Die konsep van gelykheid in die lig van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet (1996) en die Skrif

Abstract

<strong>Equality in the light of the 1996 South African Constitution and Scripture</strong><br /><br /> In the debate on the role of women in the church the principle of equality (especially gender equality) is of particular importance. Churches and theologians are confronted by a twofold question, that is:<br /><br /> • Does Scripture support gender inequality as a consequence of the patriarchal context in which it originated?<br /><br /> • Are churches that prevent women from serving in the offices not guilty of gender discrimination?<br /><br /> Before these questions can be answered theologians should clarify the concept of equality. The aim of this article is to compare the biblical concept of equality with the ethical content with which the Constitutional Court imbues the South African constitutional value of equality. The central theoretical argument of this article is that there is a fundamental difference in content between the biblical concept of equality and the South African constitutional value of equality. The main differences in content between the two concepts of equality will be highligted by way of comparison. After the comparison of these concepts, a few observations will be made which are relevant for the debate on the role of women in the church.