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ORDINATION OF WOMEN: PARTNERSHIP, PRAXIS AND EXPERIENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF ZAMBIA by PEGGY MULAMBYA-KABONDE 205512387 Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY i n the Subject of GENDER AND RELIGION at the SCHOOL OF RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY AND CLASSICS in the COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU- NATAL (Pietermaritzburg Campus) SUPERVISOR PROFESSOR ISABEL APAWO PHIRI CO-SUPERVISOR DR. JULIUS GATHOGO MARCH 2014 DECLARATION As required by University regulations, I hereby state unambiguously that this work has not been presented at any other University or any other institution of higher learning other than the University of KwaZulu-Natal, (Pietermaritzburg Campus) and that unless specifically indicated to the contrary within the text it is my original work. ------------------------------------------------------- PEGGY MULAMBYA-KABONDE 21 March 2014 As candidate supervisor I hereby approve this thesis for submission ------------------------------------------------------- PROF. ISABEL APAWO PHIRI 21 March 2014 As candidate co-supervisor I hereby approve this thesis for submission ------------------------------------------------------- DR. JULIUS GATHOGO 21 March 2014 ii CERTIFICATION We the undersigned declare that we have abided by the College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal’s policy on language editing. We also declare that earlier forms of the dissertation have been retained should they be required. ------------------------------------------------------- GARY STUART DAVID LEONARD 21 March 2014 ------------------------------------------------------- PEGGY MULAMBYA-KABONDE 21 March 2014 iii DEDICATION I dedicate this doctoral thesis to my mother, Mrs. Vickie Nyimbili- Mulambya and mother-in-law, Mrs. Mable Kapema-Kabonde, both of whom are now late, for being resilient and a source of constant inspiration in my life. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that I acknowledge the support and guidance that I received from a cross-section of people while working on this doctoral thesis. In a special way, I acknowledge the invaluable academic guidance and supervision I received from Professor Isabel Apawo Phiri as my academic supervisor and mentor, and the valuable assistance I had from my co-supervisor, Dr. Julius Gathogo. Together, they constantly provided me with critical scholarly guidance and advice that enabled me to retain focus throughout my research journey, culminating in this final work. Very close also were members of the PhD. Doctoral Seminar cohort in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Interacting with students, lecturers and invited guest-speakers in the doctoral seminars provided me with a vibrant intellectual community that invaluably contributed to my intellectual and academic growth and development. My sincere gratitude also goes to the Postgraduate Office in the College of Humanities, Pietermaritzburg Campus as well as the International Student’s Office at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for all the administrative support I received during my period of study. A word of grateful thanks also to the Rev. Gary S. D. Leonard for his labour in language editing my work as well as providing the layout and desktop publishing. In a special way, let me recognise the United Church of Zambia for acceding to my requests for study leave to read for my PhD. I also acknowledge the World Council of Churches, the Church of Scotland and the University of KwaZulu-Natal for their financial support; my research participants, and the many others who helped me access information, oral or written. I am also highly indebted to those scholars whose work I consulted and used directly or indirectly. I take responsibility for any mistakes and misrepresentations that might have occurred in the process of using such information. v While available time and space does not allow me to mention the many others who equally played an important role in ensuring that I completed this thesis, I remain especially indebted to Dr. Nyambura J. Njoroge for her encouragement and inspiration. Last, but not least, I will also ever remain indebted to my sisters and brothers, as well as my husband and children you were an inspiration in my going out and coming in during the process of research and writing thesis. May the good Lord bless you all! vi DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this thesis, the following words and concepts have been defined in the following way: Affirmative Action: Refers to special measures aimed at creating a state of equality between females and males through the implementation of deliberate strategies aimed at elevating the status of the disadvantaged. In this thesis, this term has been used as a strategy not only to empower the ordained women but also other women in general in the UCZ to be equal partners with men in mission. (ZNGP 2000:V; Njoroge 2002:43). Culture: Refers to the whole complex of distinctive, spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional attributes that characterise a society or a social group. Culture in this thesis was used as one source that bleeds gender injustices as experienced by ordained women (Green 2011:199). Discrimination: Refers to the unequal treatment of persons based on sex, colour, race and religious beliefs. This study found that Ordained Women in some instances were denied to occupy certain influential positions both in church and society, as a result of their biological make up (ZNGP 2000:V). Feminist: Refers to any person fighting for the rights of women. An example in this thesis is drawn from a growing number of both women and men that are propagating on the gender equity of the dual way of perception. The study was mainly informed from a feminist discourse (hooks 2000; Oduyoye 2001). Gender: Refers to socially given attributes, roles, responsibilities, activities for women and men in a given society, at a given time and as member of that society. This study showed that the UCZ had imported these same gender roles from society which in turn had been transferred into the church (ZNGP 2000: V, Oakley 1972: 23). vii Gender Mainstreaming: Refers to those strategies that take into consideration the concerns and experiences of women and men in all spheres and of life, so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. The study showed that as a result of not having clear polices on women and gender mainstreaming in all the operations of the UCZ, there has been no equity between female and male (DAWN 1995:4). Myths: Refers to commonly held beliefs, ideas, and explanations given by people to make sense of acts that are difficult to understand. Many of the statements used in our daily lives to reflect on issues not clear to us could usually be described as myths. The study showed that many Christians relied on the stories that have been told to them especially on the subordinate role of women. The story on women as being the source of evil backed by the biblical culture. See chapter four (ZNGP 2000:VII; Oduyoye 1995:19). Ordination / Holy Orders: Refers to the process by which a person is consecrated to the work of God and is thereby set apart for the administration of various religious rites. In this context, it was used to mean both women and men having the entitlement of ascending or being eligible to be ordained since Christ died for all and more importantly for the whole world that God loved. (UCZ Constitution 2004:20; Küng 1986:369). Patriarchy: Refers to male superiority reinforced by institutions that has to do with power and authority. The study on the experiences of ordained women revealed that the operations of the UCZ were deeply entrenched in the structures that have been sustained by males since the inception of the UCZ (Ruether 1983; Kabonde 2003). Sex: This is a biological term referring to people either being male or female. It is given at birth and is universal. In this study, sex has been used as not a determinant of someone’s ability to perform a given role as prescribed by society (Oakley 1972:18; McKissack 1992). Socialisation: This is a process through which a person learns all things that s/he needs to know in order to function as a member of a specific society. Socialisation in viii this study has been used due to the language used during the field research beginning with the seminary where teaching and preaching are all dominated with male language (ZNGP 2000:VII). Traditional Practices: These are human acts performed over-and-over again that eventually become part-and-parcel of daily life and by extension sub-sets of mainstream society. Traditional practices are very much part of the Christian life in Zambia especially when it comes to the ‘do’s and don’ts’ among women in the church e.g., kneeling down before speaking to men (ZNGP 2000:VII; Kanyoro 2002). ix ABSTRACT There exists a gender distortion in the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) concerning the participation of women in the ministry, mainly because of the biased patriarchal images about women and their role in church and society. To achieve the goal of women participation, the UCZ has to re-image their understanding of women from a historical bias to that of a fair, balanced, and historical inclusion of both genders. Consequently, this thesis called for the initiation of such a paradigm shift within the church. To achieve this, the UCZ Theological Seminary needed to realign its programmes and curricula in order to be more gender sensitive and thereby include more women scholars as partners in theological education. Such a theology of partnership between women and men was explored through the feminist discourse using ecclesiology and gender partnership theories. This study is located within the United Church of Zambia (UCZ). It set out to explore the unequal partnership between the ordained women and men in the United Church of Zambia from a gendered perspective.