I don’t want to toot the horn for women in the church, but… toot, toot! Women have been holding it down since the beginning of time and serving in significant roles through the Old Testament, New Testament, and Today’s Testament.
We’re told in Genesis that Adam was lonely and needed a help-meet. Boom! It’s a woman.
The Israelites crossed the Red Sea and sang out a song in corporate worship. Who led them? A woman.
When armies much larger than the Israelites went to battle against Jabin and Sisera, who defeated them? Deborah and Jael. Women!
Who bore the Savior of the world? A woman.
The first documented evangelists of the risen Lord were not the disciples, but women who proclaimed, He is risen!
Women comprise much of the evangelical church and recent Barna research shows most are content with leadership opportunities in the church they’re involved with.
However, the study also shows another experience for many other women. These women are frustrated by their lack of opportunities at church and feel misunderstood and undervalued by their church leaders.
- About three out of 10 churchgoing women (31%) say they are resigned to low expectations when it comes to church.
- One fifth feel under-utilized (20%).
- One sixth say their opportunities at church are limited by their gender (16%).
- Roughly one out of every eight women feel under-appreciated by their church (13%) and one out of nine believe they are taken for granted (11%).
Although these represent small percentages, let’s not forget that about 70 million Americans qualify as churched adult women, this amounts to millions of women in the U.S. today who feel discouraged by their experiences in churches.
Let’s do our own research:
Are you a women who is happy at church?
Do you feel like you can serve in leadership positions?
Do you feel valued in the service your participate in?
Does your church allow women to serve in leadership? Teach?
Special thanks to my friend David Kinnaman from The Barna Group who is dedicated to loving the Church and bringing to light statistics, new info, and ways to implement change.
Thanks for sharing this–SUCH an important topic.
No way, Justin! I appreciate your Twitter plug! I love the male perspective.
Hello,
i am still a bit confused. I hear many different takes. I went to cottonwood for a bit because it was close and they call the Pastor’s wife a pastor there as well and women are allowed to preach on occassion. However, my heart always loved Calvary and now I go to CCM and visit harvest for studies when I am in Irvine. CCM is my home 🙂
Well now that I have been a Christian for about 3 years I have been learning that women can not be pastors? or senior pastors and or over look a church in that way? I heard about it on Pastor’s perspective. However, they say that they are allowed to teach, do studies for women, bible school for kids, teach at bible college and do women groups. I am just a bit confused. 🙂 I want to make sure I know because I have had a few girlfriends ask me this and one that recently gave her life to Christ at a Whosoever event. Thank you sister Bianca!
Really interesting. I would actually expect many of these numbers to be higher. It’s kind of nice to know that the majority of women feel like they have a voice in the church.
What you YOU? Girlfriend, I KNOW you have an opinion!
I attend a Calvary Chapel. I’m not very happy there although I do love to teach Sunday School. Am I valued as a teacher? Yes, if there’s a need, the Children’s ministry pastor provides it.
As a woman in the church, no, I’m not valued. It’s almost as if you have to be “invited” into the Women’s Ministry. It’s usually the mother, her daughter and her friend. When i asked to serve alongside the women I was told “We have enough ladies but thank you.” Then 2 days later the leaders daughters were asked to join.
So I’m a little hurt with the women there. I hope things change.. Sorry if it seems like venting.. It is what it is..
Wow, thank you for your honesty! I really, really appreciate it. And I pray you find a home where you feel valued 🙂
I know what you mean. I attend a large Calvary Chapel and I feel the same way in regards to our women’s ministry. I love my pastor and that is why I continue to go there. I do serve at my church, but its outside of the women’s ministry.
Well the Bibile is pretty clear that women are not to teach over men. The office of Pastor is also for Men only. Always go back to the Word and beleive no man/woman over the precious word of God.
Very interesting info, thank you . One day we need to get together and chat.
Im sooooooo glad you are talking about this!!!! I have so much to say!
1. I believe with all my heart what the Bible says about the position of women at church (not to teach over man) HOWEVER is hard cause there are NO MEN who want to do the work!!
God used me to start at least two ministries in my church and girrll IS HARD as a woman. I basically have to tell my fellow brethren what to do (even the elders!) is that wrong? Honestly I do feel is NOT my place but theres nobody else who wnats to take charge and reach souls and do the work.
I think there is sooooo much need of MEN of God who really want to step up and do what God has called them to do: to LEAD US.
I desperetly wan tto SUBMIT to a brother at church, or to my future husband or to a man who can guide me you know? (besides my pastor) BUT the thing is that meanwhile I have to continue to do what God has called me to do.
Honestly I do feel bad when the ‘men;’ at my church follow what I say (as far as work) but I remind myself that God has put me, at least for now, in that positiion.
YOu feel me?
Is not that I want to be the head, is that there is no man who wants to actually lead.
