Negotiating Space between Men and God

Table Of Contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Abstract
• List of Abbreviations
• Part 1: Introduction
• 1. Women for Christ in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
• Past Approaches to Indigenous Women in Adamaoua
• Understanding Diakonia in the Lutheran Church
• The Mission and Church Contexts in Ngaoundéré
• Main Themes in Literature
• The Relevance of a Gender Study in Diakonia
• The Epistemological Option
• 2. Dancing to the Sound of a Jembe Drum on the Savannah
• Connecting with Semirural Women
• Fluid and Fragmented Journey of Interpretation
• Theological Reflection on Church and Faith Practices
• Practical Theological Method
• Reader’s Guide
• 3. Historical and Theological Perspectives on Diakonia
• The Science of Diakonia
• The Modern Diaconal Movement
• Ecumenical Diakonia – Compassion and Justice
• Faith-Based and Rights-Based Diakonia
• Diaconal Empowerment and Transformation
• Development Discourse and African Feminism
• Part 2: Femmes Pour Christ – Context and Practice
• 4. Semirural Women in Ngaoundéré in Northern Cameroon
• Semirural Living Conditions
• Kinship – Complex Relationships and Responsibilities
• Women in Agriculture – Debrouillard and Bayam-Sellam
• Informal Credit Groups – Tontine and Épargne
• Domestic Challenges and Gender Dynamics
• Endurance in Marriage and Motherhood
• Reality Check
• 5. Identification Markers of Femmes Pour Christ
• The FPC Structure, Vision, and Action
• Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity
• Weekly FPC Group Meetings
• The Significance of the FPC Group
• The National FPC Uniform – Le Pagne Femmes Pour Christ
• The Local Group Uniform
• The International Women’s Day Uniform – 8 March
• 6. Teaching and Sensitisation Programme in Femmes Pour Christ
• The FPC Annual Manual and the Booklet Fanta
• Distributing and Utilising the FPC Manuals
• Overcoming Illiteracy Barriers
• The Bible’s Significance to the Semirural Women
• Protecting Health – Strategies against HIV and AIDS
• Blending Faith and Tradition in Children’s Education
• Young Women for Christ – Jeune Fille Pour Christ
• Marital Dynamics and Biblical Hierarchy
• Reading the Bible through a Cultural Lens
• 7. Caring Practices of Femmes Pour Christ
• Core Values – Love, Solidarity, and Service
• Bringing Christ into Homes – Porte-à-Porte Visitations
• The Healing Power of Sick Visitation
• Money Support for the Sick
• The Transformative Power of Visitations and Prayers
• Coping with Grief and Mourning in the Neigbourhoods
• Balancing Community Care and Family Duties
• Part 3: Diaconal Empowerment and Transformation
• 8. Negotiating Empowerment within the Church “In Church we have become almost like men”
• Advocacy for Women’s Inclusion in the Church
• Servanthood and Priesthood – FPC Statutes
• Breaking Barriers on the Way to the Pulpit
• Women’s Sunday – Empowering Women for the Pulpit
• Cultural Strategies for Sustaining Women’s Preaching
• Diakonia from Below – Revitalising the Church
• Strengths and Weaknesses in a Diakonia from Below
• LWF Communion Ecclesiology and FPC Fellowship
• 9. Negotiating Transformation within the Home “At home we are almost like slaves”
• The Legacy of Slavery in Adamaoua
• Gender Dynamics in the Kitchen and Marketplace
• Women’s Engagement Nurturing Male Passivity
• Inclusive Faith Practices – Bible Reading and Hospitality
• Reconciling Faith Practices at Home
• Rejecting Domestic Violence
• Promoting Equality – Fighting Violence
• Widowhood and Women Abusing Women
• 10. Navigating Limitations and Prophetic Protest “In society we search for food left and right”
• Navigating Porous Breadwinning
• Between God and Money
• Women’s Role in Church Economy
• Alphabetisation and Social Centres
• Advocating Gender-Inclusive Approaches
• Unmasking Compassion and Justice
• Prophetic Protest – A Gender-Inclusive Journey
• 11. Conclusion – Negotiating Space between Men and God
• Appendices
• References
• Name Index
• Subject Index