The impact of Patriarchy on Church Leadership Roles in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The study examined the influence of patriarchal organizational culture, institutional support, and gender-inclusive policies on women’s representation in leadership roles within parish and diocesan structures of the Catholic Church. Grounded in a sociolinguistic and organizational behavior framework, the research sought to determine whether systemic patriarchal norms continue to hinder women’s active participation in pastoral, administrative, and decision-making roles. A descriptive survey research design was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires administered to 150 respondents, including clergy, religious, and laity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and t-tests. Findings revealed that patriarchal organizational culture significantly reduces women’s representation in leadership, as evidenced by the dominance of men in priesthood and governance roles, while women were largely confined to supportive, educational, and devotional responsibilities. Regression analysis further demonstrated that perceived institutional support for gender inclusion positively predicts women’s participation in decision-making bodies, highlighting the importance of leadership commitment in fostering inclusivity. Additionally, t-test results showed that parishes with explicit gender-inclusive policies reported significantly higher levels of ministry effectiveness and volunteer satisfaction compared to those without such policies. The study underscores the duality of perceptions: while many stakeholders acknowledge women’s leadership capacity, patriarchal attitudes persist, leading to underutilization of talents and reduced innovation in parish administration. It concludes that embracing gender-inclusive policies and strengthening institutional support are critical steps toward maximizing the contributions of women in the Church. Recommendations include policy reforms, leadership sensitization, and broader advocacy for cultural shifts within ecclesiastical structures.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Patriarchy—commonly understood as a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women—remains deeply embedded in societies and institutions across the globe (Walby, 1990; Sultana, 2010). This social system operates not only within political, economic, and cultural spheres but also within religious organizations, where gendered divisions of labor and authority are often presented as divinely sanctioned. In many African societies, the convergence of traditional gender norms and religious beliefs reinforces patriarchal structures, positioning men as the natural holders of authority while limiting women’s access to leadership and decision-making roles (Aina, 1998; Oyěwùmí, 1997). The endurance of these patterns makes religious institutions crucial arenas for studying the manifestation of patriarchy.

Within Christianity, the Catholic Church provides a unique case of institutionalized patriarchy due to its hierarchical nature and its universal yet context-specific governance. Globally, the Church is guided by canon law and magisterial teachings, which establish the parameters of leadership and ministry (Code of Canon Law, 1983). Locally, however, these teachings are expressed through diocesan structures, parish life, and cultural adaptations. This dual character creates a tension between the universal Church’s doctrinal commitments and the lived realities of local faith communities. In contexts such as Nigeria, where cultural patriarchy is already pronounced, these dynamics intersect in ways that can either intensify or complicate women’s exclusion from leadership positions.

One of the most visible expressions of patriarchy in the Catholic Church is the reservation of ordained ministry—bishop, priest, and deacon—to men (John Paul II, 1994). This formal restriction institutionalizes gendered boundaries in leadership. Yet, paradoxically, the Church’s functioning at parish and diocesan levels heavily depends on the contributions of lay people, especially women, and consecrated religious sisters. Women are active as catechists, teachers, health workers, pastoral agents, and administrators. Their indispensable roles in sustaining the Church’s mission highlight a contradiction: while their service is central, their access to formal positions of authority and decision-making remains limited (Schüssler Fiorenza, 1993; Orobator, 2008).

In Nigeria, the situation is even more pronounced due to the vibrancy and numerical strength of Catholic communities. Women make up a significant proportion of the laity and ministry workers, yet evidence suggests that their leadership is often restricted to informal or auxiliary roles rather than being institutionalized in official governance structures (Chitando & Chirongoma, 2012). In parish councils, diocesan synods, and church commissions, men frequently dominate decision-making, while women are relegated to supporting functions such as coordinating pious associations, choir groups, and welfare committees (Nwaigbo, 2011). This imbalance reflects both theological limitations and broader societal gender inequalities that reinforce patriarchal dominance.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos provides a particularly strategic case for examining these dynamics. As a metropolitan see, it is home to numerous parishes, Catholic schools, hospitals, and social apostolates. Its diversity in terms of population, socio-economic class, and cultural heritage makes it a microcosm of the Nigerian Catholic experience. Moreover, Lagos as a cosmopolitan city is often at the forefront of progressive debates on gender and leadership, yet patriarchal practices remain deeply entrenched in church governance. Studying how patriarchy manifests in the Archdiocese of Lagos provides valuable insights into the broader Nigerian Church and its negotiation of gender and authority.

