Indonesian Women’s Struggle for Equality in Church and Society

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Published May 19, 2025
https://doi.org/10.54345/jta.v8i2.201
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Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Special Issue: Celebrating our Pentecostal Heritage

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Julia Theis

Abstract

According to ancestral custom, the position of Indonesian women is
equal to the men. Indonesian women have marriage’s right equal to men.
The influence of Islam, among other things, caused the position of Indonesian
women to be inferior to the men. Indonesian women were struggling for
equality in the society. Although, women have a special position in the
church because of their roles in the early history of Christianity, women have
to struggle for equality leadership roles in church. It was caused by the fallen
human nature and the wrong interpretation of the Bible. The purpose of this
paper is to describe the struggle of Indonesian women for equality in church
and society, and to find Pentecostal theology solutions which can help them
in their struggle for equality. In order to accomplish this purpose, I will
discuss the cultural, economic and political perspective on Indonesian
women. I also will discuss position of women in Indonesian church
concerning their roles in the church.

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