Women's ministry

Mission

Women’s Ministry centers on meeting the needs of women in the Christian Church. The word 'ministry' comes from the Greek word 'diakoneo' meaning "to serve." Women’s Ministry exists to serve women and to teach them how to serve to others. It is action based and focuses on living a Christian life based on the Bible.

The commonality of having a women’s minister in Christian churches has increased over the past few decades. A women’s minister is often a volunteer from the congregation or a church staff member, responsible for coordinating and leading events specifically for women. Some of their tasks might include hosting Bible studies, retreats, service projects or gathering events. Their primary goal is to assemble the women of the church to spend time together developing their knowledge of God.

History

Women in ministry date back to Biblical times where women, such as Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Mary, and Martha, had an influence on the development of the early church. A prominent scripture which Christians use as a Biblical precedent as to the purpose of women's ministry is Titus 2:3-5. Women’s ministry took root in that aspect of scripture and has grown to affect women all over the world.

One of the first women’s groups was the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). WMU was founded in 1888 as an ancillary branch to the Southern Baptist Convention. The primary purpose of the organization is to educate and inspire women in Christian mission work and to connect women with outreach opportunities.

In more recent times, the need for a more prominent authority from women in the Christian church has emerged due to the increasing number of women attending church. Research done in 2000 by The Barna Group Barna Group shows that women are the driving force in church attendance, as 9 out of 10 women in the United States classify themselves as Christian. The research proves that 69% of women are looking for connection, a connection in the Bible, small group meetings, and time with mentors.

Protestants were among the first to start such formal organizations in the mid-20th century. The Assemblies of God began Women’s Missionary Council in 1925. Southern Baptists added women’s ministry in the 1970s, which developed into Women’s Enrichment Ministry in 1993. It is now referred to as LifeWay Women. Similarly, the United Methodist Church started the Evangelical Coalition for United Methodist Women (ECUMW) in 1989. It operates under the name RENEW Network and is an evangelical women’s network with the purpose of addressing women’s issues within the United Methodist Church. Those serve as examples from the many women’s ministries available.

Key movements

The growth of Women’s Ministry is the result of a growing number of resources available to leaders. Influxes of books, websites, and educational opportunities have been developed to cultivate women’s ministry. One such establishment, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was opened in 1917 and has since become a prevalent source for women’s ministry training, as they offer specialty degree programs in women’s ministry. Similarly, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, founded in 1908, offers women's programs to educate and inspire. Another source that serves as an interactive website for women in ministry is WomensMinistry.net. The site provides a vast array of resources such as event ideas, leadership tips, and Bible studies. The resources are coupled with a forum for prominent leaders to act as guides and answer questions for other women’s ministers.

Notable leaders

Jennifer Rothschild, founder Jennfier Rothschild Ministries & womensministry.net
Beth Moore, Founder of Living Proof Ministries
Jill Briscoe, Co-founder of Telling the Truth
Dr. Rhonda Kelley, Professor of Women’s Ministry
Chris Adams, Women's Ministry Specialist
Arlene Allen, National Director of Women's Ministry Unlimited
Dee C. Marshall, Founder of Girlfriends Pray Ministries