Investigating patriarchy in this context involves examining both formal structures and informal cultures. Officially, canon law prescribes limitations on women’s ordination, but locally, practices such as preferential appointment of men to parish councils, exclusion of women from financial committees, and cultural assumptions about female submission further entrench male dominance. Informally, attitudes of clergy and laity often reflect cultural stereotypes that question women’s leadership capacities. Such mechanisms subtly perpetuate gender inequality even in spaces where women contribute most actively to the Church’s vitality. Understanding these factors is crucial for identifying where patriarchal norms can be challenged without contradicting Catholic teaching.

Ultimately, the impact of patriarchy on church leadership in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos extends beyond ecclesial structures to wider social implications. Churches in Nigeria are not only religious institutions but also key providers of education, healthcare, and community development. Excluding women from leadership roles thus affects not only ecclesiastical governance but also the delivery of vital social services. By examining how patriarchy shapes leadership in this influential Archdiocese, the study contributes to ongoing debates about gender, justice, and inclusivity in African Christianity and provides a framework for envisioning more participatory and equitable models of leadership within the Catholic Church.

1.2 Problem Statement

Despite the indispensable contributions of women to parish life, Catholic education, health outreach, and charitable services, research in gender studies and African ecclesiology shows that women’s participation in high-stakes leadership and governance remains significantly constrained. While women constitute the backbone of Catholic parish activities, their access to authority is often limited by both formal rules, such as the restriction of ordination to men, and informal patriarchal cultures that shape expectations of leadership (Schüssler Fiorenza, 1993; Aina, 1998; Chitando & Chirongoma, 2012). This creates a situation where women are highly visible in service roles but underrepresented in decision-making structures that influence parish and diocesan governance.

In the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, women frequently take on essential responsibilities such as coordinating ministries, teaching catechism, leading pious associations, and managing Catholic schools. They also play a central role in charitable activities, welfare programs, and the social outreach initiatives of the Church. However, these significant contributions are not matched by proportional inclusion in strategic leadership roles. For example, parish and diocesan councils, finance committees, and governing boards often remain dominated by men, leaving women with limited influence over budgetary decisions, institutional policies, and long-term planning. This imbalance underscores the persistence of patriarchal assumptions that undervalue women’s leadership capacity.

The persistence of such gendered barriers raises fundamental questions about justice, equity, and the optimal use of human resources in the life of the Church. Normative barriers, such as interpretations of canon law that exclude women from certain offices, intersect with cultural traditions that view leadership as a male prerogative. Structural barriers, such as recruitment practices and informal networks of influence, further constrain women’s advancement. Cultural expectations often reinforce these structures, creating a cycle that limits the recognition of women’s gifts and undermines the Church’s ability to fully harness its human potential for mission and ministry.

Without systematic examination, responses to this problem risk being symbolic rather than transformative. Occasional appointments of women to leadership positions may serve as tokens rather than genuine shifts in governance culture. Similarly, ad hoc training programs or honorary titles may acknowledge women’s contributions without changing the underlying structures of decision-making. A deeper empirical investigation into how patriarchy operates in the Archdiocese of Lagos is therefore necessary in order to identify specific sites

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

Aim:
To examine the impact of patriarchy on church leadership roles in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and to explore avenues for enhancing inclusive leadership within Catholic ecclesial norms.

Specific Objectives:

1. To map formal and informal leadership roles occupied by men and women across selected parishes and diocesan institutions in the Archdiocese of Lagos.
2. To identify patriarchal norms, policies, and practices that enable or constrain women’s access to leadership, decision-making, and resource control.
3. To analyze clergy, religious, and lay perceptions of women’s leadership capacities and legitimacy.
4. To assess the effects of patriarchal structures on ministry effectiveness, pastoral outcomes, and organizational learning.
5. To propose context-appropriate, canon-compliant strategies for strengthening inclusive leadership and participation.

1.4 Research Questions

The research questions are buttressed below:

1. What leadership roles do men and women currently occupy in selected parishes and diocesan institutions within the Archdiocese of Lagos?
2. Which formal rules and informal cultures reflect patriarchal assumptions about leadership and authority?
3. How do clergy, religious, and lay faithful perceive women’s leadership, and what factors shape these perceptions?
4. In what ways do patriarchal arrangements affect ministry effectiveness, morale, and parish/diocesan outcomes?
5. What feasible strategies can enhance inclusive leadership while remaining faithful to Catholic doctrine and canon law?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The hypothetical statement of the study are buttressed below:

H1: There is a significant relationship between patriarchal organizational culture and women’s representation in parish/diocesan leadership positions.

