Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

The exploration of gender dynamics particularly on leadership within the Aladura churches in South-Western Nigeria has been a longstanding focus of inquiry. Scholars have given significant attention to the exclusion of women from ordination in Christ Apostolic Church with arguments suggesting that women’s leadership of women-related affairs such as maternal healthcare holds lesser importance, thus perpetuating narratives of their lack of agency. First, I underscore the importance of acknowledging the discourse surrounding distinctive gender roles within the church in the pre-colonial Yoruba religious setting that created a functional space for women in maternal care, which aligns with cultural norms and practices prevalent in this African Christian context. Second, I expand upon the importance of women’s involvement in maternal healthcare and their leadership in this sphere drawing on significant historical precedent of the church’s establishment. Third, I advocate for the recognition of the current distinctive roles of women’s leadership, by analyzing the import of distinctive gendered appropriation of the Bible by the Iya Agbebi for providing maternal care. Moreover, I utilize Foucauldian theory to advocate for reconceptualizing power dynamics within the CAC, emphasizing the significance of women’s leadership in maternal care—a vital aspect for the church’s sustainability. By shifting the focus away from hierarchical structures and the pulpit as the sole locus of power, I argue for a more nuanced understanding that encompasses both top-down and bottom-up approaches to power dynamics of gender relations within the church.