Aug 17, 2011
We Need Women to Lead
Right now there are many churches where only half of their members are recognized as leaders who can actively participate in the guidance and teaching of the church. Even in the churches who like the idea of this segment becoming involved, it’s hard to actually make it happen.
Who knows what we’re missing because we keep half of our congregations on the fringes, allowing them to mingle in a few areas without really paying much attention to them. We blame them for some of the problems we ourselves have caused and then act like they do nothing but whine when they point out the junk we dump on them.
I’m talking about women.
Even in churches that are progressive, I still see a lot of men standing up front. A few things get tweaked but we still hear something like this from a guy up front:
Be missional, buy into the vision of my church and it will be awesome….
Be inclusive and accepting, buy into the vision of my church and it will be awesome…
An then there’s the men leading the old guard:
Be seeker sensitive, buy into the vision of my church and it will be awesome…
Be more committed to the truth, buy into the vision of my church and it will be awesome…
As much as I applaud the conferences that have worked to put together a greater diversity of voices, our leadership in the church today is still lacking because women are only taken seriously when leading children, teaching natives in the jungle, or speaking to other women.
We still haven’t sought the guidance of female leaders as if the integrity of our witness and the reflection of God’s character depended on it.
Legit Female Leadership
A bunch of my friends in the Twittersphere were at Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit last week. Their Twitter feeds lit up with awe and wonder at a speaker from Egypt named Mamma Maggie Gobran (this has links to her profile and tweets from her session).
Mama Maggie soon trended on Twitter because everyone recognized the power and authority of her message. While I didn’t get to see her talk, I did track down some notes.
And here’s my deal. I know that you can learn lots of good stuff from business leaders. I know that men have lots of wisdom to share. I know that there are all kinds of different churches with different leadership styles.
However, in a room full of years of business expertise, church growth chops, and pastoral perseverance, a woman serving among the poor stole the show. That begs the question:
What else are we missing?
If one woman can show up that many dudes, maybe it’s time start asking ourselves, How can we encourage other women to follow God’s calling to lead?
I have sat under the leadership of women in church meetings, during Sunday sermons, and in small groups. God recognizes their authority and uses them to lead. I’ve seen powerful ministry accomplished by women.
It’s true that a woman could just as well fall into the same trap as a man, or perhaps a different kind of trap altogether. Women are not the magic bullet that will fix the church. It’s just that we’re pretty comfy with the flaws of male leaders, but since we aren’t used to the flaws of female leaders, we may somehow think that these are worse.
If God can use women like Deborah and Huldah to lead his people, then we shouldn’t be surprised that Momma Maggie rocked it at the Leadership Summit.
Women and men share the same calling to lead.
What Can We Do?
It is incredibly clear to me that I am a writer and not a church leader. I can’t train anyone to lead because I wouldn’t know what to tell that person to do. I’d say something like, “Sit at a desk and start using words like vision and critical mission.”
However, I can tell stories and start conversations. I can affirm the truth that women have an important role in the church.
Do you know of a woman who has effectively led others? Do you have a calling from God to lead a ministry?
Please share your story below because there may be a young woman who is called to lead and needs to read your story. Let’s keep this conversation going. If we don’t encourage the church to embrace the diversity that God intends, who will?
One last thing, if you’re going to start throwing Bible verses at me about women NOT leading, please check out the other posts on this blog where I have that debate. This is a post about encouragement. If you want to debate my points here, check out this post.
I was a women’s ministry major at a Bible college. One day the head of our department and major spoke in chapel at which the whole student body is present. After a few minutes of introduction, she said, very nonchalantly, “Please get out your Bibles with me if you’d like to follow along…” and continued her teaching. Later that day during a women’s ministry class we had with her as our professor, I was shocked that so many of my fellow women’s min majors were cheering and championing her for her boldness in preaching the Word in front of a mixed-gender audience.
This should not even be an issue. We should not bat an eye when a woman speaks truth and Scripture in front of any audience. It grieved me that my peers were championing as a bold exception what should be the normal and expected. My husband remembers that chapel, and he told me no male thought twice about the fact that a woman was preaching.