H2: Perceived institutional support for gender inclusion significantly predicts women’s participation in decision-making bodies.
H3: Parishes/institutions with explicit gender-inclusive policies report higher measures of ministry effectiveness and volunteer satisfaction than those without such policies.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study holds significant scholarly relevance by contributing to African ecclesiology, feminist theology, and gender studies. Existing scholarship has highlighted how patriarchy shapes religious institutions and cultural practices (Oyěwùmí, 1997; Orobator, 2008), but there remains a gap in localized, empirically grounded analyses of how these dynamics play out in specific Catholic jurisdictions in Nigeria. By focusing on the Archdiocese of Lagos, this research offers detailed insights into the intersection of global Catholic structures and local patriarchal cultures. It thus bridges macro-level theoretical debates on patriarchy and ecclesial authority with micro-level realities in parishes and diocesan institutions, enriching ongoing academic conversations about gender and institutional change within African Christianity.

For ecclesiology, the study provides an opportunity to critically examine the lived experience of the Church as “God’s family,” a model often emphasized in African Catholic thought (Nwaigbo, 2011). While this model suggests inclusivity and mutual respect, patriarchal practices may hinder its realization in practical terms. The findings will therefore help theologians, scholars, and practitioners assess the extent to which the Archdiocese of Lagos embodies inclusive ecclesial life, and where reforms might be needed. For gender studies, the research will provide empirical evidence on the ways in which gender hierarchies persist in religious organizations despite women’s extensive participation in ministry.

At the ecclesial and policy level, the study has practical implications for the Archdiocese of Lagos and beyond. The results can inform pastoral planning processes, particularly with regard to leadership formation, recruitment policies, and lay ministry guidelines. By highlighting areas where women’s contributions are undervalued or structurally constrained, the study can guide diocesan authorities in designing more participatory governance structures that remain faithful to canon law. For instance, parish councils and diocesan boards can use these findings to develop clearer policies on gender representation, equitable remuneration, and mentorship opportunities for women in leadership roles.

The study also bears significance for Catholic schools, healthcare institutions, and social commissions under the Archdiocese. These institutions often serve as models of Catholic values in the wider society, and their leadership structures carry symbolic weight. By providing evidence-based recommendations on inclusive leadership practices, the research may help these institutions adopt policies that not only improve internal governance but also demonstrate the Church’s commitment to equity and justice in broader Nigerian society. Such efforts may strengthen the credibility of the Church’s social mission and its role in national development.

Socially, the study advances broader goals of justice, equity, and community development in Lagos State. The Catholic Church is not only a religious institution but also a major provider of education, healthcare, and welfare services. Excluding women from key leadership roles limits the Church’s ability to fully mobilize its human resources for community development. By illuminating practical pathways for inclusive leadership, this research highlights how harnessing women’s gifts can improve institutional performance, enhance the delivery of social services, and promote the stewardship of talent for the common good.

Finally, the study is significant for its potential to influence interfaith and societal debates on gender roles in leadership. Nigeria is a multi-religious country where gender inequality remains pervasive in both Christian and Muslim communities. By demonstrating how patriarchal barriers manifest in Catholic leadership and suggesting ways to overcome them within doctrinal limits, the study may inspire parallel conversations in other denominations and religious traditions. Thus, the research contributes not only to the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos but also to the wider Nigerian society’s pursuit of more just and inclusive leadership models.

1.7 Scope of the Study

Substantively, the study focuses on leadership roles (ordained and non-ordained) and governance spaces (parish councils, diocesan boards/commissions, educational and social apostolates). Geographically, it is limited to selected parishes and institutions within the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. Thematically, it examines patriarchal norms and practices, representation, access to decision-making, and perceived leadership legitimacy. Temporally, the primary reference period will be the past 10–15 years, allowing analysis of recent pastoral initiatives and organizational trends.

1.8 Delimitations

The study does not debate the Church’s doctrinal discipline on priestly ordination (John Paul II, 1994). Instead, it investigates how, within existing teaching, patriarchal cultures and administrative practices shape leadership access and influence in non-ordained and administrative spheres. The research also does not generalize to all Nigerian dioceses, though its insights may be transferable with contextual caution.

