Women's ordination in the Reformed Church of East Africa
Abstract
The ordination ministry has been viewed as central in the body of Christ, in my context. The Gospel will be ineffective among my people without the office of ordination. Women have played major roles in many areas inside and outside the church. They are the majority and therefore I have suggested that they should be ordained.
Mission work was done consecutively by two missionary enterprises in Kenya and led to the establishment of Reformed Church of East Africa (RCEA). We are thankful for the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (DRC) for their role in the phase of church planting and with their spontaneous congregational outreach towards the local people especially in the Rift Valley of Kenya and those of Western Province. Their relentless efforts in evangelization produced fruits that we stand on as a church. In my thesis, I have indicated how the Reformed Church of East Africa began, and how the early missionaries viewed women in ordained ministry. I have also reported the testimonies of three RCEA women who view ordination of women to be as important as ordination of men. The Kiplombe 2002 conference is where women gave tremendous testimonies in regard to equality and ordination of women in the church ministry. My thesis is also centered on a biblical ecclesiological basis for women's leadership with the biblical analysis of women's testimonies in my context. I have emphasized women's firm conviction about the appropriateness of their ordination, and how the ministry of ordination will benefit the entire church in many aspects.
The RCEA has many cultural and social settings, thus I have observed the two major tribes within the church (Luhya and Kalenjin) and how the cultural and social settings of these two tribes have been a hindrance in the ordination of women. And finally, my experience as a church minister for the last 12 years in the Reformed Church of East Africa, has been truly helpful in writing my thesis, J have written my true reflection of how women should be given a chance in the ministry of ordination in the RCEA. I have also given my own proposal of a way forward for the RCEA in regard to women's ordination. The proposal points, if taken positively, will create a new face for the church setting. Women will be viewed positively, will participate in the pulpit program, and will be ordained without patriarchal domination.
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