So what do we need to do? I realize that women are part of the problem. We need to stop sabotaging our cause by blowing instances like this out of proportion.
my first job out of college was to direct the youth ministry program at a city church. we had youth minister networking meetings monthly, and in the whole city, one friend and i were the only women who weren’t spouses or volunteers in a ministry lead by a man.
now i live at a christian camp when my husband works. i am a writer and public speaking is a challenge for me, but every summer i get a few opportunities to teach a seminar or give a sermon and i always say yes, because when i was sitting in those rows, the number of women given opportunities to teach God’s Word were few and far between–and i always noticed. connecting from the podium with women (and men) in the pews is a powerful thing that i won’t ever take for granted.
we need to recognize and encourage gifting in women and agitate for us to have a place at the table. our perspective is needed. of course it is! why is this even a question for so many in 2011?
thanks for speaking to this.
I think a lot of women are following God’s leading… they just aren’t seen because they aren’t a part of churches that meet on normal schedules (Sundays) or that have conferences. It just depends on what circles of Christianity you dwell in most of the time.
Right on Shannon. I think that women can really lead well outside of traditional church structures. I for one prefer simple churches, so it’s no surprise that I know of more women who are church leaders.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this post.
From the time a I was little girl, I felt alienated and weird for my desire to pursue a career in full-time ministry as a pastor.
My journey from where I was several years ago to where I am now has not been without its hardships, but I am certain that today I am right where God wants me to be – attending seminary and pursuing ordination with my denomination.
Ironically enough, before reading this post I shared a little bit about my own personal journey toward ordination on my blog this morning:
http://jonoandsarah.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/my-pursuit-of-ordination-part-1/#more-132
Ed, we need more people in the Church to take a stand on this issue, and encourage women to pursue leadership in all capacities!!
I have a calling into Pastoral Ministry, as does my husband. We were sharing the ministry, ( and pulpit) until the YOUNG men in our congregation decided that it was not Biblical or Godly that I lead.
For the sake of unity and peace, I stepped down.
It shocked me that in this day and age, in a denomination that has been ordaining women for 25 years, it was men under 30 that were on the Women Can’t Lead kick.
That was four years ago, and I’m just starting to recover.
I pray that soon, God’s daughters will be given permission to use their voices to proclaim the heart of God, in the wonderful, unique, distinctly feminine voice that is ours! (and God’s)
Deb, I’m so sorry to hear that. Selective biblical literalism can be destructive.
Just remember this: God has already given you the permission. Those young men can’t take that away from you. I pray that God will show you the next step and that he will give you freedom from their misplaced condemnation.
If women can’t lead, then God must have sinned when he called Huldah and Deborah.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. When I began my path to ordained ministry I had no idea that it was an issue, or what an issue it would become. It has definitely been a journey on building a thick skin, resolve, and a lot of humility. Thank God He never leaves, forsakes and He reminded me four years ago, “…once called, always called.”
I am excited to see where we go from here. He has led me to the healing voices, such as yourself and Rachel Held Evan’s, here in the blogosphere…and it has filled me with hope and a renewed sense of purpose.
Thank you for your post and your encouragement.
God Bless
Hi Deb, thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your story. I too have found a lot of encouragement from Ed and Rachel’s stuff.
God’s best to you and your ministry!
My husband and I are active members in our local church and have led a small group for several years now. We’ve each tried doing the majority or the leading/facilitating at different points and it’s clear that my gifts and motivations are stronger in this area. John doesn’t feel threatened by this and neither does my church. I’ve felt affirmed and encouraged by the Small groups pastor to go ahead and lead! At the same time . . . in the larger congregational setting it is a much more male-dominated front so I think we still have a ways to go.
After first recognizing my calling to vocational ministry at age 16, I will be ordained this Sunday in the baptist tradition ten years later. This touches my heart deeply.
I hope that all of us can be humble enough to realize that we cannot make final determinations about how God works.
To go full circle with Kate’s post, she was in my youth ministry when she recognized her call to vocational ministry. One of the things I’m most grateful for is that God allows me to be an example to the girls in my youth group that God calls each of us with no regard to gender. I did not have that growing up (and I’m only 37). I struggled with my own call to ministry because I didn’t know of any women in ministry. Thankfully, God blessed me with a congregation who supports women in ministry and Kate is a shining example of how God has blessed that spirit at our church. Can’t wait to celebrate her ordination this Sunday!
