1.1 Introduction
The issue of female Christians covering their heads during worship has been a controversial thing. During the time of Paul, the controversy was there, and the Apostle handled it. The injunction of Paul in 1 Cor. 11.2-16 about head covering has generated much discussion among educated and uneducated members of the various Christian faiths – especially in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in most of Africa. It reflects the values, beliefs and attitudes which are commonly learned and shared. Using the participant observation technique, it is arguable that most women in Igbo land still cover their heads with a scarf or shawl. Those women who cover their heads in Igbo land base their practice on the demands of culture. This practice is seen in the market places, farms and other social gatherings.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Head covering for women in the church today is a controversial issue attracting distinct opinions and is avoided by many Christians in the society and in pubic worship. Some have wondered if the head covering Paul writes about in I Corinthians 11:5-6 and 13 refers to women wearing hats or having long hair to church. Although the use of head covering in pubic worship is controversial and unpopular, there are some important reasons why it needs to be considered. One obvious reason is that Paul devotes a chapter in an epistle to this topic, hence argument in favour of the practice of head covering. If the practice is to be ignored or avoided today, the church must have clear exegetical reasons for it.
Brain (2003) observes that “As Christians, our utmost allegiance is not to the status quo or the spirit of the age, but to our Lord Jesus and his infallible word.” For Bruce (1983) as Christians, the position of whether or not women should wear a head covering in church is of such low priority that it should not be discussed at al or that is really does not matter. It is true that the practice is not one of the central doctrines of Christianity, and to neglect weightier matters of Scripture while arguing on this position can only bring on us the woe which Jesus pronounces against the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:23.
Bruce however observes further that Jesus concludes that saying with the phrase: “without neglecting the others In this regard Safran (2014) observes that the practice of Christian modesty, in clothing and long hair, for women is commanded in Holy Scripture, I Timothy 2:9 and I Corinthians 11:15. The practice of Christian hair covering is commanded in Holy Scripture, if it’s wrong to not wear a head covering for “praying and prophesying”, then it is wrong to not wear a head covering. The meaning of what is considered modesty in dressing has divided Christians into groups. First, 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 is a major scripture at the center of this controversy.
The verse has been used over the years, to evaluate what is modest for Christian women or not regarding head covering. To some the uncovering of the head by women is a sin, while it is a “no win” situation by people that do not want to offend people of diverse opinions on the topic. They argue that Christians must be sensitive to the cultures in which they live. They should not needlessly flout local customs unless there is some moral lesson to do so (Holman, 2003). The actual meaning of the text as well as obedience to it seems to cause disagreement in The Apostolic Church, Ndot.
Therefore, in Apostolic Church Ndot where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Implications of Head Covering in I Corinthians 11:5-6 on the Women.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the problem that this study aims to address is to examine the implications of head covering in I Corinthians 11:5-6 on the women in The Apostolic Church Ndot. This study is important because the interpretation and appropriate application of I Corinthians 11:5-6 have divided churches and scholars into groups.
The first group argues that in Paul’s era women did not wear head coverings; rather, Paul was talking about long hair as a covering (vs. 15). The second group posits that Paul was referring only to when women lead in public prayers. While, the third group asserts that Paul was talking about women wearing head coverings during any kind of prayer, but that head covering was a cultural item of that time and thus are not required of Christian women in contemporary society.
First Corinthians 11:5-6 is one of the most important passages for many Christians most especially members and clergymen in The Apostolic Church, Ndot, yet it is one of the most difficult passages to understand. The Apostolic Church members see women who do not cover their heads during worship as being disobedient to the tradition of the church and being immodest. Hence, condemnation, pity, suspicion and abound whenever women are seeing not wearing or covering their heads.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Implications of Head Covering in I Corinthians 11:5-6 on the Women in the Apostolic Church Ndot. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out how the members of The Apostolic Church understand the text;
- To investigate the original intended meaning of the text;
- To investigate the teaching of The Apostolic Church regarding the passage;
- To explore the attitude of the members of The Apostolic Church Ndot to the passage;
- To analyze the implication of the text to the contemporary church; and
- To examine the implications of obeying or disobeying the passage on the members of The Apostolic Church, Ndot.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the original intended meaning of the text?
- What is the teaching of The Apostolic Church regarding the text?
- What is the attitude of the members of The Apostolic Church, Ndot to the passage?
- What does obedience/disobedience to the practice imply for the members of the Church in question?
- What is the attitude of the members of The Apostolic Church Ndot to the passage?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant effect of Head Covering among Women in the Apostolic Church Ndot with reference to I Corinthians 11:5-6
- H1: There is significant effect of Head Covering among Women in the Apostolic Church Ndot with reference to I Corinthians 11:5-6
1.7 Significance of Study
It is hoped that the findings of this research if read by the church in Ndot, will help them to understand the actual meaning and implication of the passage. Also, it will expand the horizon of clergymen on the meaning of the passage.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. Furthermore, the study will add to the existing literature in religious studies in Nigeria.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Implications of Head Covering in I Corinthians 11:5-6 on the Women in the Apostolic Church Ndot. Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Research Methodology
This study adopts the survey method. Survey method is an investigation of opinions, perception, behaviour, etc. of a particular group of people on a certain matter. This is usually done by asking questions.
On this note, this approach investigates the perceptions and opinions of The Apostolic Church members in Ndot on I Corinthians 11:5-6. The historical critical method of exegesis is used to decipher the meaning of the text.
Also, oral interview and participant observation are used to collect data from the field.Furthermore, secondary sources are reviewed to enhance and aid proper understanding of the subject matter.
