[...]Recent National Survey of Christian Women Reveals – Things Going Great! | Off The Map[...]…

I don’t think there is more that I can add other than to boil it down to the smallest of equations. If your church does not (which most do not and we girls know this…) afford women what Jesus died on the cross for then how can we be happy, satisfied, confident and fearless?

An Analogy for Men:

Here’s a billion dollars. Spend it however you see fit to spread my gospel.

An Analogy for Women:

Spend some of it but definitely not all of it and if you spend more than you were suppose to… well then you’re in trouble.

And Jim and Lisa… (I realize I may be way past the due date here but my guess is you’re stilling reading these…) the main cast of men in my life are Christian, supportive, uplifting and in complete agreement with me so I’m not a bitter woman that has an ax to grind against men.

My world, as I would have it, is nearly perfect. But just like the white men and women who knew slavery was wrong, whose lives were nearly perfect, had they not stood up to slavery, it might very well exist today.

I believe…. which is biblical… we are all equal in every sense of the word.

Thanks for all of your work on this project.

Sue

As a woman who graduated with honors from an evangelical Bible School, the personal experiences of overt gender discrimination I have experienced in 25 years of ministry, in addition to the experiences of many of my peers (one of whom is a Harvard PhD), are alarming. Women within the patriarchal system fear political retaliation or being branded a “feminist” for speaking out. I, too, have held my silence and chosen to go outside the church to exercise the gifts and calling of God. This silent exodus of called and gifted women unfortunately has left the Body of Christ to function as an amputee.

While the corporate world has HR laws and a court system that holds it accountable for equitable policies and practices, the church world has no such accountability. Perhaps it’s time for the silence to be broken?

But – I would argue that these are “in vogue” views. Women like to believe that their church supports them in leadership. Men like to believe this too. These opinions seem to keep the peace.

If you really want to know the status of women in church leadership … your research should also include (and I realize it’s probably too late) – how many women are in volunteer positions, how many paid church positions (leadership – not administrative) even interview women, and how many leadership positions are offered to women. This is where the disparity lies between what we say we believe and what we do.

2ndly – Even among women I hear frequently hear the comment “I believe in women leading – but I am more comfortable / used to a man in leadership.” – this from women in key roles of leadership. I wonder how many feel this way because deep down they fear being accused of rabble-rousing.

I believe a comparison of volunteer/paid hours worked by men – vs. volunteer/paid hours worked by women will shed light on the gap between what policies we pay lip service too – and where our allegiences actually lie. Or – as a different approach – you could research how many women who graduated from church leadership related collegiate/graduate programs are actually working in those fields compared to their male counterparts. You could even interview women who were working in full time church leadership in the past and see if they still are. If not – then why? I have many friends who in spite of gifts and moral integrity cannot even secure an interview – so something must be going on.

I’m sorry I just saw this question today – a month after it was posted. Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

Amy Jo Van Arsdall

But now we attend an Episcopal church, I never have to ask the question, “Can I do this?” I have no desire to be ordained, but I do want to serve as a lector and Alpha discussion group leader. And I can, with no fuss.