THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN PARTICULAR

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) describes itself as a "distinctly indigenous African Church and by its structure, belief and practices, it is an independent Pentecostal church". In reading through the origins of the CAC Worldwide (Nigeria) and the CAC International, this writer was struck by certain similarities to the beginnings of the evangelization of Christianity and the Apostle Paul. Starting with the histories of the two churches, this research will seek to examine the similarities, or the lack thereof, of the role women have played in advancing the visions and missions of the two Apostolic Churches as they also did for St. Paul and the Early Church. It will also look at the transnational significance it holds for the Diaspora where women's issues are placed in the forefront on church issues.