'n Sosiaal-sielkundige perspektief op lidmate van onderskeie christelike denominasies se houdings teenoor die vrou as ampsdraer in die gemeente: 'n kruis-kulturele ondersoek
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Date
2010-09
Authors
Jonck, Petronella
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Nationwide newspaper articles like “Sorrow in heaven due to closed doors for Reformed Churches of South Africa women” are making headlines which are an indication of the extent of discontent concerning the controversial issue of women’s role in the church. The aim of the study was to provide a Meta theoretical framework in order to interpret the issues surrounding women incumbents. Hence, in this article a number of Biblical principles as well as the history related to the reasoning behind the state of women incumbents are discussed. The concept of attitude is also investigated as a sub-theoretical supposition which precedes the issues related to women incumbents. Attention was also given to define the concept of attitudes while attitude theories were also discussed. Attention was also given to a sociological paradigm, as adjacent science, which may influence church member’s attitude towards women incumbents. Since the inception of society, women have been routinely discriminated against. Discrimination deprives a person of the right to adequate protection and development/advancement. It also refers to making distinctions or choices based on factors other than individual merit. For the purpose of this research project the following research question was formulated: What is the attitude of members of various Christian denominations towards the ordaining of women? The following hypothesis was formulated to investigate the research question: There are statistically significant differences among the attitudes of members of various Christian denominations towards women incumbents and a number of independent variables including geographical location, gender, marital status and age. A total of 1052 respondents were included which consisted of 326 (31%) members of the Dutch Reformed Family of Churches, 311 (29%) members of the Christian Revival Church, 217 (21%) members of the Reformed Church and 198 (19%) Roman Catholic Church members. A biographical questionnaire, The Petro Jonck Attitude towards Women Incumbents Questionnaire as well as a qualitative scale was utilized to gather data. Multivariate analysis of variance was applied. Statistical analysis showed that parishioners had positive attitudes towards women incumbents. The variables found to have the greatest influence on the attitudes of church members were gender, marital status and geographical location, while level of education was insignificant. While some research has been done from a theological perspective with regard to female incumbents, a justifiable socio-psychological approach, combined with unique insights into church members' points of view, is needed. The aim of the study was two investigate the attitudes of parishioners toward women incumbents were researched. The influence of different variables, such as church activities, monthly income, and academic qualification, were also investigated. The sample consisted of 1052 church-goers of which 326 (31%) were members of the Dutch Reformed Family of Churches, as well as 311 (29%) members of the Christian Revival Church, 217 (21%) members of the Reformed Church and 198 (19%) Roman Catholic Church members. A biographical questionnaire, The Petro Jonck Attitude towards Women Incumbents Questionnaire as well as a qualitative scale were used. Multivariate analysis of variance was utilized. It was concluded, on the basis of statistical analysis, that parishioners from various church denominations had a positive attitude towards women incumbents. It was further found that church activities, monthly income as well as academic qualification had a statistically significant influence on the attitudes of parishioners. Churches in South Africa have a history of gender injustice that is not taking into account the needs of women parishioners. The aim of this research study was firstly to determine what parishioner’s attitudes towards women incumbents were as well as to determine the influence of language, race and denomination on the abovementioned attitudes. The aim of this study was achieved by gathering data countrywide from a number of respondents (N = 1052) from the Dutch Reformed Family of Churches (N = 326; 30%), the Christian Revival Church (N = 311; 30%), the Reformed Church (N = 217; 21%) and the Roman Catholic Church (N = 198; 19%). A Biographical questionnaire, The Petro Jonck Attitude towards Women Incumbents questionnaire, as well as a qualitative questionnaire was applied. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to make inferences based on sample information. Statistical analysis concluded that parishioners had a positive attitude towards women incumbents. All the variables were found to have a significant influence on the abovementioned attitudes, i.e. denomination, language, as well as race. This research study’s aim was to determine what parishioners from various denominations’ attitudes towards women incumbents were. The Biblical term and nature of incumbent is vital, hence attention was given to church government as it is found in extraordinary (apostle, prophet and evangelist), and ordinary (deacon, elder and minister) incumbency in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement, the Roman Catholic practice as well as the Reformed movement. The sample consisted of 198 (19%) Roman Catholic Church members, 326 (31%) members of the Dutch Reformed Family of Churches, 217 (21%) members of the Reformed Church and 311 (29%) members of the Christian Revival Church. Data were obtained by means of administering a biographical questionnaire, a quantitative attitude scale as well as a qualitative research scale. The influences of various variables on the attitude towards women incumbents were investigated. The data was analysed by means of multivariate analysis of variance. The most important finding of this study was that parishioners from various denominations were in favour of women incumbents, although the results indicated significant differences between the denominations. The variables found to have a significant influence on the attitude of church members were language, race, denomination as well as gender. None of the other variables yielded statistical significant differences regarding parishioner’s attitude towards women incumbents.
Afrikaans: Landwyd maak koerantberigte soos “Droefheid in die hemel oor toe deure vir Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid- Afrika se vroue” opslae, wat ’n aanduiding is van die mate van ontevredenheid wat voortvloei vanuit die kontroversiële kwessie rakende vroulike ampsdraers in di e kerk. Die oogmerk van die st udie is om ’n teoretiese raamwerk te verskaf waarvolgens die kwessie omtrent vroulike ampsdraers geïnterpreteer kan word. In hierdie artikel is dus ondersoek ingestel na die Skriftuurlike beginsels, asook die kerkhistoriese gegewens, wat verband hou met die stand van sake soos dit van toepassings is op vroulike ampsdraers in verskillende denominasies. Voorts is gekyk na die konstruk houding, as ’n subteoretiese voorveronderstelling wat die kwessie rondom vroulike ampsdraers voorafgaan. Aandag is ook geskenk aan die definiëring van die konsep houding, waarna die verskillende houdingsteorieë bespreek is.
Afrikaans: Landwyd maak koerantberigte soos “Droefheid in die hemel oor toe deure vir Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid- Afrika se vroue” opslae, wat ’n aanduiding is van die mate van ontevredenheid wat voortvloei vanuit die kontroversiële kwessie rakende vroulike ampsdraers in di e kerk. Die oogmerk van die st udie is om ’n teoretiese raamwerk te verskaf waarvolgens die kwessie omtrent vroulike ampsdraers geïnterpreteer kan word. In hierdie artikel is dus ondersoek ingestel na die Skriftuurlike beginsels, asook die kerkhistoriese gegewens, wat verband hou met die stand van sake soos dit van toepassings is op vroulike ampsdraers in verskillende denominasies. Voorts is gekyk na die konstruk houding, as ’n subteoretiese voorveronderstelling wat die kwessie rondom vroulike ampsdraers voorafgaan. Aandag is ook geskenk aan die definiëring van die konsep houding, waarna die verskillende houdingsteorieë bespreek is.
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Keywords
Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2010, Women church officers -- Social aspects, Women church officers -- Psychological aspects, Women church officers -- Cross-cultural studies, Women clergy -- Cross-cultural studies, Feminism -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Preacher, Elder, Deacon, Church specific history, Biblical principles, Theories, Behaviour, Feministic movement within church, Patriarchal framework, Social constructionist epistemology