AHHHHHH is soooo complicated! lol
I agree that Scripture is pretty clear about the roles that women and men are supposed to take in the body. I personally attend a small church and am involved in youth group, children’s ministry, radio production, and worship. With so many chances to serve, how could I feel limited? I love my church family. I am thankful for the covering of the men serving in leadership, and to be shamelessly honest, I REALLY don’t envy the role of pastor or elder- seriously. Those guys really go through it! That said, when God calls me to step to the front of the room, I know that I am called to submit just as much as I am when He calls me to come alongside and support rather than lead. In both instances I am called to serve and follow Him. I’m down for that. I cherish the chance to serve as an expression of my love, but I also love the fact that as a Christian I’m called to go all out wherever and however I serve- regardless of gender. I love how exhilerating it is to serve God in that regard. Always right on the brink, always clasped tightly in His hand.
I do wonder if the opinions that women have regarding how much they are valued by the men of Christendom might also be impacted by the portrayal of gender roles in the media, pop-culture, and society at large.The women described in scripture were intelligent, bold, and strong. Check out Abigail (1 Samuel 25:41)! and the Mitey Widow (Luke 21:2) who was strong enough to give everything she had! In spite of those rockin women, we live in a society that often portrays Biblical womanhood to be weak. Personally I think it takes so much strength that it really is attainable only through His Spirit, but that’s another story.
What I meant to wonder “out loud” was this: Outside of roles clearly outlined in Scripture or or the bilaws of the churches we’ve chosen to attend, is it possible that our perception is swayed by sitcom syndrome (pop culture) as well as the treatment or level of support that women receive in their respective churches?
Thank you ladies for clarifying things 🙂 I definitely will look it up in the Bible and I do believe I came across it but was getting so confused by what I was seeing in one place and hearing in another. I do believe I read that women can not rule over mean/teach men. I remember a sermon also mentioning that but that women can lead groups for women, youth groups and serve in various things in the church but a woman can not be the senior pastor etc. Thank you all for clarifying. Now i have an answer for the girls that ask me. Alot like to watch TV preachers ( which I am not a fan of) and they see ladies on there for are senior pastors and they asked me about it.
Are you a women who is happy at church? ~ Yes. It took me a while to find my place, but I believe I’ve found it, and am happy.
Do you feel like you can serve in leadership positions? ~ Yes. I lead worship and am on the leadership team that makes the major decisions for the church. I was chosen by our pastor and other church members so I feel that not only am I comfortable with it, but everyone else is, as well.
Do you feel valued in the service your participate in? ~ I do most of the time. I think my major problem with feeling valued is when my focus is off. If I’m focusing on serving to seek value from the congregation, then I’m not going to feel that way. If my focus is on serving to add value to the Kingdom, then I always feel more value for my service.
Does your church allow women to serve in leadership? Teach? ~ Yep. Every church I’ve been to growing up until now has allowed women to lead. However, most of the time it’s been because the men won’t step up and take leadership. I’ve finally found myself in a church where men are taking on teaching and mentoring responsibilities as much as women are. I love it.
I’m going to continue adding to the questions because this has been on my heart and mind for a while and though I studied it and I understood clearly that women are not meant to teach mean in the church, however an aunt told me that when Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians he was talking because there was a specific thing going on with the women from Corinth that he had to say that. But, the Bible doesn’t talk about that….. SO, how are we as women today should understand this part of scripture?? Where does this set all the women in the world who are teaching men?? My question is not to point and acuse, because I’ve learned a LOT from other women teachings.
B, how about making a Vlog about this?? I’d love to hear your thoughts about this topic.
You’ve brought up a very good point, Jessica! To me, I think that reference has more to do with cultural traditions and what was happening at the time rather than how we should live as Christian women today. I’ve known several amazing, Godly women blessed with the gift of ministry and I seriously disagree with the idea that God would direct them to become ministers if it was ‘unBiblical’
I don’t think women should teach men nor be on the pastoral staff. It’s biblical. And there’s a huge debate about that.
But I feel women have many opportunities in my church to serve.
I love my church and I do get to serve as a leader. My husband and I teach marriage class. He is an elder and elders’ wives are invited to carry out many of their duties alongside them.
Personally though, I feel like I’m only allowe to serve where the pastoral staff wants me. I have gifts and talents that I’d live to operate in but I get parked elsewhere because I have skills or knowledge that is needed elsewhere. I play drums too, but seldom in church because the men who play don’t want to take turns on the schedule.
I know this is an older article, but I just felt I had to comment. I know for me personally, there is nothing that offends me more than when men tell me that as a woman I am restricted from participating or leading certain ministries. I feel I am called to be a servant in the church, and gladly take part in roles of teaching and encouragement, but I can’t stand it when a man tells me one way or another what I am supposed or not supposed to be doing because of my gender!!
I would say that is a leading cause for why some women feel dissatisfied with very conservative churches.