Queering the Ecclesia: Exploring “Institutional Culture” as a Path toward a Socially Just Church

Megan Robertson; Sarojini Nadar

doi:10.25159/2412-4265/9466

Authors

Megan Robertson University of the Western Cape https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2861-152X
Sarojini Nadar University of the Western Cape https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8408-2557

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/9466

Keywords:

queer, ecclesiology, institutional culture, Methodist Church

Abstract

Ecclesiological research on queer sexuality in South Africa has often been restricted to studying heteronormative church policies and doctrines as well as their implementation. This has confined possibilities of transforming church into a specifically queer affirming and more generally socially just space, to a matter of policy change. Similarly, transformation in higher education research in South Africa previously adopted a “transformation by numbers” approach centred on policy change. However, urgent calls to decolonise higher education has highlighted the limits of this “inclusive” approach and shifted the field’s focus to an approach that interrogates the “institutional culture” of organisations to understand the ways in which such cultures might epistemologically and functionally preclude inclusion. Drawing on the case study of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA), this paper proposes the extension and appropriation of the concept of “institutional culture” as it is used within higher education research for ecclesiological research, in order to expand queer possibilities of being a more socially just church.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Attwell, Tim, Ray Alistoun, and Roger Scholtz. 2010. In Search of Grace and Truth: Christian Conversations on Same-sex Relationships. Cape Town: Cingela Press.

Ballard, Richard. 2004. “Assimilation, Emigration, Semigrationand Integration: ‘White’ People’s Strategies for finding a Comfort Zone in Post-apartheid South Africa.” In Under Construction: “Race” and Identity in South Africa Today, edited by Natasha Distiller and Melissa Steyn, 51–66. Johannesburg: Heinemann.

Bentley, Wessel. 2012. “A Decade of the Same-sex Debate in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (2001–2011).”StudiaHistoriaeEcclesiasticae,Vol.38: 205–220.

Bongmba, Elias. 2021. “Same-Sex Relations and Legal Traditions in Cameroon and South Africa.” Journal of Law and Religion 36 (1): 130–147. https://doi.org/10.1017/jlr.2021.6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jlr.2021.6

Davids, H., and C. Jones. 2018. “Theological-ethical Contours for the full Inclusion of LGBTIQ+ Bodies in the Church.” InJustice-based Ethics: Challenging South African Perspectives,edited by C. Jones. Durbanville: AOSIS, 89–120.https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2018.BK77.04. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2018.BK77.04

Dixon, John, and Steve Reicher. 2011. “Intergroup Contact and Desegregation in the new South Africa.” British Journal of Social Psychology 36 (3): 361–381. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1997.tb01137.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1997.tb01137.x

Ecclesia de Lange v The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (726/13). 2014. 151 (ZASCA).

Ensor, Paula. 2006. “Curriculum.” In Transformation in Higher Education: Global Pressures and Local Realities, edited by Nico Cloete, Peter Maassen, Richard Fehnel, TebohoMoja, Trish Gibbon, and Helene Perold, 179–193. Netherlands: Springer.

Green, Alison. 2009. A Theology of Women’s Priesthood. London: SPCK.

Higgins, John. 2007. “Institutional Culture as Keyword.” In Review of Higher Education in South Africa: Selected Themes, 97–122. Pretoria: The Council on Higher Education.

Jacobs, Anthea. 2012. “A Critical-Hermeneutical Inquiry of Institutional Culture in Higher Education.” PhD thesis, Stellenbosch University.

Jacobs, Anthea. 2016. “Using a Theoretical Framework of Institutional Culture to Analyse an Institutional Strategy Document.” Education as Change 20 (2): 204–220.https://doi.org/10.17159/1947-9417/2016/944. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/1947-9417/2016/944

Jansen, Jonathan. 2004. “Race and Education after Ten Years: Conversations.” Perspectives in Education 22 (1): 117–128.

Keenan, Michael. 2008. “Religion as Enabler and Constraint in the Lives of Gay Male Anglican Clergy.” In Religion and the Individual: Belief, Practice, Identity, edited by Abby Day, 169–181. New York: Ashgate Publishing.

Khuzwayo, Sifiso. 2011. “God or Caesar: A Queer Debate on Interpretation in the South African Church.” Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa 17 (2): 24–40.

Kotze, Judith, and Ecclesia de Lange. 2011. “Suspended, Disciplined and Discontinued: A Practical Response towards Inclusion.” Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa 17 (2): 192–204.

Kumalo, Raymond Simangaliso. 2011. “‘Us and Them’ in the One and Undivided Church: The Methodist Church and the Same-sex Sexuality Debate.” Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa 17 (2): 175–191.

Kumalo, RaymondSimangaliso. 2016. “From Constance Oosthuizen to Purity Malinga: The Struggle for Equality in Ordination in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.” StudiaHistoriaeEcclesiasticae 42 (2): 174–190. https://doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/1413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/1413

Marumo, Phemelo O. 2016. “A Call for the Recognition and Empowerment of Women in Ministry in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.” StudiaHistoriaeEcclesiasticae 42 (3): 55–70.https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/1504. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/1504

Methodist Church of Southern Africa. 2003. “Guidelines for the Use of the Conference 2003 Document on the Issue of Same-sex Relationships.”Accessed November 12, 2019. https://www.smms.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/christians-and-same-sex-relationships-conference-2003.pdf.

