Description

The Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) has shown an interaction between gender differentiation and gender equality in the church.. At first, the women themselves had to struggle for eleven years for the church to approve their ordination which took place in stages. The first stage was the commissioning as women coordinators, followed by a practical pastoral training under the supervision of male pastors. The third stage was the full ordination of women but with limitation to partial ministry as associate pastors. The latest development is the acceptance of ordained women pastors in full ministry while excluding them from aspiring to top leadership positions in the synod management. In a church that promotes gender equality in ministry, gender differentiation is still strong, even among women.