Women’s Engagement in DecisionMaking Processes in Pentecostal Church Leadership in Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

Women are often underrepresented in leadership roles in churches due to structural, cultural, and theological factors, and face significant obstacles such as patriarchal norms and limited participation opportunities. Using the context of Pentecostal Churches, this article addresses three objectives, namely 1) to evaluate the influence of women’s participation in decision-making in Pentecostal Church leadership in Laikipia County; 2) to determine women’s consultation on decision-making; and 3) to evaluate the incorporation of women’s voices in decision-making processes of choosing leaders in Pentecostal Church leadership in Laikipia County. Guided by the female leadership theory of Warren Bennis, the article draws on a quantitative descriptive research design which utilized questionnaires to analyze women’s engagement in the decision-making processes in Pentecostal Church leadership. The target population was 150 Pentecostal Church leaders within Laikipia County, and the sample size was 45 respondents, representing 30% of the total population who was selected, using the stratified random sampling method. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25 while descriptive statistics were used to make meaning of women’s engagement in decision-making processes in Pentecostal Church leadership. The article indicates that while the majority of the respondents (60%) agreed that women’s participation in the decision-making processes was important, 62% of the women were excluded from consultation from church leadership’s decision-making processes (while only 38% were consulted). Additionally, most respondents (73%) agreed that women’s voices were included in choosing church leadership processes. Given that women’s participation in decision-making processes largely revolved around choosing leaders, the article calls for an enhancement of women’s representation and implementation of gender inclusive policies in Pentecostal leadership decision-making processes. This can be achieved through mentorship programs, leadership training, and fostering equal opportunities for both men and women in leadership appointments, and promoting inclusive decision-making processes through advisory councils or forums, establishing structured consultation mechanisms in Laikipia County.