Women In Church Leadership
I am looking for your list of women in church leadership.
Who are the women who are in cockpit of local churches in America?
Who are the women who are steering the direction of the local church in America?
Julie Arnold is helping steer the direction of North Point Community Church. She is amazing.
Kimberly MacNeill is at Clovis Hills Community Church in Fresno, CA.
She preaches some AMAZING messages and is helping steer the direction of that church.
Please tell and why do we not hear from them more often?
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
Thank you for even mentioning the fact that there are incredible women in Church leadership throughout the US. Sherry Surratt (Seacoast Church fame) just took a position with Leadership Network to help bring a voice to women in Church leadership. It will be exciting to see how her program will develop. I have many interesting experiences traveling as a woman and being perceived immediately as someone’s assistant.
Missy Hannon
Executive Pastor
Living Hope Church
may i just interject defensively and say that i am not fond of the way that people equate “assistant” with “not a leader”
just sayin’
We don’t hear from them because we’re afraid they may have something better to say.
i just recently did a series on the varying views of this subject. glad to see mr ragamuffin diving into some theological topics.
http://manofdepravity.com/2008/05/08/women-in-church-leadership-3/
Maybe we don’t hear from them because they are too busy taking care of a family as well?
I think we in the church are caught between where we have always been and where our culture is. We are unsure of where to go.
i second what anne said. i may not be technically “leadership” but i will tell you right now that i lead more than i follow.
We have an amazing Executive Director at Cross Point in Nashville.
Jenni Catron
http://jennicatron.tv
When she came on staff to work with my husband three years ago my life totally changed by what she was able to bring to the church as a leader to help take the load off of him. Women in leadership probably don’t get enough recognition, especially in the church world.
Our District Superintendent is retiring on June 1st. She’s all woman and pretty darn awesome. Here’s hoping that whomever follows in her footsteps is equally awesome.
los, i cannot tell you how much this post warms my heart! i am a firm believer that all levels of ministry – by God’s creation intent – are open to women. in fact, my wife now is in the ordination process through the Free Methodist denomination.
that said, helen musick is one of our primary teaching pastors (title actually is transformation pastor) at qcc in lexington (questcommunity.com). she rocks! i often have called her a female “paul” to me, so formative has her teaching been. sadly, c&ma churches do not ordain; thus, my wife’s need to find a new church home when God led her to ordination.
btw, thanks for streaming from PDS!
Hi, I am a female worship pastor here in Alabama and am always on the lookout for females in church leadership to learn from. I have a great deal of respect for Nancy Beach at Willowcreek, she led their Arts Dept and is one of their teaching pastors as well. She inspires me!
And when I first entered vocational ministry people always thought I was our pastor’s wife. That made me crazy!
I can’t believe you just posted this!! I was about to post a rant (on the other post where you posted the panel of speakers for the thing you were gonna cover) asking (more like demanding to know) where all the woman leaders were!! But I abstained from doing so, then two days later, check my RSS reader and there it is, the same question I had going on in my head.
I don’t know who they are, but look forward to see what people who do know say… so yeah ragamuffinsoul readers let us know who those women are!
I just wanted to second that nomination of Jenni Catron. I’ve only known her a short time, but I recognize a leader when I see one.
I suppose I’m a leader in a way, but in the way that so many of us are. I’m an elder’s wife and do research and writing for the church. So many of us end up like this…leaders without titles and therefore unwilling to stand up and say, “I’m a leader.”
Nonetheless, I’m a leader.
Tandy Champion, Ruth Olsson, Angela Burke, Kathy Stedman, Jen Swets, Corrie Boyle, Lori Strehler, Judy Black: Marshill.org
Shauna Niequist: shaunaniequist.com
Jeanetta McCurdy: emthonjeni.com
Dr. Becky Kuhn (my hero): globallifeworks.org
Jessica Kast-Keat: shalomliving.blogspot.com
Jeanette Banashak: marshill.org/cornerstone.edu
Lisa Hawkins: lisa-convergence.blogspot.com
Danica Childs: ecclesiahollywood.org
Those are the women in leadership in my immediate world.
