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The phenomena where religion decides to break its own boundaries, is one where a lack of information exists. This study sought to explore the lived experiences of clergywomen inside the churches considering the limited local studies and literature conducted about clergywomen in the country. In light of this, additional knowledge is contributed to the few existing bodies of literature, specifically information about clergywomen's challenges, roles, and how they view themselves, highlighting the essence of clergywomen in the country. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with predetermined standards of serving the church as a clergywoman and actively participating in religious activities. This study utilized phenomenology, which included conducting one-on-one semi-structured interviews to gather data. The findings presented "ascension to pastoral ministry", "roles and responsibilities", "financial difficulty", "mockery", and "disagreement" as themes. It was also found that the participants have positive relationships, a supportive environment, and "positive view of themselves" even though they experienced struggles. The participants had different roles in the church, encountered several struggles, and had painful yet pleasing experiences as they defined them, leading them to have a positive view of themselves. Based on the findings, it is recommended to women in clergy, religious institutions and to the community to be more accepting of clergywomen in religious organizations. Moreover, further studies regarding clergywomen with different backgrounds such as single and married clergywomen as well as other members of the church including LGBT+ members are emphasized for future researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes recent controversies around gender in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) by examining an online list of women pastors from 112 SBC churches created in 2023 by supporters of an amendment to restrict "any kind" of pastor to qualified men. Using interviews with listed women and primary sources posted to church websites in the form of statements of beliefs, staff pages, church newsletters, church council minutes, and pastors' blogs, this study examines the identity of these women and how they and their churches responded to being publicly identified. It also analyzes the making of this list in the context of denominational history and contemporaneous crises. This study argues that while the proposed amendment largely borrowed language, recycled tactics, and reiterated themes from previous changes to the SBC Faith and Message, divergent responses to the list revealed the persistence of racial divisions in the denomination. Most striking is the absence of any direct response to the list or the proposed amendment by listed Black churches, indicating the complicated and contingent relationship between these churches and the denomination. The absence of engagement also subtlety signals the underlying failure by 2024 of a racial reconciliation movement championed by SBC leaders throughout the previous three decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1994 the Church of England ordained its first women priests and since 2014 women clergy have been appointed as bishops, a senior role in the Church's ordained hierarchy. However, their acceptance into these roles has been highly ambivalent. How ambivalence manifests and the role of deeper beliefs about gender in the Church is under-researched, especially in understanding the positions of male clergy who oppose women's ordination. This article draws on data sets from two separate projects conducting semi-structured interviews with both men and women in ordained ministry and compares the ambivalence towards feminism held by female clergy and theologically conservative male clergy. The argument unpacks how institutional and cultural factors intersect with tradition-specific beliefs to generate highly ambivalent views about feminism as a movement. The conclusion suggests ways feminism is mythologised and used to reframe conservative male clergy as vulnerable and as potential victims of misandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the concept of agency, this article examines the choices Black Clergywomen make when offered guest speaking engagements where they would be prohibited from speaking from the pulpit. In-depth interviews were conducted with eighteen African American clergywomen. Utilizing the concept of agency in gender-conservative religions, findings demonstrate that the women engage in resistance and empowerment through their acceptance or decline of invitations. Theory of agency in gender-conservative religions is advanced by demonstrating that the examination of a wider religious context, as opposed to a single denomination, may be useful in understanding agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper captures women's religious agency and their bonding with the mosque by taking a snapshot of the discourse and experiences of female preachers, appointed by the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments, who were confronted with the closure of mosques within the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though these female preachers have managed to perform their preaching roles while being detached from the mosque, their spiritual affinity to the mosque could not escape notice. This paper argues that the detachment of the female preachers from the mosque due to COVID-19 offers a novel conceptualization of 'religious' agency that could be partially ascribed to