GENDER ROLES AND LEADERSHIP MODELS IN PENTECOSTAL VERSUS MAINLINE TRADITIONS

Abstract

This study examined gender roles and leadership models in Pentecostal and mainline Christian traditions, with a focus on Nigeria. Gender roles define what a society considers “appropriate” behavior for men and women, but they are flexible and vary across cultures, religions, and historical periods. This paper was anchored on Theory of Religious Authority by Max Weber and Gender Role Theory by Alice Eagly. Pentecostalism, characterized by charismatic, experience-driven leadership, often provides women with visible avenues for spiritual authority, including roles as pastors, bishops, evangelists, and founders of ministries. Historical examples, such as Margaret Idahosa and Bola Odeleke, illustrate the capacity for women to exercise significant leadership despite cultural and structural barriers. In contrast, mainline traditions including Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist churches, follow hierarchical, sacramentally grounded models where formal leadership is largely reserved for men. While women in these traditions contribute actively through deaconess roles, teaching, and welfare ministries, their access to ordination and sacramental authority remains limited, reflecting a combination of theological interpretation, historical precedent, and cultural norms. The study highlights the tension between doctrinal conservatism and practical empowerment, showing that Pentecostalism, despite occasional patriarchal tendencies, often affords greater flexibility and recognition of women’s leadership compared to mainline structures. This shows that leadership models significantly affect how gender roles are defined and enacted. The study concluded that gender roles in Christian traditions are shaped by the interaction of theology, institutional structures, and cultural norms.