Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th.(Systematic Theology)

HEARING ALL THE DRUMS: TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION is about increasing the participation of women in positions of both leadership and church ministry praxis within the Seventh Day Adventist church in South Africa. Women have been excluded in the office of elder, and have been generally excluded from preaching during the worship hour. The research process followed a participatory way of doing research, while using theories on social construction and post-modernist epistemological approach. The theologies that inform this work are contextual in nature and include African and Feminist theologies. In the pursuit for change, however, care is maintained to use inclusive practices that attempt to avoid polarising the congregation and their concomitant theologies. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

In the Central African Presbyterian Church (C.C.A.P.) women are marginalised in its synods. The Nkhoma Synod has taken the strictest measures in marginalising women in the sense that, unlike the other synods, at the time of writing this dissertation, they did not allow women to be deacons, elders or ministers. The dissertation is a quest to find out the root cause of this marginalisation. The main focus has been on finding out to what extent the Pauline writings influenced this marginalisation. Chapter 1 describes the extent of women marginalisation in the C.C.A.P. Synods in Malawi, focusing especially on the Nkhoma Synod. Chapter 2 deals with the unparalleled contribution of women to the success of the Nkhoma Synod’s work. The position of women in Malawi and within the Chewa society is discussed in chapter 3. Chapter 4 deals with various interpretations of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16; 14:34, 35. These are Pauline texts which seem to support the marginalisation of women. Chapter 5 presents the results of the research, while in chapter 6 suggestions are made with regard to the future improvement of the position of women. / New Testament / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

HEARING ALL THE DRUMS: TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION is about increasing the participation of women in positions of both leadership and church ministry praxis within the Seventh Day Adventist church in South Africa. Women have been excluded in the office of elder, and have been generally excluded from preaching during the worship hour. The research process followed a participatory way of doing research, while using theories on social construction and post-modernist epistemological approach. The theologies that inform this work are contextual in nature and include African and Feminist theologies. In the pursuit for change, however, care is maintained to use inclusive practices that attempt to avoid polarising the congregation and their concomitant theologies. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

The reclamation and analysis of women's experiences within three Nonconformist denominations is the focus of this thesis. The first chapter places each denomination in its social and theological context, and describes its governing structures. The bulk of the thesis is devoted to situating women within this context and examining the ways in which women sought representation within male-dominated governing structures. Chapter two examines the conflict between Friends' egalitarian theology and women's lack of governing power. Although women Friends gained access to the governing body of the Society, the issue of equality remained problematic. The chapter finishes with a discussion of the Society's split over women's suffrage. The Baptist Zenana Mission is the focus of the third chapter. Zenana missionaries claimed spiritual and imperial authority over "native" women and used the languages of separate spheres to carve out a vocation for single women in keeping with denominational norms. In so doing, they marginalised the work done by missionary wives. The fourth chapter begins with an examination of the life and theology of Catherine Booth, whose contribution to the Salvation Army is often neglected. Catherine advocated women's ministry in terms that validated both "women's work for women" and public preaching. This chapter looks at the appeal of officership for women, especially the empowering experiences of salvation and holiness, and charts the growth of the Women's Social Work. Despite the Army's egalitarian theology, conflict was felt by women officers who struggled to combine corps and family duties. The final chapter briefly examines idealised representations of women to conclude that their defining power, while significant, was by no means hegemonic.

In the Central African Presbyterian Church (C.C.A.P.) women are marginalised in its synods. The Nkhoma Synod has taken the strictest measures in marginalising women in the sense that, unlike the other synods, at the time of writing this dissertation, they did not allow women to be deacons, elders or ministers. The dissertation is a quest to find out the root cause of this marginalisation. The main focus has been on finding out to what extent the Pauline writings influenced this marginalisation. Chapter 1 describes the extent of women marginalisation in the C.C.A.P. Synods in Malawi, focusing especially on the Nkhoma Synod. Chapter 2 deals with the unparalleled contribution of women to the success of the Nkhoma Synod’s work. The position of women in Malawi and within the Chewa society is discussed in chapter 3. Chapter 4 deals with various interpretations of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16; 14:34, 35. These are Pauline texts which seem to support the marginalisation of women. Chapter 5 presents the results of the research, while in chapter 6 suggestions are made with regard to the future improvement of the position of women. / New Testament / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