their attachment to the mosque, not as a locale for their 'official' or 'semi-official' affiliation with the state, but as a 'sacred' extension of the private space of the home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Leadership educators have the responsibility to help students hear the stories of those who may otherwise be forgotten. There is great value to unearthing the stories of those who have been cast aside due to neglect or malice, both historically and in contemporary society. Given the interdisciplinary nature of leadership education, we benefit from a historical lens which helps us to understand who we are and where we come from. One transformative leader whose story impacts us immensely and whose story we believe would benefit leadership educators to learn about is the story of Rabbi Regina Jonas, the first woman to be ordained as a Rabbi. Design/methodology/approach: The article offers a rich narrative account of experiences, people and lessons learned when considering an impactful leader. Findings: The often untold story of the first known woman rabbi shifts the male dominated narrative of leadership, particularly leadership in religious communities. Originality/value: Though we have never met Regina Jonas, her story has shaped our study and practice of leadership and her triumphs live on in the spirits of women who lead with resilience, tenacity and fortitude today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses the reflection on female diaconate from the early centuries to the instituted ministries in 2021, highlighting the participation of women in the ministries of lector and acolyte, as well as the presence of deaconesses in the early Church. It questions the need to restore a service-ministry for women, emphasizing the importance of including women in ministries and the true identity of the Church. It is emphasized that service is not a right, but a duty, and the importance of a renewed theology on the human person is raised to reflect on ministries in the Church. [Extracted from the article]

Studies of important intellectual figures often debate the influence of their thought but are not always attuned to the ways in which their writings might be re-appropriated by different individuals and groups for their own purposes. This article explores John Locke's connection with the early Quaker movement and how members of the Society of Friends made use of Locke's works to reinforce their own institutional identity. In so doing, it makes use of a letter supposedly penned by Locke to a Quaker minister, Rebecca Collier, to explore the many ways in which Locke's reputation became incorporated into the institutional memory of the movement. This letter has traditionally been regarded as spurious, and Rebecca Collier and her companion, Rachel Breckon, as fictional, yet new evidence uncovered from the minute books of the York and Scarborough Monthly Meetings—where Rebecca Collier and Rachel Breckon were, respectively, members—adds another layer of complexity to this story. Using copies of the letter and written Quaker discourse, as well as arguments drawn from Locke's philosophical and theological writings, this article unravels the many ways in which the letter had an afterlife beyond Locke and the relatively unknown female preacher to whom it was addressed. It contributes to the existing scholarship on John Locke and early Quakerism by showing the long-term reception of Locke's biblical hermeneutics, especially his views on female preaching documented in his posthumous Paraphrase and Notes , and his influence on Quaker thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two recent books navigate the challenges and possibilities women encounter in church and society. Each proceeds from starkly different vantage points and targets distinct audiences. Dzubinski and Stasson's historical approach homes in on the horizon of ecclesial mission as depicted throughout the centuries of Christianity. This work is tailored especially for historians. Yuen and Collier‐Goubil focus on contemporary issues confronting women at the intersection of faith, the home, and the academy. This volume is written by and will appeal to a broad range of religious scholars, although it holds particular significance for those balancing a career in academia with motherhood. A comparison of these works offers unique insights into the shared concerns women with an array of vocations confront, as well as the distinct issues emerging from the arenas of ecclesial leadership, on the one hand, and the academy, on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the historical and cultural differences between deaconesses in the East and West. In the West, women were recognized for their ability to catechize and assist women at baptism, while in some parts of the East, only deaconesses could perform these roles. The article also discusses the theological and cultural context in which the role of deaconesses arose and how it varied between different regions. It highlights the differences in the ordination rites for male deacons and the ceremonial rite for female deacons in the Catholic Church. The text concludes by emphasizing that the Church ensured women were included in religious practices and had equal access to sacraments. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores the historical and current debates surrounding the ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church. It acknowledges the existence of women deacons in different times and places and the ongoing discussions about the sacramental aspect of their ordination. The involvement of various commissions and synods in examining the inclusion of women in the diaconate is also mentioned. Scholars argue for the restoration of women to the ordained diaconate based on historical evidence. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the topic, presenting different perspectives and highlighting the ongoing conversations within the Church. [Extracted from the article]

