Negotiating Church Space: The Relations between Pastors and Shepherds in the Malagasy Lutheran Church

Abstract

The main question of this article is how the negotiations on church space enable us to better understand the relationship between pastors and shepherds, two groups of church workers in the Malagasy Lutheran Church and the so-called awakening movement (fifohazana). This is investigated through three characteristics of place: the historical development, the relationship between the two groups and their identity focusing on ritual and gender. The author challenges the hierarchical thinking which seems to be inherent in the relationship between the two groups, and calls into attention how women are isempowered in the church space related to pastoral ministry while, at the same time, being empowered as shepherds.