Because it is representative of other Southern Baptist seminaries and distinguished by a vigorous graduate program, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) was chosen as the institution from which the population was taken. The study, conducted in 1984, collected data about women graduates of SWBTS for the years 1975, 1978, and 1981, with the following purposes: (1) to develop a profile of women who choose seminary education as an avenue of career preparation; (2) to determine the degree of influence of significant others --individuals in the family, school, peer group, and the church -- on women pursuing graduate education in order to prepare for ministry vocations. Among the findings of the study are these observations: 1. Despite a consistently supportive role from church pastors about respondents' career choices before, during, and after seminary, few seminary graduates encountered clergywomen as role models, or received material support from their home churches, and many encountered gender bias and discrimination as they sought ministry-related careers throughout their educational careers and afterwards. 2. The most desired career choices expressed by respondents include missionary, age group minister, counselor, minister of education, and college or seminary teacher. 3. The least desired career choices of respondents include minister of music, graded choir director, church musician, minister of outreach, pastor, associate pastor, chaplain, and recreation specialist. 4. Mothers, fathers, campus ministers, close friends, fellow seminary students, and missionaries and mission activities were cited, variously, as positively influencing seminary graduates at different stages of their careers. The study's conclusions include the further observation that despite disturbing discrimination against them, the women querried remained faithful to the Southern Baptist denomination, desired to serve, and wished for self improvement in their study and growth.

Text in German / Zusammenfassung Der Ausgangspunkt dieser Untersuchung ist die Frage, wie weibliche, ledige, heterosexuelle Führungskräfte in deutschen, christlichen Organisationen mit ihrer Sexualität und sexuellen Versuchlichkeit umgehen. Das Ziel ist es, ledigen, leitenden Missionarinnen Hilfestellungen zu geben, wie sie authentisch leben und arbeiten können um so auch die Authentizität ihrer missionarischen Botschaft zu stärken. Welchen Einfluss hat sexuelle Versuchlichkeit auf Authentizität von weiblichen Singles in der Missionsarbeit? Macht Macht diese Frauen erotisch? Im ersten Schritt untersuchen wir Frausein und sexuelle Versuchlichkeit theologisch, biologisch und soziologisch. Die abgeleiteten Thesen dienten als Grundlage zu einer empirischen Untersuchung. Fünf ledige Frauen in Führungspositionen wurden interviewt die in missionarischer Authentizität leben wollen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Interviews führen zur Verifizierung und Modifizierung der Thesen. SchlieÃlich werden praktische Konsequenzen gezogen wie Missionsorganisationen ihre ledigen Leiterinnen unterstützen können. English Summary The starting point of this investigation is the question how female, single, heterosexual leaders in German Christian organisations deal with their sexuality and sexual temptability. The objective is to provide these women with support to live and work authentically in order to strengthen the authenticity of their mission. Which impact has sexual temptability on the authenticity of female singles in the mission field? Is their power sexy? In the first step we investigate womanhood and sexual temptability both in theological and in psychological-sociological perspective. The derived hypotheses served as a basis for an empirical investigation. Five single women in leadership positions were interviewed. The results of the interviews lead to verification and modification of the hypotheses. Finally, we draw practical consequences for mission agencies how to support female, single leaders. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