My friend Dan pointed out: part of the problem arises from the fact that “if you’re looking for women who lead like men…that’s broken”. Women haven’t been permitted to do so, and women lead differently. that’s a place to start.
thanks for opening this up.
At HPC we refer to “Our Pastors” Dino AND Delynn Rizzo. It’s very equal here. Delynn is an amazing pastor over the woman’s ministry and ALL of the many worship teams at the many locations. Everyone around the world may know Dino but he knows and so do all of us here, that she is an equal part of all HPC is and who Dino is.
Hey Anne….
You can interject anytime with me… I have followed your blogs and writings for a long time
I recommended Sherry speak with you when I talked to her last month as an online presence for women, your book that will be coming out and your staff change to Life Church. I actually wholeheartedly agree with what you said and in my haste, did not explain well. I was referring to the very nature that I would like to see more churches authenticate women as equally important leaders within a church organization, regardless of gender and/or title. I can only speak from my own experience the last few years as my Pastor transitioned me into leadership, perhaps yours have been better? A great conversation, probably a long one to be saved for someday 
HHHMMMMM….could a lot of the female leaders be leading “Women’s Ministries” and not allowed to “be in authority over men”?
I think so.
I think there are still tons of women who are not allowed to have a voice in the church.
This post wouldn’t have anything to do with meeting Marc Driscoll would it?
Just curious. I love all pastors and what they bring to the church and the unchurched, whether they are women, or even men who don’t agree with women being in leadership, I’m still grateful for what they do. I know my comment isn’t an answer to your question, but ever since I saw the list from Rick and then saw the picture of you talking to Marc, I’ve been wondering what had been said about women in leadership during the conference. Personally, I’m torn. I understand where Paul was coming from when he wrote those few little words that so many men in church leadership have taken so literally that it’s shaped how the church functions today. On the other hand, maybe I’m just biased because I am a woman who works in ministry, but there are incredibly intelligent woman who struggle to be given a platform to bring people to Christ because of the lack of support they get from their male counterparts in the church. Wow…that was quite the rant. Sorry. 
I’d still love to know what inspired this post.
oh I forgot to say thank you to Jonathan Brink for making me laugh out loud. thank you!
What Crystal and Anne said, boss man
thanks so much missy! preach that!
I’m surprised that you haven’t gotten more comments on this… considering its the main issue that caused the split in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). Some Baptist churches in NC are dually aligned with both though… Your opening an interesting box! Keep up the good work.
Donna Cooper has been the Director of Family Life at New Harvest Church for three years. In that time she has completely transformed the ministry by adopting the North Point model. I have been lucky enough to be a part of that. Donna’s last week is this week, but her fingerprints will be left all over this ministry.
I am a small group leader and possibly a new creative pastor’s assistant (umhum) does that count?
Donna Cooper has been our Family Life Director for a good stint here at New Harvest Church. She has helped the Family Ministry department to transform…going Orange.
Yea, Driscoll is totally against woman in leadership when they are leading men at all correct? Delynn leads all the Worship teams at all our campuses so she is over a lot of men as well as the Woman’s Minsitry. She’s an amazing speaker too. Really, I think women are more and more taking on leadership roles. I love it.
I am the worship leader and creative arts director at my church. As a strong leader, people typically follow me easily. However, I have seen that it is difficult for some men to “submit” the the leadership of a woman. I don’t understand it, but then I’m not a man.
It is for this reason that I can understand some people’s argument about not having women in high leadership positions. However, I feel that as a woman, I bring much to the table that a man could not. I’m interested to hear others’ thoughts on this.
I am disappointed there wasn’t more of a discussion here.
I am so hoping this is the generation where God unites men and women in the church. It seems to be making progress, in some parts of the world.
I loved Tyler’s comment. I am sad that the church is not leading the way in healthy interaction between the genders. We are way behind and still fighting with each other in a way the world got over years ago.
I am not a feminist. I do not think men and women are equal, I think they are different, and together, they make up the image of God. We are incomplete and broken when we are alone.
And if we aren’t mature enough to be together without having affairs (another reason I have been told I can’t be in leadership) then we are not mature enough to be leading.