1.9 Limitations

Potential limitations include: (i) access constraints to certain internal documents; (ii) social desirability bias in interviews/surveys involving clergy or staff; and (iii) variability across parishes that may limit broad generalization. Methodologically, triangulation (document analysis, surveys, key-informant interviews, and focus groups) is planned to mitigate these constraints.

1.10 Operational Definition of Terms

Patriarchy: A system of social structures and practices that institutionalizes male dominance and privileges men over women in access to power, decision-making, and resources. In this study, patriarchy refers specifically to cultural and ecclesial practices within the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos that reinforce male authority and limit women’s leadership opportunities (Walby, 1990).

Church Leadership Roles: Formal and informal positions of authority, coordination, and decision-making within the Catholic Church. For this study, leadership roles include both ordained offices (bishops, priests, deacons) and non-ordained positions (parish council executives, heads of diocesan commissions, school administrators, leaders of pious associations, and lay ecclesial ministers).

Inclusive Leadership: Leadership practices and governance structures that encourage and facilitate equitable participation of both men and women in decision-making processes, ministry coordination, and resource management. In this study, inclusive leadership refers to leadership models within the Archdiocese of Lagos that recognize women’s contributions and enable their participation in governance, consistent with Catholic teaching and canon law.

Archdiocese of Lagos: The metropolitan Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Lagos State, Nigeria, headed by the Archbishop. It consists of numerous parishes, schools, health institutions, and social apostolates that together represent the local expression of the Catholic Church. For the purposes of this study, the Archdiocese of Lagos serves as the case study area for examining the impact of patriarchy on leadership roles.

Institutional Culture: The shared values, norms, traditions, and informal practices that shape behaviors, interactions, and leadership structures within an organization. In this study, institutional culture refers to both formal and informal norms in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos that affect perceptions and practices of leadership with respect to gender.

Laity: Non-ordained members of the Catholic Church who, while not clergy, actively participate in the life and mission of the Church. In this study, the laity includes both men and women who serve in various parish ministries, associations, and diocesan activities, with a particular focus on women’s involvement in leadership and decision-making.

Consecrated Women Religious: Women who have taken religious vows within Catholic congregations (such as sisters and nuns) and who often serve in schools, hospitals, parishes, and charitable institutions. In this study, consecrated women religious are considered important contributors to church life, but their leadership opportunities in diocesan governance may be constrained by patriarchal norms.

Canon Law: The official body of laws and regulations that governs the Catholic Church worldwide. In this study, canon law provides the formal framework for leadership roles, especially concerning ordained ministry, while also interacting with local cultural practices in shaping gender dynamics in the Archdiocese of Lagos.

1.11 Conceptual Clarifications 

• Patriarchy: A system of social structures and practices that institutionalizes male authority and privileges men over women in access to power and resources (Walby, 1990).
• Church Leadership Roles: Offices, ministries, and decision-making responsibilities in the Church, including ordained roles (bishops, priests, deacons) and non-ordained roles (lay ecclesial ministers, heads of commissions, school administrators, council chairs, etc.).
• Inclusive Leadership: Policies, practices, and cultures that actively enable equitable participation and influence of women and men in governance, ministry coordination, and strategic decision-making.
• Archdiocese: A metropolitan ecclesiastical jurisdiction headed by an Archbishop; here, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.
• Institutional Culture: Shared norms, values, and informal rules that shape behaviors and expectations within parishes and diocesan institutions.

1.12 Study Area: The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos (Brief Context)

The Archdiocese encompasses urban and peri-urban parishes, schools, and social apostolates in Lagos State. As a multiethnic, economically dynamic environment, Lagos offers a complex setting in which global Catholic norms encounter local cultural expectations about gender, authority, and community life. This diversity provides a fertile context for examining how patriarchal norms are reproduced or contested in parish governance and diocesan administration (Orobator, 2008; Nwaigbo, 2011).

1.13 Organization of the Study

The thesis is organized as follows: Chapter One introduces the study. Chapter Two reviews literature on patriarchy, gender and leadership, African ecclesiology, and Catholic governance. Chapter Three describes the methodology. Chapter Four presents and analyzes the data. Chapter Five concludes with implications, recommendations, and suggestions for further research.