The Spirit Moves, But the Culture Holds: A Critical Hermeneutic Study of Women, Leadership, and Doctrine in Pentecostal Churches in Sierra Leone

This study critically examines Pentecostal women’s leadership in Sierra Leone, exploring how cultural norms, doctrinal teachings, and institutional hierarchies shape their experiences. Using a descriptive and critical hermeneutic lens grounded in phenomenology, it analyzes narratives of women leaders navigating gendered barriers while fostering alternative models of authority. Findings reveal how socio-demographic factors, relational leadership styles, and grassroots theological reinterpretations enable quiet subversion of patriarchal systems. The study highlights both the empowering and constraining dimensions of Pentecostalism, offering insights into women’s agency and resilience within male-dominated ecclesiastical contexts. It calls for reimagining church leadership towards gender inclusivity.