Women’s Leadership in a Moment of Crisis: A Biblical Reflection

  • Alfred Kapepe Blessings University of Excellence
  • Armstrong Chanda Mpika College of Education
  • Audrey Muyuni Phiri Mulungushi University
  • Ireen Moonga Mulungushi University
Keywords: Women leadership, moment of crisis, crisis, biblical reflection, reflection

Abstract

Women have been holding leadership positions for many years now. They have been leading since biblical times. According to the biblical narrative, when leadership by men proved inadequate for a new era, women rose to the occasion. Nevertheless, this narrative is not the same in some sections of society. Just because the Bible remarks that women are weaker vessels (1 Peter 3:7), many societies regard women as such and many times women have been left out of occupying critical roles and not to talk of leading in critical times. But, this study endeavoured to change the narrative by showing that women are capable of leading successfully in critical moments in that they have been leading since the biblical times and that they can still lead in current times. This study examined women’s leadership in a moment of crisis as a biblical reflection. The study explored women’s leadership characteristics in moments of crisis and evaluated the extent to which women show up in the moment of crisis using the Bible as a point of reference. The study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design, and document analysis, to capture and understand the views and attitudes of women leaders in a moment of crisis. It revealed that women in leadership at different levels and prominence have succumbed to crises and surpassed them. Among the leadership characteristics employed by women leaders, teamwork and situational leadership were prevalent in overcoming crises. They exhibited resilient leadership and dependence on the biblical knowledge system to guide their leadership, especially in times of crisis. The study established that women leadership in Lusaka and Kafue districts of Zambia faced challenges of patriarchal stereotyping to pandemics such as Covid-19. The study recommends that women be given equal opportunities in leadership roles and fair platforms and learn from the leadership roles exhibited by women in moments of crisis.

Author Biographies

Alfred Kapepe, Blessings University of Excellence
Senior Lecturer and Dean of Theology at Blessings University of Excellence in Lusaka, Zambia. He holds a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Logos University and a Masters of Education in Religious Studies from the University of Zambia (UNZA) where he is currently pursuing a PhD in Religious Studies. His research interest is current issues in Pentecostalism and Culture and Pentecostalism and Christian education as well as Biblical Studies. Also, he is interested in African Religious Cosmologies. His publications are accessible online.
Armstrong Chanda, Mpika College of Education
Head of the Department of Educational Studies, researcher, and lecturer at Mpika College of Education in Mpika, Zambia. He lectures in religious education, educational psychology and educational research. Armstrong holds a BA (Social Sciences, Religious Studies, Philosophy and English Language) from Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), and M.Ed. in Religious Studies at the University of Zambia where he is currently pursuing a PhD in Religious Studies. His research interests are African traditional religion, inculturation and interreligious dialogue between Christianity and Indigenous religions, Catholicism, religious ethics and the psychology of religion
Audrey Muyuni Phiri, Mulungushi University
Lecturer and Researcher at Mulungushi University. She holds a PhD degree in Religious Studies from the University of Zambia (UNZA). Her research interest is the provision of morals in both faith-based and public institutions, and contemporary issues in Religion and Education. She has undertaken research projects locally and participated in different International Conferences. Her publications are both in local and international journals and they are accessible online
Ireen Moonga, Mulungushi University
Lecturer and Researcher at Mulungushi University in Zambia. She holds a Masters’ Degree in Literacy and Learning from the University of Zambia (UNZA). Her research niche mainly lies in Discourse Analysis, Language Development and implementation as well as the Implementation of Religious Education in Contemporary lives. She has undertaken research projects locally (Zambia) and participated in different International Conferences. She has published articles in both local and international Journals
Published
2024-05-27