The article in Middle East Law & Governance presents a collection of research articles and a roundtable section. The first article examines the impact of wasta (the use of personal connections to acquire employment) on democratic attitudes in the Arab world. The study finds that wasta is strongly correlated with corruption and affects citizens' views on their governments and democratization. The second article explores how sectarianism developed in the Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor, attributing it to a combination of societal and political factors. Two articles focus on women's activism in Egypt, one examining female preachers' religious agency during COVID-19 restrictions, and the other studying how Islamist women used digital means to maintain their activism. The roundtable section discusses power-sharing in post-war Lebanon and its relevance in the country's current crises. The contributions in the roundtable offer diverse perspectives on Lebanon's power-sharing model and its implications for democratization and inclusive governance. [Extracted from the article]

Disagreements over the appropriateness of female pastors often obscure the much broader agreement that women have important gifts that should be deployed for the kingdom of God. Yet those gifts are often overlooked. In this article, the WEA’s Senior Advisor on Diversity and former Director of its Women’s Commission lays out a pathway towards greater engagement of women for the benefit of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to restore the credibility of the church within society by reestablishing its public role. Through the study of the lives and activities of women ministers in early Christianity, the research reveals that early Christianity initially granted equal authority to the ministries of diakonia (service to society) and the ministry of the Word, but gradually diminished the role of diakonia while stripping women of their status and authority. Therefore, to fully reinstate the genuine spirit of Christ, it is emphasized that the Korean church must regain the church's public presence and recover the spirit of Jesus within the scattered congregations that currently exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the theological debate surrounding grace, freedom, and the ability to keep the commandments in the Catholic Church. It compares the teachings of the Council of Trent with Pope Francis' recent teachings in Amoris Laetitiae. The article argues that Pope Francis' understanding of grace in Amoris Laetitiae is not contradictory to the teachings of Trent, but rather builds upon them by emphasizing the gradual inner transformation of individuals by grace. It suggests that pastoral accompaniment and discernment are important in helping individuals cooperate with the grace offered to them. The article concludes by stating that Pope Francis' approach should be seen as a legitimate development of recent magisterial teachings. [Extracted from the article]

After half a century of formal equality regarding ministry in Protestant churches, female leaders have become increasingly common in Protestant churches in Western Europe and North America. However, in Hungary—and in East-Central Europe in general—women leaders are typically absent. Based on in-depth interviews with clergywomen, our study, which has focused on clergywomen's aspirations and choices, explores the reasons why women's church careers in Hungary will stop progressing at a certain point. We argue that by adapting to the traditional gender beliefs typical in Hungarian churches, clergywomen's choices contribute to the maintenance of the existing gender order rather than challenge it Nevertheless, through their growing presence and the way in which they minister, Hungarian clergywomen have gradually expanded women's opportunities in the church, albeit mostly unintentionally, by following a special way of emancipation: 'norm-following emancipation'. This way of emancipation legitimizes women in the ministry but does not promote women in leadership roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This means that multiculturalism is not just about majority recognition of minorities but also the mutual recognition of all subgroups of citizens and their right to belong to the body of citizens. So, while multiculturalists may need to think more about "the majority", it is not the case that existing theories are negative about majority culture I per se i or even that multiculturalism is about protecting minorities from majority culture. Immigration Multiculturalism is a national identity remaking project, which may in some circumstances lead to legitimate concerns about the identity effects of immigration, including its effects on existing citizens and minority groups. [Extracted from the article]