Wait… weren’t you just hanging out with Mark Driscoll? Aren’t women not capable to lead anything?
I know you’re wanting women church leaders in America, but I can’t help but immediately think of all the women pastoring underground churches, specifically the millions underground in China. They’re there, they’re generally youngish in age, and give their lives to their flock for the cause of Christ.
mark dever just had a good series on gender issues over at http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org
one thing that stood out was when he asked, “were adam and eve both deceived? No, adam knew exactly what he was doing(when he disobeyed god)”
not sure it’s really relevent to the discussion, tho.
My church, too, is blessed by amazing women leaders/teachers. If you’d like a small taste of the truly amazing, download one of Becky White’s messages from http://www.thegrove.cc. She will break AND challenge your heart.
Not really the same thing, but I just posted on the pd pastors board that I wish there was a venue like this for pastors wives. The same holds true for women in leadership. I have enjoyed watching you guys but would have loved to hear from some women.
Anna Joseph is the Director of Worship Arts at Fellowship Bible Church of Dalton, GA.
She rules.
I don’t deserve her.
Julie Pennington-Russell is the senior pastor at First Baptist Decatur, Georgia. She is an AMAZING preacher & is quite well known in moderate Baptist life.
so this is me bringing up my own name.
I’ve worked as the director of worship ministries at my church for almost 9 years. My job has never been full time, a boundary I have set because I’m also trying to be a mom. For the first 7 years of my job, my husband was also on staff.
Why don’t we hear from more women in leadership? GOOD QUESTION. I’ve been taking notes on the names listed here so far, only 3 of which I’ve ever heard of before. I recently heard Nancy Ortberg speak, and found her perspective on vocational ministry to be very helpful and very real. We need more reality being spoken on this topic. For sure.
I just returned from New York where I attended a Women in Ministry conference last week. This was geared towards women in the Churches of Christ, which is usually twenty years or so behind everyone else in these kind of “issues”. It was such an encouragement to see so many strong, capable women proudly declaring themselves to have, are receiving education for, and have churches who recognize their leadership gifts. I often feel so isolated as a woman who has been “called” into church leadership; I have no female peers in ministry. But that is why the online community is such a blessing! Flowerdust, Whittaker Woman
, Gifted for Leadership, and other resources are encouraging and challenging as I develop as a leader in our church. And that Beth Moore girl can preach!
I am an M.Divinity student at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Mich. I am a woman pastor who interns at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Mich. My husband is a student ministries pastor at Mars in Grandville. This is a conversation that is close to my life. Let us dialogue together! Grace and Peace. Here are some women worth noting….
Women pastors/leaders worth noting…
-Dr. Serene Jones book worth reading “Feminist Theology and Christian Theology”-professor at Yale Divinity School
-Dr. Linda L. Belleville book worth reading “Two Views on Women in Ministry”-professor at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
-Dr. Leanne Van Dyk (many books) http://www.westernsem.edu/explore/faculty/vandyk
-Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor preaching guru http://www.barbarabrowntaylor.com/
-Phyllis Tickle http://www.phyllistickle.com/
-Dr. Sarah Sumner http://www.apu.edu/theology/faculty/ssumner/
Pastor Karen Ward http://www.apostleschurch.org/
Pastor Corrie Boyles, Pastor Judy Black, Pastor Anglea Burke, Elder and Professor Jeanette Banashak, Pastor Lori Strehler, Elder and Dr. Tandy Champion, Elder Amy Cheyne http://www.marshill.org
JulieBelle-thanks:)
I’m a little late in posting, but I am so excited that you opened this up, Los. I was a leader in the business world before I came on staff at Cross Point in Nashville as Executive Director. I have a lot of opinions on this topic since women in leadership is one of my driving passions and I have definitely experienced some differences in how my leadership is accepted in the church world. We have a great culture at Cross Point for women to serve in leadership, however earning that voice in the greater church world seems to take time – maybe that it why you haven’t heard from us enough. I’m anxious to connect with some of the other women on this list!
By the way, thanks to Brandi & Marla for the mentions!
There are women influencing every church, even if the pastor is in denial of it. Our church has Brenda Branch, who has done amazing things from faithful Bible studies, volunteering at the hospital every week, and, not to mention, starting a women’s shelter and recovery house.
