DISSERTATION ABSTRACT Doctor of Ministry
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DISSERTATION ABSTRACT Doctor of Ministry Emphasis in Mission Adventist University of Africa Theological Seminary TITLE: A MISSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO FEMALE HEAD COVERING IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 IN WORSHIP AT THE SUNNYSIDE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Researcher: Mosimanegape Super Moesi Faculty advisor: Davidson Razafiarivony, PhD Date Completed: September 2016 This study was pictured to help Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist church to adopt a balanced view on the issue of head covering. The adoption of the balanced view would lead the church to use the right biblical principles to interpret Scripture, consider both missiological and cultural implications. The initial evaluation had revealed that, members take the Bible at face value and are torn between culture and the Bible. The study of biblical instances of uses of head covering in both the Old Testament and the New Testament indicated that there is no biblical command for head covering. The Bible revealed that head covering was a symbol with different meanings for different societies. However, the literature review indicated that there are two main different schools of thoughts among scholars. The first school suggests that head covering is imperative and universal for all Christendom. The reasons advanced vary from theological thinking to personal experience. The second school indicates that Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 is non-imperative but relative to the Corinthian culture. However, the latter school of thought acknowledges that the passage is still applicable to Christians today. This is in the light of timeless principles from the passage which could be applied relevantly today. The initial survey used both the qualitative and quantitative (mixed) methods. It revealed that the action taken by Sunnyside for female worshipers to cover their heads on the pulpit was done hastily without adequate information to make the move. Seminars conducted – Five two-hour seminars were conducted on Sabbath afternoons as pre-arranged with the church except for additional two which were one hour sessions scheduled on Sabbath mornings. A quantitative final evaluation was conducted to ensure that the participants understood and captured the balanced view of head covering. The final analysis revealed that 107 (71%) participants of the respondents indicated that the head covering topic was adequately addressed by the researcher. Again, 107 (71%) of the respondents indicated that culture plays a role in the way people understand and interpret Scripture. Lastly, 120 (80%) of the participants indicated that the symbol of head covering can be used when reaching out to those who take it as a sign of honor and respect. The results indicated that the intervention met its objective of bringing a balanced view of head covering. Sunnyside may be used as a model church to help other churches to resolve the issue. As shown in Appendix E, some members requested to have the presentations in order to help other churches. Adventist University of Africa Theological Seminary A MISSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO FEMALE HEAD COVERING IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 IN WORSHIP AT THE SUNNYSIDE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Mosimanegape Super Moesi September 2016 Copyright 2016 © Mosimanegape Super Moesi All Rights Reserved A MISSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO FEMALE HEAD COVERING IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 IN WORSHIP AT THE SUNNYSIDE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Mosimanegape Super Moesi APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _______________________________ _________________________ Advisor: Davidson Razafiarivony, PhD Programme Director, DMin Kelvin Onongha, PhD, DMin _______________________________ _________________________ Reader: Anna Galeniece, DMin Dean, Theological Seminary Sampson Nwaomah, PhD AUA Main Campus Date: May 2017 Dedicated to the glory of God, to my mother, my late father, and my six siblings for raising me to be who I am. Dedicated to my wife, Boipelo Joy Moesi, and daughters, Lefika Mighty and Lefilwe Jarona, for standing by me all the way. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ x ACKNOWEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ xi CHAPTER 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE MINISTRY CONTEXT ................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................ 5 Statement of the Purpose ........................................................................................ 6 Justification of the Dissertation .............................................................................. 6 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 6 Methodology and Procedures ................................................................................. 7 Expectations from the Dissertation ......................................................................... 8 Definitions of Terms ............................................................................................... 9 Summary ............................................................................................................... 10 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS ON HEAD COVERING ............................... 11 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 11 Head Covering in the Old Testament ................................................................... 12 Rebecca Case ................................................................................................. 12 Tamar Case .................................................................................................... 13 Suspected Wife Case ..................................................................................... 14 Head Covering and Religious Use ........................................................................ 15 Priestly and Prophetic Use ............................................................................. 15 Aaron and sons ....................................................................................... 16 Joshua and the High Priest ..................................................................... 16 False female prophetess. ........................................................................ 17 Head Covering and General Use .......................................................................... 19 Head Covering and Royalty .......................................................................... 19 Kings ...................................................................................................... 19 Queens. ................................................................................................... 19 Head Covering and Military .......................................................................... 20 Commander and soldiers. ....................................................................... 20 Head Covering in Mourning ................................................................................. 20 King David .................................................................................................... 21 Ezekiel ........................................................................................................... 21 Aaron and Sons .............................................................................................. 21 Death Row Inmate ......................................................................................... 23 Head Covering and the Angels ............................................................................. 24 v Isaiah’s Vision ............................................................................................... 24 Other Symbolic Expressions of Reverence .......................................................... 26 Moses ............................................................................................................. 26 Joshua ............................................................................................................ 27 Summary ............................................................................................................... 28 Head Covering in the New Testament .................................................................. 29 The Study of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 ..................................................................... 29 The Bible Passage .......................................................................................... 30 Meaning of Head Covering ........................................................................... 30 Word Study .................................................................................................... 31 Head. ...................................................................................................... 31 Covering. ................................................................................................ 32 Uncovering. ............................................................................................ 34 Hair. ........................................................................................................ 34 Head Covering in Paul’s Letters ...................................................................