Women's ministry
Encyclopedia
Women's ministry has multiple meanings. For the purpose of this article, "women's ministry" refers to meeting the needs of women in the Christian church.
Mission
Women’s Ministry centers on meeting the spiritual needs of Christian women and helping them to grow in their faith in Jesus ChristJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. The word ministry comes from the Greek word 'diakoneo' literally meaning “to serve.” Women’s Ministry exists to serve women and to teach women how to minister to others. It is action based and focuses on living a Godly life with guidance from the Bible.
The commonality of having a women’s minister in Christian churches
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
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 share time growing in their spiritual knowledge and love of God.
History
Women’s ministry dates back to Biblical times where women, such as Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Mary, and Martha, had an influence on the development of the early churchEarly Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
. 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 feed women spiritually 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
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. The primary purpose of the organization is to educate and inspire women in the mission of God 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 Research 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 a deep spiritual connection, a connection they look to find in the Bible, small group meetings, and time with mentors. This level of involvement demands organization; women’s ministry groups provide that outlet.
The response to the demand for women’s ministry groups can be seen in many Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
s. 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 for women to support and encourage each others’ prayer life. Southern Baptists added women’s ministry in the 1970s, which developed into Women’s Enrichment Ministry in 1993. It is presently 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
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. 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 SeminaryNew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, located in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first institution created as a direct act of the Southern Baptist Convention. Missions...
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
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
, founded in 1908, offers women's programs to educate and inspire. Another source that serves as an interactive website for women’s ministers 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.netBeth 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