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| author |
Elijah Mwitanti
| | title |
The Holy Spirit Upon All Flesh: Acknowledging and Applying the Gifts of Women in the Church as a New Mission Paradigm in Zambia
| | abstract |
While we can celebrate the progress being made in advancing the cause of women in society, there is still much work to be done. The place where least progress has been made in this regard is the Church. Spurred by watching my Mother's spiritual gifts under utilized by the Church because of her gender, I set out to write this project with the hopes of awakening some Church leaders to the loss of vitality as a result. To achieve that I have identified some key elements to women's inequality in the Church in Zambia. One is selective application of Scriptures intended to support men's superiority over women. 1 Corinthians 14:33-36, for example, is one tool in the toolbox of gender inequality in the Church. Sadly, the general context in which Paul commanded that women be quiet in the assembly as reflected in this text is not understood. I have argued that those who seek to make doctrine out of a onetime disciplinary event do so for self-aggrandizement. With it, they forever ensure that ecclesiastical power remains firmly in the hands of men. Another element is the general cultural and traditional view of women and their role in society. This was affirmed by the first missionaries whose doctrine supported strict views of the Church concerning women. I have argued against this by enlisting allies and stakeholders to join the cause of acknowledging and fully applying the gifts of women in the Church. We are doing this because God promised the Holy Spirit to be poured upon all flesh - Joel 2:28-29, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit."
| | school |
The Theological School, Drew University
| | degree |
D.Min. (2021)
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| advisor |
J Terry Todd
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| committee |
John Janka
Jacquiline Lewis
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| full text | EMwitanti.pdf |
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