Abstract:
The year 2016 marks the fortieth anniversary of the ordination of women in
the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). This, being a milestone
worth celebrating and commemorating, highlights not only the gains but also
the challenges that women face in the ministry of the Methodist Church.
The implications of the ordination of women for the denomination (and its
organisations) have yet to be fully grappled with, interpreted within the changing
context of our present society, and understood in light of the patriarchal society
within which the Methodist Church operates. The present article highlights
the implications of the ordination of women for the Young Men’s Guild – a
missional organisation of men in the MCSA. The article calls for inclusive and
radical transformational activity within the Young Men’s Guild. It advocates for
intentional implementation of the Gender Action Plan that was approved by the
Methodist Conference ten years ago (2006). It agitates for a Young Men’s Guild
movement whose discomfort with its privilege propels it to live out the principles
contained in the Methodist rule of life. Young Men’s Guild members ought to
actively pursue an agenda of inclusion in order for their organisation to reflect
truly the vision and mission of the MCSA.
