CHRISTIANITY AND AFRICAN CULTURE: AFRICAN INDIGENOUS CHURCH AS SAVING GRACE FOR WOMEN IN THE CONTEXT OF CHRISTIANITY AND AFRICAN CULTURE

Abstract

Despite the highly intimidating numerical strength of women in the mainline churches, coupled with their active participation in various church activities, they have been systematically excluded from the ordained ministry and the hierarchical structure. The discrimination against women in respect of church leadership has been aggravated by African cultural dictates, buoyed up by taboos and superstitions. But given the experience of African indigenous churches and that of the Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal churches, there has been a radical departure from the status quo. However the mainline churches still maintain their opposition to the practice. Many view such opposition as a product of patriarchal tendencies in African culture, which has enthroned men in virtually all aspects of the people’s life. This paper therefore examines African indigenous churches’ saving grace for women’s involvement and full participation in church activities. It discusses the areas of denial of women’s rights in African culture, which seems to hinder the total acceptance of women as priests in the church. Based on these premises, this paper conceptualizes women and patriarchy, and culture and patriarchy, and also reviews women as founders of African Indigenous Churches. Empirical research methods were used to analyze some of the areas in which African indigenous churches have been a saving grace for women. This paper concludes that, under the platform of African indigenous churches, women have experienced Christianity as empowering, giving them a place to stand, and from which they could challenge the male-denominated sacred world and its traditions. Finally since there are hidden potentials in women that churches totally need to harness in order to move forward, the article therefore recommends that sex should not be a barrier to the propagation of the gospel because the grace and gift of God are not limited by gender considerations.