Recent scholarship has illuminated the ways that women clergy are disadvantaged in their work, even in congregations that actively support women ministers. How might this disadvantage extend to women congregants who work for pay in other fields? Drawing on 136 interviews from a national study on work and faith, we analyze the accounts of clergy within different types of Christian churches as well as those of women congregants. Surprisingly, we find the same three themes across denomination types showing how support for working women lags that of their male counterparts: (1) lack of support for women by clergymen in general, (2) a lack of specificity concerning issues facing women who work, and (3) insensitivity to working women's schedules. We conclude that churches, regardless of gender ideology, act as gendered organizations by gendering practices, cultures, interactions, and identities. In doing so, churches hold men as the prototypical worker and fail to provide adequate religious support for working women. This study contributes to a growing focus on religious support for working people and reveals subtle mechanisms by which religious organizations reinforce gender disparities even while preaching gender equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which was founded in 1947 with the goal of providing rescue for the needy, common initiatives in mission, joint efforts in theology, and a common response to the ecumenical challenge. The LWF now consists of 150 member churches globally and engages in relationships with each other, deliberation on matters of faith, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, and service to people in need. The article also highlights the Thirteenth Assembly of the LWF, which took place in Kraków, Poland, and explores themes of reformation and hope. It includes articles by theologians discussing theological emphases, gender justice, and the need for Christianity to "step out of itself" and embrace transformation. [Extracted from the article]

The influence of Black women leaders in this country and throughout the world in corporate, political, educational, and religious settings has existed for years (Allen & Lewis, 2016). The most recent election of both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is a testament to that as their wins have been largely attributed to the leadership, efforts, and mobilization of Black women. Yet, Black women's leadership challenges and experiences have remained largely ignored as studies of leadership have typically centered on whites and males (Allen & Lewis, 2016). Further, despite their contributions, Black women have remained underrepresented in most key leadership positions in all segments of society. Nowhere is this seen more than in the Black church where leadership is male dominated (Barnes, 2006). Though women comprise much of the congregation, they hold very few leadership positions. This forces the question that must be asked, if she is called, then why can't she come? This paper seeks to examine these ongoing issues through the lenses of Critical Race Feminism (CRF) and to provide recommendations that aim to further leadership advancement for Black clergywomen. This paper argues that Critical Race Feminism provides a viewpoint that focuses on feminism, race, and power to understand the multiplicity of leadership inequality in the Black church by extending the discussion of Black women leadership challenges in the church beyond race to gender subordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial topic of the study at hand addresses the beginnings. In terms of women's education, one of the positive effects of the Reformation is the insistence on the widespread availability of the Bible, which was inevitably followed by the eradication of illiteracy among women. Following the Reformation, another argument emerged in favour of the importance of educating women in theology: society regarded women as a key role in raising children, so in order to raise their children educated in theology, their ability to do so became a priority. The second topic addresses the direct preconditions of the theological education of women, especially the changes in the 19th-century school history, which resulted in women's admission to universities and opening up the opportunity for them to obtain degrees in higher education. Furthermore, the study presents the past hundred years of women's education in theology in the Protestant educational centres of Cluj-Napoca -- from the first enrolment, the first ordained woman minister up to the present time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studied the metaphor of spiritual fathering within Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in southern and western Africa. In these churches, the pastor of a congregation is not only perceived as a shepherd of the flock but also as a spiritual father. The main study findings revealed three challenges of spiritual fathering: exclusion of women, illtreatment of spiritual children, and Gender Based Violence (GBV). Spiritual fathering neglects the role of women pastors and women church founders in spiritual parenting. Similarly, some imbalances exist in the relationship between spiritual fathers and spiritual children. Some "spiritual fathers" use spiritual fathering to perpetuate GBV and other types of abuse. The main objective of this article is to redefine the metaphor of "spiritual fathering" in the religious community through the parenthood model as a theoretical framework. The article recommends inclusive metaphor in contrast to the current challenges of spiritual fathering in popular religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the 19-party coalition government produced by 15th General Election (GE15) of Malaysia on November 19, 2022 led by Anwar Ibrahim. Topics discussed include vote-pooling under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system, challenges of rise of Islamism and fear continued in state elections in several states, and female ministers who are relegated to less prestigious ministries.

