This dissertation examines the experience that women have of the church. Work was done with groups of women in the Eastern Cape to hear their first hand experiences on this subject. A study was also made of the experiences of women as recorded in other parts of Africa and the world. South African women are situated within the broader context of society, thus also matters pertaining to this broader context were examined.The situation facing South African women in society and within the church is complex and difficult. In the final chapter, rather than looking at how women could change external structures, the focus is on women paying attention to themselves. The great importance of women honouring themselves, and giving themselves priority, and that of developing a spiritual practice that is nurturing and relevant to their lives, were suggested as a prerequisite for effective change on a wider level. An emphasis was thus put on the inner world of the woman, where, it is argued, many South African women need to experience a revolution. That women need support in this journey was stressed, with the participation in women's groups seen as being transforming for women. / Systematic Theology / Th. M. (System Theology)

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The story of the role of women in peace-making with a view to a Community development perspective is as old as the existence of the first human God created. The Bible shows that since the beginning of creation, a woman was given to man as a helper (Gen. 1:20-22). They both have responsibility to work, to bring change in the community and to make it a safe place to live. However, around the world women are among the most vulnerable when it comes to oppression, marginalization, injustice and all kinds of violence. Rwanda is a country in the process of recovering from the genocide of 1994 which destroyed the country, cost many lives and left other people in unstable conditions physically, psychologically and spiritually. As a result, all Rwandans are victims of violence inflicted by this war and many Rwandans are still living with painful memories, trauma, poverty, HIV/AIDS, fear and continuing violence. There is a need to rebuild peace and bring justice and reconciliation. Women, despite being the most vulnerable, have many assets which could assist in the process of peacemaking. For this reason they should be included in the process of peace-making with the purpose of finding adequate ways to avoid the repetition of the genocide and reshape the country into a safe environment for all – Rwandans, foreigners and all vulnerable groups. In this study, we will explore the concepts of peace, development and violence. These definitions will help us to understand that these three, influence the role of women in development. This means that, for women to be effective in development, they need a safe place to live, freedom to be involved according to their abilities in order to become positive life changers. It is proposed that Rwandan women will take up this challenge and continue to play a positive role in Rwandan community. They will speak out until their voices are heard and violence in the country is uprooted and until all Rwandans come back together again as a nation. Based on this study, recommendations will be given that may assist women to be more effective in their attempts to bring peace and develop the community as well as be effectively responsive to the needs of other vulnerable groups in Rwanda. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verhaal van die rol van vrouens in vrede-maak met die oog op 'n Gemeenskaps-ontwikkeling perspektief is so oud soos die bestaan van die eerste mens wat God geskep het. Die Bybel dui aan dat sedert die begin van die skepping, 'n vrou aan die man gegee is as 'n helper (Gen. 1:20-22 ) . Hulle het albei die verantwoordelikheid om te werk, verandering in die gemeenskap te bring en dit 'n veilige plek te maak om te woon. Oor die wêreld heen is vrouens egter onder van die mees kwesbares wanneer dit kom by onderdrukking, marginalisering, onreg en allerhande vorme van geweld. Rwanda is 'n land wat in die proses is om te herstel na die volksmoord van 1994 wat die land vernietig het, baie lewens gekos het en ander mense in onstabiele toestande, fisies, sielkundig en geestelik, gelos het. As gevolg hiervan, is alle Rwandese slagoffers van geweld wat deur die oorlog toegedien is en baie Rwandese leef nogsteeds met pynlike herinneringe, trauma, armoede, MIV/VIGS, vrees en voortgesette geweld. Daar is 'n behoefte om vrede te herbou en geregtigheid en versoening te bring. Vrouens, ten spyte daarvan hulle dat die mees kwesbares is, het baie bates wat sou kon help in die proses van vredemaak. Om hierdie rede moet hulle ingesluit word in die proses van vrede maak met die doel om voldoende maniere te vind om die herhaling van die volksmoord te voorkom en die land in 'n veilige omgewing te hervorm vir almal – Rwandese, buitelanders en alle kwesbare groepe. In hierdie studie sal ons die konsepte van vrede, ontwikkeling en geweld verken. Hierdie definisies sal ons help om te verstaan dat hierdie drie konsepte die rol van vrouens in ontwikkeling beïnvloed. Dit beteken dat, vir vroue om effektief in ontwikkeling te wees, het hulle nodig om op 'n veilige plek te woon, vryheid te hê om volgens hulle vermoëns betrokke te wees om positiewe lewensveranderaars te word. Daar word voorgestel dat Rwandese vrouens hierdie uitdaging sal opneem en voortgaan om 'n positiewe rol te speel in die Rwandese gemeenskap. Hulle sal praat totdat hulle stem word gehoor en geweld in die land ontwortel is en totdat alle Rwandese weer bymekaar kom as 'n nasie. Op grond van hierdie studie sal aanbevelings gegee word wat vrouens kan help om meer effektief te wees in hul pogings om vrede te bring en die gemeenskap te ontwikkel, sowel as om doeltreffend te reageer op die behoeftes van ander kwesbare groepe in Rwanda.

This research is a study in systematic theology with strong implications on the biblical doctrine of anthropology for women. Having said this, it needs to be made clear that it was not the intention of this research to deal with the traditional abstract of theology in all its details. The doctrine however is alluded to, from the perspective of African Women's Theology, in that the research builds upon women's experiences, and looks at them in the light of what the researcher sees as God-given dignity for all humanity including women, from the time of creation. It is from this perspective that the researcher approached her synthesis and the basis of such analysis is multi-disciplinary. The people under study are that of the Mashangana (va-Hlengwe) and the (ya-Karangd) who inhabit South-East Zimbabwe. Special emphasis was placed on the situation of women in this area. Chapter 1 presents the motivation for the study, namely, the invisibility of women in positions of leadership responsibilities in the Church and in the public sector. The chapter seeks to investigate the causes of this imbalance and discusses the thesis of this study that women are capable of leading, but are prevented from doing so due to cultural and theological factors. The methodology and theoretical frame of reference used is also discussed in this chapter. Chapter 2 examines briefly the background information about the people under study, and related issues of geography, culture, Christianisation and civilisation. It should however be mentioned that this study has no intention of giving a detailed history of Zimbabwe and its people. Other scholars, including, Ranger, T.O. (1967; 1970); Daneel, M. L. (1971); Murphree, W. M. and Cheater, G. (eds.) (1975); Dachs, J. A. (ed.) (1973) provide adequate information in this regard. This study provides only the basic background on those aspects that are essential for purposes of this present study; consequently, the background that is given is designed to set the stage for a deeper understanding of life in South-East Zimbabwe. Chapter 3 investigates the contribution of Christianity and modernisation in shaping the identity of women. This is done in order to provide a further foundation upon which the interviews with the women and men of South-East Zimbabwe are presented. Chapter 4 begins the analysis of responses from the interviews with the people under study. From this chapter the causes of the problem become identifiable and levels of women's awareness begin to show, as analysis of the responses is undertaken. Chapter 5 continues with the analysis analyses of the responses of the interviews on the effects and influence of Christianity and western civilisation upon women, including, education, political and socio-economics. Chapter 6 is the last of the three chapters that deal specifically with the analysis of the field research, and deals in particular with the responses on the question of leadership, Church and culture as it relates to women. The limited number of women in leadership is brought out in particular from the interviews. Chapter 7 reviews African Women's Theology as a possible instrument of liberation. The goals and aspirations of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians are examined as a means of providing hope for the women of South- East Zimbabwe. Chapter 8 investigates empowerment as a way forward. It discusses the empowerment of women through both Church and society. Suggestions are made as to how empowerment can be implemented. Women themselves are challenged to take action. Chapter 9 is a summary of the entire research and a challenge to the women of South-East Zimbabwe to stand up and boldly claim their humanity and dignity and to exercise their God-given responsibilities. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

This study focuses on the contribution of the church to the development ofthe identity of a Gikuyu woman. Opposition to the suppression of women by culture has become a strong social, political and religious conviction. There is a growing number of men and women in Africa who are concerned about the marginal status of women. In traditional African society, the experience of women was that of subjugation, exploitation and control by men. These experiences are persistent even today because most African cultures are still patriarchal. This study therefore seeks to establish and evaluate how far the church has liberated a Gikuyu woman from such unjust patriarchal conditionings. The study was undertaken in ACK Kirinyaga diocese and concentrated mainly on Kirinyaga district in the period between 1910- I999. Among other factors, the study was undertaken as a contribution to the search for the identity of an African Christian by African theologians. The first chapter introduces the whole thesis and gives a clear explanation of the problem of investigation and the methodology used. Chapter two investigates the status of women in Gikuyu traditional institutions. The chapter concludes that although women held some important roles in Gikuyu traditional society, to a great extent their identity was defined in terms oftheir reproductive roles. Chapter three evaluates the impact of colonialism and Mission Christianity on the status of a Gikuyu woman. We observed that this era had both destructive and regenerative effects on the status of women. Chapter four evaluates the different ways in which women have been involved in church life. It singles out the ordination of women as the greatest effort that Kirinyaga diocese has made on emancipation of women. Chapter five searches for an evidence of the biblical meaning of the identity of a Christian woman, evaluating the place of women in selected controversial biblical passages. Chapter six is the conclusion and sums up the main findings of the study. It also points out that the study is not exhaustive; much more still requires to be researched in this area. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America, 1941. / "Select bibliography": p. xiii-xix.

