Women and Church Headship: A Focus on Selected Churches in Kakamega County, Kenya

This book provides an important study of a dimension that is often overlooked in the analysis of women’s participation and contribution in development and social welfare. Gender differences in various institutions have generated a seemingly unending debate all over the world. An inquiry of women’s participation in leadership demonstrates overwhelming male dominance. World-wide, the uneven distribution of leadership positions between men and women is a phenomenon that requires an inquiry into the factors influencing this circumstance. The authors give an analysis of how religious structures affect women performance in the top church leadership and also make an assessment of how custodians of church traditions have continued to contribute to the continued subordination position of women in the church. This book contributes towards the understanding of the factors contributing to gender proportions in religious movements and perceptions guiding the distribution of headship positions by gender in the church. The book will benefit scholars of religion, theologians, church ministers and women movements.