiegboka, A.B.C.

ABSTRACT:

The title of this study is the Place of Women in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion): Perspectives from 1 Corinthians 14:26-40. Second class status has often being the lot of women in Judaism which has also crept into Christianity. It is however complicating when the New Testament gives evidence of texts that describe women as active participants in Christian ministry and the same time advocate the complete silence of women in ministry. This work is provoked by Paul’s injunction in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 which enjoins women to keep silent in the churches which has also been used to subordinate women in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Certain positions women aspire for are not given to them. Therefore this study aims at examining the intention of the writer of the text (1Cor. 14:26-40) and to evaluate the implications of the text to contemporary women ministry in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). This study is restricted to the place of women in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Women who have left their various duty posts and areas of calling will be awakened through this study. Relevant materials were consulted in this research and oral interview was carried out to source information on the various interpretations of the text and their implications to the place of women in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). The researcher purposefully used the hermeneutical approach to interpret 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 and apply the perspectives to the place of women in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Christian egalitarianism theory is also adopted in this study. The findings reveal that the text is not just used to silence women in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) but is used to prop up other restrictive measures on women’s full participation in ministry. This text is not a blanket prohibition on women generally rather Paul is more concerned that order and propriety be preserved in the worship assembly. Therefore this may not be taken as a status quo for a contemporary church without any similar situation. The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) should have a rethink concerning women as active participants in ministry because the church would be losing a vital factor in Church spirituality and organizational structure without the full involvement of women. This work recommends that adequate opportunity be given to women to exercise their spiritual gifts.