Christian congregations strive to be caring and inspirational communities, but women who lead them often face challenges to their well-being not experienced by their male counterparts. We conducted a study of leadership challenges among female pastors, administering a survey to a sample of 102 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastors. The results suggest that pastors are not isolated from the types of gender discrimination females experience outside of the church. The insights gained can be useful to church leaders, clergy, seminarians, congregants, and those generally interested in gender dynamics and effective leadership strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing demand for the ordination of women as priests within the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican's primary argument against priestly ordination of women is biblical, appealing to certain historical events, specifically Jesus' (alleged) choice of male apostles only. This article calls for a rethinking and rephrasing of such appeal to history. Due to the nature of our sources, the historically responsible question should not be whom Jesus appointed as apostles, but who were apostles in first-century Christianity. The article points out flaws in the Vatican's reasoning in this respect and brings attention to evidence from earliest Christianity that does indeed speak in favor of women as priests, if an appeal is to be made to history in the first place. The evidence is Junia, a first-century female apostle, described as "prominent among the apostles" by the apostle Paul in his Letter to the Romans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious leaders face unique vocational challenges that place their mental health at risk. As the clergy as a profession has traditionally been male‐dominated, clergywoman experience greater occupational stress than their clergymen colleagues, putting their mental health at additional risk. However, past research offers varied evidence on the gendered nature of clergy health, suggesting that clergywomen may be especially resilient to some difficulties of clergy work. Using panel data from the Clergy Health Initiative, a sample of United Methodist pastors from 2010 to 2021, this study examines clergy‐specific occupational stress and its gendered relationship with depression. I find that, while clergywomen experience higher levels of occupational stress, the relationship between occupational stress and depression is weaker for clergywomen as compared to clergymen. This study thus offers a new perspective on the gendered nature of the pastorate: that clergywomen may be able to more effectively cope with vocational difficulties than clergymen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the development of women's role in the rabbinate in both Israel and the United States. The article includes a comparison of the origins of women's ordination in the three major Jewish movements, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, in the two countries with the highest Jewish populations. It also connects the history of women rabbis to the foundations of the Jewish tradition, explaining how certain beliefs and practices have hindered women's ability to become rabbis throughout history. It later explains the contemporary status of women in the rabbinate and their related struggles. The author highlights the ways that women rabbis have more recently adapted parts of the Jewish tradition to take a feminist approach--adjusting once-restrictive rituals to become both modern and empowered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Clergywomen in the male sphere of the deeply patriarchal and hierarchical church system are exposed to many types of gender maltreatment requiring them to constantly adapt and manage the challenges in their role. In this article, I examine how Hong Kong clergywomen cope when facing gravely oppressive and marginalising gender maltreatment at work. I identify four primary types of coping strategies: tolerance, defying the status quo, seeking external support, and quitting. Collectively, these coping behaviours are utilised by women ministers to endure and fulfil their ministerial callings in the face of discriminatory and oppressive actions of their colleagues. The article aims to raise awareness and draw attention to the prevailing conditions of institutional sexism within the church and to the need to address the enduring impacts of wounds inflicted on clergywomen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The division of labor within married couples in ministerial professions is a special case of gender-specific division of labor. Since their relationship is marital and professional at the same time, the divisions of professional and familiar tasks are interconnected. Previous research demonstrates that, in such cases, gender roles may override professional status, which implies that clergywomen may easily fall into the traditional role of the pastor's wife. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews with female members of ministerial couples in Hungary, we explore the professional and family roles, divisions of labor, and power relations that characterize relationships where both spouses are clergy. Based on these interviews, we identify three different career strategies which clergywomen use to cope with the tension between their emancipatory role as clergywomen and the traditional expectations of a clergyman's wife: (1) the Conformist Strategy, (2) the Conformist with a Second Career Strategy, and (3) the Co-equals Strategy. Our results also demonstrate that unequal relations in professional and family tasks are reinforced by traditional gender roles typical for Hungary in general and for Hungarian clergy in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research note surveys findings about two early Quaker female ministers. A testimony written by the son of Gertrude Derix Niesen (unknown-1687) leads to a reconsideration of English-European relations at Waltham Abbey School, while a set of samplers stitched by Hannah Payton Young (1716-61), the sister of Catherine Payton Phillips (1727-94), allows us to reassess education within ministerial families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]