Women’s ministry is effective in the church, but there’s room for improvement. Pastors need to be asking these 12 questions.
By Marissa Postell Sullivan
In the State of Ministry to Women report from Lifeway Research, women’s ministry leaders and women churchgoers indicate ministry to women is effective in their churches. But there is room for improvement.
Here are 12 questions pastors need to ask as they evaluate their church’s ministry to women.
1. Do we have an organized ministry to women?
Around 2 in 3 churchgoing women (63%), say their congregation has an organized women’s ministry. Another 21% say their church has activities specifically for women but nothing formal. Few say their church doesn’t have any activities for women (8%) or they aren’t aware of any (7%). Which category does your church fall under? Do women in your congregation have opportunities to participate in an organized women’s ministry?
2. Do we need an organized ministry to women?
Whether your church doesn’t currently have an organized ministry to women or you’re just not sure what you’re doing is worth it, it’s helpful to consider the value a women’s ministry brings to your whole church. Most women whose church has activities for women say because of this ministry they have stronger relationships with women in the church (68%), opportunities to be refreshed and restored spiritually and emotionally (65%), a place for women to ask questions and openly discuss faith topics (58%), stronger relationships across age groups (56%), and a safe place to be transparent about needs and hurts (56%). These are vital components of discipleship that most women would not be getting outside of a women’s ministry setting. For the sake of the women in our pews and the whole church, our churches need organized ministry to women.
Most women whose church has activities for women say because of this they have stronger relationships with women in the church (68%), opportunities to be refreshed and restored spiritually and emotionally (65%), and more. Share on X3. How can we show more value to women?
According to the State of Ministry to Women, 96% of women churchgoers agree their church values women, with 80% strongly agreeing. Women’s ministry leaders are slightly less likely to agree their church values their women’s ministry, with 93% agreeing and only 60% strongly agreeing.
“While women are positive about their churches, 1 in 5 indicate there is room for improvement in how well their church values them,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.
Talk to women in your church and your women’s ministry leader (if you have one). Ask them if they feel they and their ministry are valued in your church. Ask them what would make them feel more valued. Then act on what you can to help them feel more valued.
4. How can we invest more in women?
Compared to those who say their church values women, fewer women churchgoers believe their church invests in and equips women. Lifeway Research found 9 in 10 (90%) women agree their church invests in and equips women, with 63% strongly agreeing.
“Even more women indicate their church could improve in proactively investing in women, with 37% withholding the highest rating for how well their church equips women,” McConnell said.
As you consider ways you can invest in women in your congregation, be sure to have conversations with the women you are trying to reach to get a better understanding of the kind of investment they are hoping for from the church.
5. Are we supporting women’s ministry?
Most women’s ministry leaders agree their pastor regularly supports their ministry (94%). But with only 3 in 4 women strongly agreeing, there is room for improvement. And just because you think you’re supporting your women’s ministry leader doesn’t necessarily mean she feels supported. As J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church, and Lesley Hildreth, women’s discipleship director at The Summit Church, point out: Women often express “a desire to have more support from their pastor or church leadership. This is nearly always a surprise to the pastor, who assumes he is supporting her. But pastors tend to think of support in terms of permission (‘You’ve got authority to execute this ministry’), while most women in ministry think of support in terms of partnership (‘We’re laboring toward a shared vision, together’).”
Does your women’s ministry leader feel your support? What steps do you need to take to ensure you are supporting her in her ministry calling?
“While women are positive about their churches, 1 in 5 indicate there is room for improvement in how well their church values them.” — @smcconn Share on X6. Can we pay our women’s ministry leader?
Only 1 in 6 women’s ministry leaders is in a paid position, with 8% in a paid full-time position and 9% in a paid part-time position. The vast majority of women’s ministry leaders are in volunteer or unpaid staff positions (83%). For some churches, this reality makes sense, but for others, the scope of ministry is much larger than the compensation. Have you considered the possibility of having a woman on your staff who is paid to minister to women—either part-time or full-time? If you evaluate this option and find you are not able to pay a women’s minister in your church, find ways to financially bless your volunteer leaders who are faithfully ministering to women in your church each week.
7. Do we have a vision and direction for ministry to women?
Two in 5 women’s ministry leaders express their own need for development in vision and direction. Women’s ministry leaders are struggling to see how their ministry connects with the ministry of the whole church. How can you partner with her to show her how her ministry integrates into the life of the church? Your church’s ministry to women should fit under the umbrella of the mission and vision of the church. How can you partner with your women’s ministry leader to ensure this is the case? You’re already planning and implementing vision and strategy for the church, why not include her in those conversations as well?
8. Is our church staff planning alongside women’s ministry leaders?
Related, only 5% of women’s ministry leaders are planning for ministry together with the church staff. If you want your ministries to be pulling in the same direction, you need to be planning alongside one another. What resources can you share with your women’s ministry leader? How can you create more opportunities for her to collaborate with staff and other church leaders?
“Your church’s ministry to women should fit under the umbrella of the mission and vision of the church. How can you partner with your women’s ministry leader to ensure this is the case?” — @marissapostell Share on X9. Are we equipping women for ministry?
More than 1 in 10 women’s ministry leaders say they have not received any training in ministry (13%). Among those who have, most have received training in informal settings—books on women’s ministry (60%), articles on women’s ministry (57%), and women’s ministry leadership conferences (55%). One in 7 women’s ministry leaders have been trained by their pastor or a church staff member (15%) or have gone to seminary (14%). Women are faithfully serving with the little training they have. How can you set your women’s ministry leader up for greater impact by providing her with training resources? This could be in the form of mentorship, books, admission to conferences, access to courses, scholarships for seminary, or other ways. What next step of training does your women’s minister need?
10. Does women’s ministry have the resources they need?
Most women’s ministry leaders say their church provides their ministry with funds from the church budget (71%). Yet 1 in 4 say they do not have funds from the church budget (23%), and 6% aren’t sure. How does your church budget need to change to reflect dollars being given to ministry to women?
11. Which events are most effective?
Women’s ministry leaders host a variety of events covering a range of activities. But they say their highest priorities are discipling women and encouraging their walk with Christ and developing community and fellowship among women.
According to these leaders, offering Bible studies for women is by far one the most effective events for encouraging women on their faith journey with Christ (80%). More than 1 in 5 leaders also say offering times for women to pray together is one of the most effective events for encouraging women in their faith. Other events are aimed at building community. Women’s ministry leaders say food events (59%) and holiday events (36%) are some of the most effective events for developing community among women in their church.
How can you help your ministry leaders identify what makes an event successful? Once you know which events are most effective in your church, how can your church enhance ministry to women by elevating these events?
12. Is your church reaching women of all ages and stages?
Most women’s ministry leaders say their ministry is well-designed to meet the needs of women 56-70 years old (83%), women 41-55 (78%), retired women (68%), women 26-40 (63%), and moms (52%). Churches are less likely to have well-designed ministry to women who are going to school (16%), 18-25 (17%), single moms (30%), single (38%), 71 or older (38%), professionals (40%), don’t have kids (42%), working moms (46%), or stay-at-home moms (47%). Which of these categories of women are represented in your church? How can you help your women’s ministry leaders effectively minister to women of every age and life stage present in your church?
For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
