Experience of men under the leadership of women is a challenge to pastoral care

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to research the experience of men who feel degraded and traumatized by serving under the leadership of women, because of being brought up in a patriarchal environment. Culture seems to play an important part in helping these men to operate within this patriarchal structures. To revisit the negative concepts of African and Christian cultures regarding the leadership of women, and to positively look into equity law in the light of the Bible, which is supposed to be the road map (constitution) for Christians, and the democratic constitution of South Africa. The Bible reveals God as God who hates oppression and promotes liberty, justice, and fairness. Regarding prophecy, the prophet Joel says, “And ... I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh ... Your daughters shall prophesy ... and upon the servants.” (Joel 2: 28-32) Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Women should be at liberty to preach the Word of God inside and outside the church and also to take part in leadership roles. The government of South Africa is propagating affirmative action especially to those who were disadvantaged. Women are the ones who had been disadvantaged when coming to being in leadership positions in every aspect of life. The other factor is to encourage pastoral care givers and the church to jointly propagate equity and the emancipation of all those who are oppressed because of negative cultural concepts and upbringing. Finally it is to demolish all negative cultural aspects whether Christian or African and adapt to the equity law (Law of justice and fairness) irrespective of race, color or gender, for the health, peace and prosperity of our country, and our church. The Bible version that will be used through out the thesis will be the New International Version (NIV).