The Quest for Gender Equity in Leadership

The call for gender equity in leadership has become a global concern. From a Christian perspective, all forms of gender prejudice are sinful because they violate God's intention for creating both men and women in God's image. Although many Christian authors have published books and journal articles to address gender-based injustice, very few publications have approached the subject from an African perspective. This book is meant to fill the existing gap. With a specific reference to the African context, this book explores the phenomenon of equity in leadership from various dimensions, such as African culture and traditional religion, church tradition, biblical interpretation, as well as from the perspective of contemporary socio-economic and political realities in Africa. By giving vivid examples of success stories of men and women working together, the authors have demythologized the view that women cannot be leaders. In addition, this book is intended for general readership by Christian men and women throughout the globe. For universities and colleges that teach gender studies as a subject, the book can serve as a class text or reference resource. Seminaries and theological institutions will also find it handy for training and mentoring Christians to promote equity in the church, ministry, business, and family. ""The Quest for Biblical Equity in Leadership is good biblical scholarship and engaging story-telling from a fresh African perspective that will provide new insights to readers from any continent."" –Brad Smith, President, Bakke Graduate University ""This book . . . takes a particular issue of vital significance in the modern world–gender equity– and] provides fascinating insights into a number of African cultures. It showcases some excellent African scholarship from both male and female theologians . . . and provides a fine example to the rest of the world of using biblical principles to critique culture from the inside. Congratulations to the editors and the writing team for producing such a useful compilation."" –Mary Evans, Author; Former Vice-Principal and Old Testament lecturer, London School of Theology ""I have witnessed first-hand how Jewel Hyun embodies the quest for Biblical equity in leadership in Africa. Her faith-filled ministry in Kenya is a wonder to behold, and transformational to experience. As a result, the book in your hands is filled with Biblical wisdom and practical implications that will stand the test of time."" –Stephen A. Macchia, Author; Founder and President, Leadership Transformations, Inc. KeumJu Jewel Hyun is founder and president of Matthew 28 Ministries, Inc., focusing on Christian women's leadership development and economic empowerment in Kenya. She is adjunct professor of Theology of Work at Bakke Graduate University and co-editor of Some Men Are Our Heroes: Stories by Women about the Men Who Have Greatly Influenced Their Lives. Jewel holds a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Ministries degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusetts, as well as a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Physics from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. She and her husband have two adult children and four grandchildren. Diphus C. Chemorion, an ordained minister, is director of Postgraduate Studies and Associate Professor at St. Paul's University, Kenya. He is the author of Community Participation in Scripture Version Design: An Experiment in Translating Jonah into Sabaot and Introduction to Christian Worldview: Meaning, Origins and Perspectives. He also co-edited Contested Space: Ethnicity and Religion in Kenya. He holds a Master of Theology from Candle school of Theology, Emory University, and a Doctor of Theology in Old Testament from Stellenbosch University, South Africa.