The subject of the present dissertation is a critique of feminist hermeneutics and exegesis with special focus on Jesus' approach to women. The dissertation commences with a discussion of the topic's relevance and a disclosure of this interpreter's presuppositions. This is followed by a survey of gender-conscious approaches to interpreting Scripture, including feminism, egalitarianism, and complementarianism. Also discussed are the nature of hermeneutics and relevant New Testament passages. The main body of the dissertation consists of a description and critique of the feminist and egalitarian interpretation of Scripture passages setting forth Jesus' approach to women. Chapter 2 starts with a description and assessment of the contributions by three major proponents of radical feminism, Mary Daly, Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, and Daphne Hampson. This is followed by a discussion of the work of reformist feminists Letty Russell, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (including a critique of Fiorenza's reconstruction of the place of women in early Christianity), and Rosemary Radford Ruether. Chapter 2 concludes with a treatment of literary approaches by more recent feminist writers. The discussion of egalitarian literature on Jesus and women in Chapter 3 is divided into three periods: the early years (1966-1986); the maturing movement (1987-1999); and recent contributions (2000-2004). Writers whose work is assessed include Krister Stendahl, Letha Scanzoni and Nancy Hardesty, Paul Jewett, Mary Evans, Ben Witherington, Gilbert Bilezikian, Aida Spencer, Richard Longenecker, Grant Osborne, Ruth Tucker, R. T. France, Stanley Grenz, Linda Belleville, William Webb, and others. The final chapter of the dissertation (Chapter 4) contains a discussion of select exegetical insights from a study of New Testament passages on Jesus' approach to women, a comparison of feminist and egalitarian hermeneutics and exegesis of Jesus and women, a proposal concerning a proper hermeneutic on Jesus and women, and a summary of findings as well as a brief presentation of the dissertation's overall contribution and areas for further dialogue. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Text in German / In dieser empirischen Untersuchung wird die Lebens- und Arbeitsgemeinschaft von Missio-nar/-innen auf dem Missionsfeld erforscht. Ausgangspunkt der Untersuchung ist die Frage, wie der Status (Single oder verheiratet, Frau oder Mann) die Lebens- und Arbeitsgemein-schaft von Missionar/-innen beeinflusst. Mit welchen heterosexuell erotisierten Situationen werden Missionar/-innen konfrontiert? Ziel ist es, die verschiedenen Erotisierungen zu erken-nen, deren Einfluss auf die Missionsarbeit zu verstehen und herauszuarbeiten, welche Präven-tion für die Missionar/-innen hilfreich ist. Nach der Begriffsklärung wird im ersten Schritt die aktuelle Genderdebatte beleuchtet, um den Denkrahmen der Erotisierung zwischen Frau und Mann zu skizzieren und um die Notwendigkeit feministischer Ansätze zu erkennen. Dann werden in einer biblisch-theologischen Untersuchung zu Geschlecht und Erotik die biblisch-theologische Wesensmä-ßigkeit von Frauen und Männern, die Authentizität des Ehelebens, sowie sexuelle Versuchung und Versuchlichkeit dargestellt. Ebenso wird die Anziehung durch die Schönheit nach dem Hohelied dargestellt. In einer missionswissenschaftlichen Literaturstudie wird Leiterschaft und Mitarbeiterführung, sowie der Wahrnehmung von Frau- und Mannsein im Missionskon-text gesichtet. Die empirische Forschung begann mit einer Prästudie, in der die im Arbeitskreis Evan-gelikale Mission (AEM) zusammengeschlossenen Missionsgesellschaften zu ihrem aktuellen Umgang mit Erotisierungen im missionarischen Beziehungsgeflecht befragt wurden. In der dann folgenden empirischen Forschung wurden Missionar/-innen narrativ interviewt. Sie be-richteten von Erotisierungen, die sie in ihrer aktiven Missionar/-innenzeit erlebt hatten. Dabei wurden Erotisierungen mit und ohne Erotik festgestellt. Ebenso wurden die Folgen der Eroti-sierungen für die Mission und hilfreiche Präventionen thematisiert. Die Auswertung geschah mittels Grounded Theory in der Software MAXQDA. Die Ergebnisse werden interpretiert und münden in Konsequenzen für die Praxis. / This empirical study investigates the living and working community of missionaries, male and female, on the missions field. The basis of this study is the question, how does the status of the missionary (single or married, man or woman) influence the community of missionar-ies. What kind of heterosexual eroticising situations are missionaries confronted with? The goal is to identify these eroticisations, attempt to understand their impact on missionary work and to find preventative measures that could be helpful for missionaries. After explaining key terms, the first step is to look at the gender debate in order to sketch out the various ways of understanding eroticisations between man and woman and to emphasise the necessity of feministic approaches. Then a biblical-theological investigation on gender and eroticism displays the biblical-theological perspective on the essential being of man and woman, the authenticity of marriage, as well as sexual temptation and the suscepti-bility to sexual temptation. The attraction of beauty in Solomon’s Song of Songs is also de-scribed. Finally, the role of leadership as well as the perception of what it means to be a man or woman in the context of missions is evaluated in a missiological literature review. The empirical research began with a pre-study in which mission societies who are member of the Arbeitskreis evangelikaler Missionen (AEM) were asked how they deal with eroticisations within the context of missions. The empirical research which followed was based on narrative interviews with missionaries. They described eroticisations that were ex-perienced during their time as active missionaries. It became apparent that there were erotici-sations with and without involving erotism. Furthermore, they addressed the consequences of eroticisations for missions itself and suggested helpful preventative measures. The interviews are analysed using Grounded Theory and the software MAXQDA. The results were interpret-ed and led to consequences for praxis. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)