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Leadership for Women in the Church
This book is about how Christian women can identify and focus their leadership skills on tasks that need to be undertaken in the church. It is about how Christian men can recognize and use the leadership talents of the women in the church. Finally, it is about how local churches, those with denominational affiliation and those without, can integrate the full range of women's abilities with the tremendous needs in the kingdom of God.
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 1991
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Susan Hunt
42 books70 followersSusan Hunt is a mother and grandmother, a pastor’s wife, and the former Director of Women’s Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America. Holding a degree in Christian education from Columbia Theological Seminary, she has written a number of books, including several by Crossway.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2022
I read this in one go as I think through what women's ministry should look like in my church. I found Hunt's writing very readable and appreciate her use of examples. I loved the lessons that she drew out from people in the Bible such as Priscilla (who was available, adaptable, anticipatory, and able as she serve alongside her husband in ministering to Apollos), Hannah (who focused on God's glory rather than her own and trusted him in all circumstances), Martha (whose recognition of Jesus as the Messiah transformer her heart for service), and Esther (whose boldness came from her remembrance of God's covenant promise to his people).
I appreciated Hunt's focus on God and his glory throughout the book. That truly is what must motivate us as we live our lives. She also strives to help women see that women are needed in God's church to serve and use their gifts and that women are called to to be helper-leaders to the men that serve God's church as undershepherds.
Finally, I do appreciate that she acknowledges that women serving in ministry can feel forgotten or less-than when compared to other ministries in the church. I love that she encourages men to find ways to hear women's voices and to pray for ways that women's gifts can be faithfully used in the local church.
While much of this book is targeted to women serving in ministry in the local church, there are parts that are addressed to elders, and it would be worthwhile for men to read this book, too.
I appreciated Hunt's focus on God and his glory throughout the book. That truly is what must motivate us as we live our lives. She also strives to help women see that women are needed in God's church to serve and use their gifts and that women are called to to be helper-leaders to the men that serve God's church as undershepherds.
Finally, I do appreciate that she acknowledges that women serving in ministry can feel forgotten or less-than when compared to other ministries in the church. I love that she encourages men to find ways to hear women's voices and to pray for ways that women's gifts can be faithfully used in the local church.
While much of this book is targeted to women serving in ministry in the local church, there are parts that are addressed to elders, and it would be worthwhile for men to read this book, too.
September 22, 2020
This book is written from an overall biblical perspective on the question of women and ministry. While the title might cause one to assume encouraging women reach for leadership roles within the church, the authors take the perspective that women can lead and serve from where they are. Such a perspective is important for all Christians to hear, and it is certainly encouraging for women seeking to use their gifts and talents to the glory of God.
Readers looking for a discussion on gender roles within the church or arguments for and against the ordination of women to ministry will have to look elsewhere. Again, this book is more about encouraging women to serve within various layperson capacities within the local assembly. Indeed, there is a bit of self-confidence building thrusts within the book that I'm not particularly a fan of, but some might find helpful.
Hunt and Hutcheson indeed desire the reader's encouragement. They fill each chapter with plenty of anecdotes and practical solutions. Such an approach will prove helpful for prompting some sanctified imagining of service roles within the church.
Recommended.
Readers looking for a discussion on gender roles within the church or arguments for and against the ordination of women to ministry will have to look elsewhere. Again, this book is more about encouraging women to serve within various layperson capacities within the local assembly. Indeed, there is a bit of self-confidence building thrusts within the book that I'm not particularly a fan of, but some might find helpful.
Hunt and Hutcheson indeed desire the reader's encouragement. They fill each chapter with plenty of anecdotes and practical solutions. Such an approach will prove helpful for prompting some sanctified imagining of service roles within the church.
Recommended.
September 17, 2017
About 4-5 years ago when I started to dive into the study of gender from a Christian perspective and specifically women's role in the church, I just gathered up as many books I could find. This was one of those books and has since been sitting on my shelf. I've found that with the nature of this subject I have to take my study of it in waves. In my most recent wave I picked this book off the shelf and read it through in about and hour and was pleasantly surprised.