I’ve been ordained for over 24 years, and have been senior pastor in my current (fourth) call for the past 13. I cannot begin to express how God has blessed me in this! Yes, there have been some serious challenges and bumps, and I have definitely experienced discrimination and barriers because of my gender. But the joy I have found so far outstrips that in ways I never, ever expected. I went to seminary telling God, “OK, I’ll show you that you don’t mean me.” And God said, “OK, let’s go with that.” (God has a–forgive me–wicked sense of humor. Those considering answering any kind of calling should probably understand that.)
Particularly in this current call, my faith has deepened so much more than I realized it would. I am incredibly blessed and amazed at how God uses my gifts, and works around my faults. The congregation I serve is (I think) unusually open to the Spirit, and has welcomed my gifts to help them grow deeper in love and service, while forgiving my faults and offering their own gifts to meet my lack.
I have many, many good female colleagues who have, unfortunately, not been so blessed with mutual respect and support from the communities they serve–whether as ordained or lay leaders. But for me–I could as easily choose to stop breathing as lay down this calling of my own will. I can’t imagine doing anything else, and I thank Christ every day for his grace and call.
This is good stuff – thanks.
I recently listened to a couple of sermons by Hilary Price (wife of Charles Price, Senior Pastor of the People’s Church in Toronto, Canada) and they were outstanding.
However, I think women need to feel empowered and encouraged (such great buzz words) to actually lead.
Not many (men OR women) will feel inclined to lead if they’re worried they’ll get nothing but criticism and shot down at the first hurdle – churches are often great at criticising and making life difficult for staff they feel are not ‘up to scratch’ or conflict with their sacred doctrinal cows.
I wish I had a great story to tell. Instead, this issue continues to discourage me. Our men and women who went on a mission trip this summer were scheduled to give a report on Sunday morning to our church two weeks ago, each sharing something.
But it ended up that the women had to let the men read our stories to the congregation instead of us reading them ourselves.
We have such a long way to go and I don’t know when or how we’re going to get there… I appreciate your words here. You seem to really understand what is at stake.
[...] this week, my friend, Steve Knight, shared a link on Facebook to a blog post by Ed Cyzewski. (Good grief, that’s a tortured sentence. Such is the destructive power of social media.) Ed [...]
This is all true… and the thing is that women want to lead and do lead. Many learn to lead from being second chair often.
What women need is encouragement to take courage and be what they are called to be. They already have good insints– for leadership knows no gender, but they need internships, mentors and heaps of “you can do it” from those of us in positions to actually help them get on their way in the right direction.
To young women considering ministry, I say, “Just do it and let no one stand in your way.” This is how I came to be a senior pastor of a baptist church at age 28.
[...] day I started this series with My Pursuit of Ordination – Part 1. Ed stated this in his post, We Need Women to Lead: ”As much as I applaud the conferences that have worked to put together a greater diversity [...]
[...] little while back, I wrote a post called “We Need Women to Lead.” As I wrapped up the post, I asked for women to share their stories in leadership, but I [...]
quote from opening post:
“Even in churches that are progressive, I still see a lot of men standing up front…”
so true – even on the internet and blogosphere too [no offence to yourself, that's not my point]
I know those of us who are women tend to be more busy with the children, or grandchildren and home [generally], but surely in our time to relax [which we all need], internet and blogs could be included.
Or is it a confidence issue?
p.s. Ed – thank you!
I became a Licensed Minister at the age of 22, much to the dismay of my parents, who were pastors of a church that did not support women in ministry. When I declared that I wanted to major in Pastoral Ministries, they threatened to cut off all financial support from me in college because I was a woman and could not make a living in that field (and they thought it was wrong). I majored in Sociology instead, and when I graduated, went on to get my MA in Church Leadership.
I have been a part of 3 different denominations and found that although many “say” they support women in ministry, they often fail to implement it or practice it. I’m so thankful that at the church my husband and I serve at (he’s a pastor), the senior pastor has let me preach from the pulpit on numerous occasions. I cannot say it has not been a struggle through the years, though, with many people telling me that it is “against the Bible” for me to be preaching. It is still a continual struggle.
I see part of my purpose in life is to raise up and encourage other women leaders. Thank you for this series and encouraging women to follow the call of God on their lives!
[...] We Need Women to Lead from In a Mirror Dimly (Be sure to read the second half that discuss the powerful presentation by Mamma Maggie Gobran from Egypt at the recent Willow Creek Leadership Conference. All that power and experience in a conference and a woman from Egypt who serves the poor and children is the one who most powerfully demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God.) [...]