I can say with all confidence that our church supports women in leadership. I go to Marylin Hickey’s church and her daughter Sara is just as much of a preacher/teacher as she is.
They’ve allowed me and many other women also step into places of leadership.
i love this site.its awesome. i’m a woman in leadership. leadership comes just as naturally as breathing to me. was the director for a ministry, the walter hoving home, for several years and it filled my heart like nothing else.could i be in a position of leadership over a man, per say? uh, without a doubt…but i’d rather not. just my own thoughts.
Carlos, let me just say you bless me with your kind words of affirmation. It was interesting to see this post, as I was at the PD conference and wondered where were the women on the platform? There were NONE! Not even Kay Warren. I did not have good feelings about it, let me just say it that way. Had I known you were in the backroom blogging I would have snuck back there to say Hello!
If I was going to mention women in leadership of God’s Kingdom I would throw back to Henrietta Mears, and then credit Nancy Beach for setting the course for women as teaching pastors in our day and time in mainline denominations.
ummm never mind!!!!!!
The Bible calls us all to be servants first – the first will be last and the last will be first. In my experience it is the women of the church who hold it together, who uphold it in prayer, and who are the word made flesh to the next generation – even as they serve in quiet submission to the leadership over them. And God honors it. There are so many women leaders I have had the honor of knowing, and their names would mean nothing to anyone here, but their names are known where it counts. And those who are wise seek out their giftedness and wise counsel. It is often a greater challenge for women to learn to serve in submission than in leadership (as they are quite capable of leading and leading well.) May they be blessed for their faithfulness despite their lack of recognition, or maybe because of it.
Ah, the long tail, and I’m late to the party.
Jill Briscoe. Wife of Stuart and mother of Pete. Fantastic evangelist, teacher and preacher, coach, discipler and just as much of a leader as Stuart. Now actively involved in mentoring college students and training church leaders in developing nations around the world.
I suspect more women leaders (outside womens and childrens) might be found in church plants. ? I am Administrator/Worship Arts Director/Children’s Director (people in church plants get that). In this capacity I have also taught. Primarily, my lead pastor relies upon me for vision and strategy in developinig teams and equipping the church for ministry and transformation. With all that said…we’re rare. And, …even 52 posts won’t change that.
Loving the slander against Driscoll.
We have great women leaders in our church: future deacons (we don’t have a diaconate yet [new church plant]), in fact! Those who don’t have childen yet are going to be great moms, and incredible leaders within the church. Sherr y is a woman in our church who is an upcoming small group leader, and her family is phenomenal. My lovely lady has already learned so much from her about raising a family and devoting your life to Jesus! That being said, in keeping with Scripture (not just the NT, but the narrative of all of Scripture), we do not allow women to be elders of the church…though there are great leaders within the church.
Recently, I’ve been contemplating what helps me gain a voice in church leadership. Why some one church leaders always listened to me, why I was having trouble being listened to by new leaders. Two things came out.
1. Respect.
2. Communication. When I talk out of both sides of my brain at a time, to some men, that sounds like double talk. A good friend suggested reading Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus in the Workplace.
The respect issue has to do with walking with someone long enough to know that God speaks through them. That is how women gain respect. It really isn’t granted to us the same way it is granted to men – but that is okay with me, because it means I have to make sure I am hearing from God before I speak. It keeps me at His feet and away from being ‘me’ centered.
I've met so many GREAT women leaders over the past 10 months, from women's ministry leaders to Spiritual Formation Pastors to Sr. Pastor and everything inbetween. One of my favorite groups to discover has been women Executive Pastors who are second in command at their churches, leading church staff and carrying out the vision of their Sr. Pastor. Women like Missy Hannon and Jenni Catron, who are incredibly talented and lead without fear. I have a list of 45 of women Executive Pastors that I pray for every day. We'll be gathering together in February at Leadership Network for connection, networking and some awesome brainstorming. These women have shown me there's no limit on leadership when you surrender your time, talent and treasure completely over to Christ. Wondering who some of these women are? Check out some stories on http://www.sherrysurratt.com