A Study of Men’s Roles in Churches /Ministries Founded by Women in Yorubaland

Abstract

The Yoruba ethnic group, predominantly found in southwestern Nigeria and West Africa, relies on oral literature to preserve and understand its culture, including gender relations. Yoruba society emphasizes balance and complementarity between genders, allowing women to hold significant leadership roles in religion and culture. This influence extends to Christianity, where women lead in Orthodox, African Independent, and Pentecostal churches. Some women have even founded churches with male and female congregations. This study examines gender dynamics in Yoruba Christian churches, exploring questions about men's roles, the alignment with Biblical gender roles, and implications for church development. Using a mixed research design, data were collected through interviews with four female church founders and 100 questionnaires distributed across six churches. Each church contributed responses from 15 male and 5 female members, selected via purposive and random sampling methods. Descriptive analysis revealed that 95.8% of respondents reported male cooperation with female church founders, marking a significant shift from traditional Biblical views of male-dominated leadership. This study highlights the evolving gender roles within Yoruba Christianity, reflecting a broader cultural emphasis on shared responsibilities.