The Dilemma of Female Ministers’ Participation in Leadership in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe? Reintegrating Paul’s Views in 1 Corinthians 11:5 and 14:34 & 35

The subject of the lack of women’s participation in leadership has been a topical discourse in both the political and religious landscape in Zimbabwe. Why is women’s participation in leadership roles still way below that of men? Are men more capable than female in leadership? Can there be any sustainable development in a community when other people in the community are marginalised? These questions have been critical in the discourse of gender role disparities. The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) has not been spared. The trait can be traced across various Christian churches in Zimbabwe. However, this chapter seeks to reintegrate Paul’s view on women, thereby, challenging the status quo of women ministers’ participation in the MCZ. This chapter assumes that male ministers have used some patriarchal texts in the Bible to their advantage in the process of relegating their counterparts; women to ordinary positions. This chapter, however, acknowledges that the issue of gender equality is not limited to the African communities but to other communities. Considering this view, this chapter reintegrates Paul’s views on women in the Graeco-Roman world and Zimbabwean contexts. Although there are different contexts, parallels and lessons can be drawn. Therefore, a literal and comparative interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:5 and 14:34 & 35 will be explored to allow the ancient Graeco-Roman world to speak to the MCZ leadership context. The central argument of this chapter is that every woman has full and equal opportunities as men.