Methodist Church of Southern Africa. 2006. 2006 Yearbook. Cape Town: Methodist Publishing House.

Methodist Church of Southern Africa. 2007. 2007 Yearbook. Cape Town: Methodist Publishing House.

Methodist Church of Southern Africa. 2014. 2014 Yearbook. Cape Town: Methodist Publishing House.

Moosa, Ebrahim. 2005.Ghazali and the Poetics of Imagination. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.

Moyo, Fulata, and Sarojini Nadar. 2012. “Editorial: Gendered Perspectives on the Busan 10th Assembly Theme on Justice and Peace.” Ecumenical Review 64 (3): 233–240.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-6623.2012.00170.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-6623.2012.00170.x

Mtshiselwa, Ndikho. 2010a. “Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in Discussion with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.” MA dissertation, University of Pretoria.

Mtshiselwa, Ndikho. 2010b. “How the Methodist Church of Southern Africa Read Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in View of Homosexuality.” Old Testament Essays 23 (3): 769–787.

Nadar, Sarojini, and Adriaan van Klinken. 2018. “Queering the Curriculum: Pedagogical Explorations of Gender and Sexuality in Religion and Theological Studies.” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 34 (1): 101–109.https://doi.org/10.2979/jfemistudreli.34.1.16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2979/jfemistudreli.34.1.16

O’Brien, Jodi. 2004. “Wrestling the Angel of Contradiction: Queer Christian identities.” Culture and Religion 5 (2): 179–202. https://doi.org/10.1080/143830042000225420. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/143830042000225420

Pattman, Rob. 2010. “Investigating ‘Race’ and Social Cohesion at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.” South African Journal of Higher Education 24 (6): 953–971.

Pattman, Rob, and RonelleCarolissen. 2018. Transforming Transformation in Research and Teaching at South Africa Universities. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS.https://doi.org/10.18820/9781928480075. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/9781928480075

Percy, Emma. 2014. Mothering as a Metaphor for Ministry. Farnham: Ashgate.

Phiri, Isabel, and Sarojini Nadar (Eds). 2005. On Being Church: African Women’s Voices and Visions. Geneva: World Council of Churches.

Reygan, Finn. 2016. “‘Love the Sinner, not the Sin?’ Sexual and Gender Diversity in Faith Communities.” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72 (1): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3471. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3471

Robertson, Megan. 2020. “Called and Queer: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Queer Clergy in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.” PhD thesis, University of the Western Cape.

Russell, Letty M. 1993.Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church.Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press.

Sifo, Luvuyo. 2016. “Implications of the Ordination of Women for the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.” StudiaHistoriaeEcclesiasticae 42 (2): 156–173.https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/1337; https://doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/1337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/1337

Simsek, Hasan, and KarenS. Louis. 1994. “Organizational Change as Paradigm Shift.” Journal of Higher Education 65 (6): 670–695. https://doi.org/10.2307/2943824. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1994.11774746

Sistig, J., and S. Nadar. 2011. “Who’s in Charge in a Genderless Marriage? A Feminist Queer Analysis of Opposition to Same-sex Marriage by the Marriage Alliance of South Africa.” Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa 17 (2): 77–92.

Sprong, Jenny. 2011. “For Healing and Transformation: A Feminist Ecclesiological Study on the Gap between Gender Policy and Practice in the MCSA.” PhD thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Steyn, Melissa, and Mikki van Zyl. 2001. “Like that Statue at the Jammie Stairs…”: Some Student Perceptions and Experiences of Institutional Culture at the University of Cape Town in 1999. Cape Town: iNCUDISA.

Thaver, Lionel. 2006. “‘At home’Institutional Culture and Higher Education: Some Methodological Considerations.” Perspectives in Education 24 (1): 15–26.

Thyssen, Ashwin. 2020. “Children of God: Exploring URCSA’s Catechetical Sexual Ethic.” StudiaHistoriaeEcclesiasticae46 (3): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6954. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6954

Tonstad, Linn Marie. 2015. “The Limits of Inclusion: Queer Theology and its Others.” Theology and Sexuality 21 (1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13558358.2015.1115599. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13558358.2015.1115599

Van der Walt, Charlene. 2016. “Is ‘Being Right’ more important than ‘Being Together’? Intercultural Bible Reading and Life-giving Dialogue on Homosexuality in the Dutch Reformed Church, South Africa.” In Christianity and Controversies over Homosexuality in Contemporary Africa, edited by Ezra Chitando and Adriaan van Klinken, 125–137. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315571928-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315571928-9

Van Klinken, Adriaan. 2015. “‘Queer’Love in a ‘Christian Nation’: Zambian Gay Men Negotiating Sexual and Religious Identities.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 83 (4): 947–964. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/lfv073. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/lfv073

Watson, Natalie. K. 2002. Introducing Feminist Ecclesiology. London: Sheffield Academic Press.

West, Gerald, and Charlene van der Walt. 2019. “A Queer (beginning to the) Bible.”Concilium: International Journal for Theology,Vol. 5: 109–118.