This book reads differently than any of the other books I've read on this subject for a few reasons:
Firstly, though the book certainly has a biblical foundation and brings scripture to light on the subject, it is not primarily theological or academic. The authors focus mainly on how their theology/belief about the subject plays out practically in the church today. They look at the implications, for men and women and offers next steps for both.
Also, what I enjoyed is that this was not only a book written from the female perspective, but it didn't fall into the two typical pendulum swings. The first side of the pendulum is; "It's just the way it is, women. Deal with it and try to be happy." The other side of the pendulum is a cry of injustice, but often is just more than a bunch of cynical accusations that seeks to create a villain of man rather than a solution. This book rightly shows the barriers that exists for women but encourage women to not cast their eyes on the barriers but on the God who created them as unique and useful in the body of Christ. It's a much more gracious and Christ-like approach for women to lead and serve in the church.
The authors hits on one of the most significant discrepancies that exists between the ethic of the church and the current culture. In our world, we have married role with value; i.e. that which someone does or accomplishes is equated with their value. In reality, this seems to have a taste of Darwinian roots in that, the fittest are the best, the most accomplished are the most valued, and those who have reached the highest wrung on the latter have reached their fullest self. Because this is the underlying belief in our culture, it is outrageously scandalous for anyone to be told that they fit a certain role or must work in certain parameters. The Bible repeatedly shows a different ethic, in that, the least are the greatest, the best leader is the best servant, and that to die to self is to live. The authors here state, "Our value is not determined by our role nor our assignment in the Kingdom. Our worth is based on the glorious truth that we are image-bearers of the sovereign, triune God of glory" (139).
As a whole I enjoyed the perspective of this book, though I found it to be outdated in a number of other respects. Some of the practical implications no longer work out the same way and lifestyles have changed. I would like to see this book re-written and updated; coming form the same perspective, but to a new generation.
This book reads differently than any of the other books I've read on this subject for a few reasons:
Firstly, though the book certainly has a biblical foundation and brings scripture to light on the subject, it is not primarily theological or academic. The authors focus mainly on how their theology/belief about the subject plays out practically in the church today. They look at the implications, for men and women and offers next steps for both.
Also, what I enjoyed is that this was not only a book written from the female perspective, but it didn't fall into the two typical pendulum swings. The first side of the pendulum is; "It's just the way it is, women. Deal with it and try to be happy." The other side of the pendulum is a cry of injustice, but often is just more than a bunch of cynical accusations that seeks to create a villain of man rather than a solution. This book rightly shows the barriers that exists for women but encourage women to not cast their eyes on the barriers but on the God who created them as unique and useful in the body of Christ. It's a much more gracious and Christ-like approach for women to lead and serve in the church.
The authors hits on one of the most significant discrepancies that exists between the ethic of the church and the current culture. In our world, we have married role with value; i.e. that which someone does or accomplishes is equated with their value. In reality, this seems to have a taste of Darwinian roots in that, the fittest are the best, the most accomplished are the most valued, and those who have reached the highest wrung on the latter have reached their fullest self. Because this is the underlying belief in our culture, it is outrageously scandalous for anyone to be told that they fit a certain role or must work in certain parameters. The Bible repeatedly shows a different ethic, in that, the least are the greatest, the best leader is the best servant, and that to die to self is to live. The authors here state, "Our value is not determined by our role nor our assignment in the Kingdom. Our worth is based on the glorious truth that we are image-bearers of the sovereign, triune God of glory" (139).
As a whole I enjoyed the perspective of this book, though I found it to be outdated in a number of other respects. Some of the practical implications no longer work out the same way and lifestyles have changed. I would like to see this book re-written and updated; coming form the same perspective, but to a new generation.
June 18, 2011
This was a quick, practical book to be applied to any church's women's ministry. It has helped shape my view of women's awesome responsibilities in the church. I love that the authors encourage women in the church to fulfill their God-given callings as helper-leaders.
April 7, 2009
This book very much challenged me to have a deeper understanding of leadership for women. God has opened the door for me to lead the women of our church and our community outreach.
May 26, 2009
excellent in fostering leadership in the church. A bit somber otherwise. i was encouraged by this book
June 17, 2009
This was a quick and relatively easy read-and God used it to improve my attitude in the church when frustrated.
Read
September 21, 2012Why isn't there a line for "I began but am going to put it away for later just now."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews