Pursuing a gender and women empowerment agenda: A chronicle of Women Ministry in the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi from 1876 to 2023

Abstract

In this world, women face a plethora of problems such as discrimination, violence, abuse and varied unequal treatment at home, at school, at the work place, at religious institutions and in wider society (Muriithi, 2000:12-13). Women discrimination in the church has been an area of great concern and reflection for many decades. The major challenges have inter alia been about the status, authority of women, ordination and inclusion of women in the decisionmaking bodies of the church. Such Issues including full participation and inclusion of women in church structures have been partially explored, but not convincingly exhausted (Muriithi, 2000:12-13). Such questions of a gender and women empowerment agenda in the Blantyre Synod have been pursued through the approach of engagement with women in all spheres of life. The study investigates, scrutinizes and analyses how the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has managed to engage women on a gender and ministry agenda from as early as 1876 CE to the present day in Malawi.

Keywords

• gender
• discrimination
• sexism
• androcentrism
• patriarchy
• women missionaries