Orientador: Ivan Esperança Rocha / Banca: Andrea Lúcia Dorini de Oliveira Carvalho Rossi / Banca: Marco Antônio Domingues Sant'Anna / Banca: Silvia Márcia Alves Siqueira / Banca: Maurício de Aquino / Resumo: Essa tese examina os evangelhos e as cartas do Novo Testamento como fontes documentais na busca por construir uma história da importância das mulheres para o estabelecimento bem sucedido da Igreja nos séculos I e II na Palestina e na Diáspora romanas enquanto ainda era identificado como um movimento religioso judaico. Inicia-se essa pesquisa pela obervação do contexto social e cultural mais abrangente da formação do mediterrâneo greco-romano e suas atitudes para com o feminino a partir da análise de escritos dos seus pensadores, historiadores, poetas e filósofos, expondo sua misoginia de estado e suas preocupações pela preservação de valores e tradições religiosas de sua sociedade patriarcal. No capítulo dois procura-se uma aproximação mais acurada do contexto da Judéis do primeiro século onde nasce o movimento que deu origem ao cristianismo e a atitude geral para com as mulheres, observando-se como o sincretismo cultural e religioso que reuniu tradições das culturas presentes na formação do pensamento religioso israelita e judaica influenciaou sua percepção sobre o feminino. Os capítulos três, quatro e cinco são dedicados à observação dos movimentos de Jesus e de Paulo com a peculiar e marcane presença de mulheres que tiveram participação chave para o sucesso do estabelecimento da Igreja ocupando posições de autoridade e as várias formas como sua importância foi diminuída ou apagada dos textos bíblicos e da história por uma processo não natural. Na conclusão se ressalta a re... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This thesis examines the Gospels and the New Testament texts as documentary sources in the construction of a history about the importance of women for the successful establishment of the Church in the first and second centuries in Palestine and the Roman Diaspora while still identified as a Jewis movement. The research begins by the observation of broader social and cultural context of the formation of the Graecco-Roman Mediterran and their attitudes toward the female from the analysis of its thinkers, historians, poets and philosophers texts, exposing its state of misogyny and their concerns for the preservation of values and religious traditions of their patriarchal society. Chapter two focuses on a more accurate approximation of the context of first century Judaea where starts the movement that gave rise to Christianity and its general attitude towards women, observing the cultural and religious syncretism that gathered traditions of many cultures in the formation of the Israeli and Jewish religious thought that influenced their perception of the female. Chapters three, four and five are dedicated to the observation of the movements of Jesus and Paul with the peculiar and clear presence of women who had key contribution to the success of Church's establishment occupying positions of authority and various forms as its importance was diminished or deleted from biblical texts and history by an unnatural process. In conclusion it underscores... (Complete abstract electronic access below) / Doutor

In recent decades there has been a growing scholarly interest in the representation of women in early Christian texts, with the works of Greek and Latin authors being the primary focus. This dissertation makes an important contribution to the existing scholarship by examining the representation of Armenian women in the fifth-century Christian narratives, which have been instrumental in forging the Christian identity and worldview of the Armenian people. The texts that are discussed here were written exclusively by clerics whose way of thinking was considerably influenced by the religious teachings of the Greek and Syriac Church Fathers. However, as far as the representation of women is concerned, the Greek Fathers' largely misogynistic discourse did not have discernible effect on the Armenian authors. On the contrary, the approach developed in early Christian Armenian literature was congruous with the more liberal way of thinking of the Syriac clerics, with a marked tendency towards empowering women ideologically and providing them with prominent roles in the male-centred society. I argue that such a representation of women was primarily prompted by the ideology of the pre-Christian religion of the Armenians. This research discusses the main historical and cultural factors that prompted a positive depiction of women, and highlights the rhetorical and moralising strategies that the authors deployed to construct an "ideal woman". It further explores the representation of women's agency, experience, discourse, and identity. In particular, women's pivotal role in Armenia's conversion to Christianity and female asceticism in fourth-fifth century Armenia are extensively investigated. It is also argued that women's status in the extended family determined the social spaces they could enter and the extent of power they could exercise. It appears that Iranian matrimonial practice, including polygyny and consanguineous marriages, was common among the Armenian elite, whereas the lower classes mainly practised marriage by bride purchase or abduction. Special attention is devoted to the institution of queenship in Arsacid Armenia and the position of the queen within the framework of power relationships. Finally, this study examines the instances of violence towards women during wars and how the female body was exploited to achieve desirable political goals.

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

This dissertation examines the experience that women have of the church. Work was done with groups of women in the Eastern Cape to hear their first hand experiences on this subject. A study was also made of the experiences of women as recorded in other parts of Africa and the world. South African women are situated within the broader context of society, thus also matters pertaining to this broader context were examined.The situation facing South African women in society and within the church is complex and difficult. In the final chapter, rather than looking at how women could change external structures, the focus is on women paying attention to themselves. The great importance of women honouring themselves, and giving themselves priority, and that of developing a spiritual practice that is nurturing and relevant to their lives, were suggested as a prerequisite for effective change on a wider level. An emphasis was thus put on the inner world of the woman, where, it is argued, many South African women need to experience a revolution. That women need support in this journey was stressed, with the participation in women's groups seen as being transforming for women. / Systematic Theology / Th. M. (System Theology)

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)