Women in Pentecostalism
INTRODUCTION
Historically, women have been allowed to prophesy within Pentecostal churches since this role is specifically mentioned in the Bible as being appropriate to both genders. Many women have played important pastoral roles within churches even though in the eyes of some people this violated St. Paul’s injunction that women remain silent in the church (Miller & Yamamori, pg. 209). With the inception of Pentecostalism, tongues and healing were deemed to be part of Spirit-filled living. This new Gospel spread rapidly in America in the early decades of the twentieth century, and one of the factors relating to its spread was that very early in their history, Pentecostals recognized the vital role that women could play in Spiritual awakening. They utilized them as pastors, evangelists and missionaries. Although most of the leaders of Pentecostalism were men, women were not excluded from the ranks. Women were involved in every aspect of the movement as it spread throughout the world (Tucker & Liefeld, 1987, pg. 360). This paper will discuss the opportunities and restrictions that Pentecostalism has offered to women. The paper will also give examples of women who served in Ministry in the early twentieth century and discuss how Pentecostalism aided or hindered their ministry.
OPPORTUNITIES THAT PENTECOSTALISM HAS OFFERED WOMEN
In the early years of the twentieth century, women had an inferior status especially among the established mainline churches. Women were denied leadership roles, and in churches where they were permitted to vote in conference sessions, they found themselves hopelessly outnumbered by men. Most women accepted this inferior status as society’s and scripture’s place for them, and they willingly filled the roles of that were described as women’s work. In the Pentecostal movement, however, the case was significantly different. One Pentecostal practice that varied from the norm of other churches was that of allowing women to preach. By
Historically, women have been allowed to prophesy within Pentecostal churches since this role is specifically mentioned in the Bible as being appropriate to both genders. Many women have played important pastoral roles within churches even though in the eyes of some people this violated St. Paul’s injunction that women remain silent in the church (Miller & Yamamori, pg. 209). With the inception of Pentecostalism, tongues and healing were deemed to be part of Spirit-filled living. This new Gospel spread rapidly in America in the early decades of the twentieth century, and one of the factors relating to its spread was that very early in their history, Pentecostals recognized the vital role that women could play in Spiritual awakening. They utilized them as pastors, evangelists and missionaries. Although most of the leaders of Pentecostalism were men, women were not excluded from the ranks. Women were involved in every aspect of the movement as it spread throughout the world (Tucker & Liefeld, 1987, pg. 360). This paper will discuss the opportunities and restrictions that Pentecostalism has offered to women. The paper will also give examples of women who served in Ministry in the early twentieth century and discuss how Pentecostalism aided or hindered their ministry.
OPPORTUNITIES THAT PENTECOSTALISM HAS OFFERED WOMEN
In the early years of the twentieth century, women had an inferior status especially among the established mainline churches. Women were denied leadership roles, and in churches where they were permitted to vote in conference sessions, they found themselves hopelessly outnumbered by men. Most women accepted this inferior status as society’s and scripture’s place for them, and they willingly filled the roles of that were described as women’s work. In the Pentecostal movement, however, the case was significantly different. One Pentecostal practice that varied from the norm of other churches was that of allowing women to preach. By
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