Women to make changes in church

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
SCHOLARS argue that Christianity has in the past been gender insensitive because womena��s role in the church and even in biblical narratives is second to that of their male counterparts.

However, a lot is changing on the Christian front. Lately there has been the rise of gosprenuers a�� those that preach the prosperity gospel more than anything else and in the same light women church leaders are up and coming.

One such new face on the block in Bulawayo is the Pastor of Winners in Christ International Ministry, Stella Esther.

She spoke to B-Metro about the politics around women in church leadership.

a�?Ita��s not like there are no gifted female preachers out there but the problem is that even during impartation or mentorship male pastors are given preference in comparison to female preachers,a�? she said, suggesting that ita��s a societal issue above everything else.

Another woman of God, from International Pentecostal Holiness Church said God does not see gender in his flock but wisdom. Sadly, people tend to stereotype women.

a�?God doesna��t look at gender when choosing a church leader, ita��s the heart.A� Basing on the few numbers of female pastors and prophets that are there, ita��s notable that discrimination exists. Female pastors are not given prominence,a�? she said, refusing to be mentioned.

Tendai Rude from the Johane Masowe Apostolic sect said women are frustrated by their male counterparts.

a�?You can only get a chance to prophesy during the service and it ends there. We dona��t get to see women holding the same roles as men do. Some even go as far as quoting 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 a�?Let your women keep silence in the churches,a��a�? said Rude.

Stella also added that during training for preaching more attention is given to male pastors.

a�?There are prevailing social stereotypes even from church members who rather will prefer to go to a church where there is a male preacher instead of a female preacher. Even during training sessions female preachers dona��t get to learn some of the things that are taught to male preachers,a�? she said.

On the other hand a male pastor from Hamba Vangeli Christian Ministry Frank Mhlanga said that old systems have to change to accommodate capable preachers regardless of gender.

a�?It is entirely up to us to change those systems and encourage females to change their ways of thinking because even some other women still think that other offices are for men only,a�? said Mhlanga.

Pastor Stella called for women to stand their ground and work in unity to make a change in the church.

a�?As women we have to stand in solidarity and support each other so that in the end we can manage to be a force to reckon with,a�? she said.