Leading Women Who Wound: Strategies for an Effective Ministry

by Sue Edwards, Kelley Mathews

As more churches add women's ministry programs, there is a growing need to address the issues that naturally arise as women minister alongside one another and to one another. Given the fallen nature of the human heart as well as the complexities of personalities, conflict is an inevitable aspect of ministry. How do women deal with emotions when other women are insensitive, manipulative, or just plain mean? What does the Bible tell us? To be equpped for conflict, women must understand and master strategies specifically related to conflict with other women.

Leading Women Who Wound shows women how to effectively deal with conflict within their ministries. Seasoned women's ministry leaders themselves, Sue Edwards and Kelley Mathews walk through several different aspects of conflict resolution including self examination, identification of potential sources of conflict, tools for conflict resolution, and insight on how to prevent and move beyond conflict to minister to those who have been sources of contention. Recognizing that not all conflict results in a happy ending, Leading Women Who Wound gives the tools necessary to minister effectively and move forward with integrity.

Genres: Leadership, Christian Living, Womens, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

I am an assistant professor of Christian education at Dallas Theological Seminary, specializing in Women's Studies. I also love to write as a way to share my love for people and God's Word. I have authored 6 books with two more in the works. Each book is a tool to help women and men sharpen their ministry skills and serve others more effectively."

Reviews

[Breann Burch · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone involved in leading a women’s ministry this book is a must read. It gives you all the biblical tools to better yourself, lead effectively, to be wise in decision making, and gets to the core of why we must confront conflict. While this is a Christian book, I thought it was great that they also used secular examples and how that bleeds into the “Christian world”. I will sing this books praises to everyone. Whether you’re in ministry or not it’s an amazing read.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone in leadership (or not). It offers biblical wisdom in dealing with conflict and gave me the tools to better my own understanding of conflicts, as well as provide a conflict resolution framework for the members of a group that I am part of. I was even convicted of some of my own shortcomings while reading through this.

[Annie Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful and promoted a lot of self reflection. Would for sure recommend this to anyone working / serving in ministry!

[Brianna Tomberlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t find this book to be completely applicable to me as I haven’t really faced any conflict in ministry but it was still super helpful for conflict outside of ministry as well as preparation for potential future ministry conflict. I also thought the author was honest and straightforward about the difference between male and female conflict without putting women down.

[Carissa Zwerg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though written for women in ministry, this book provides good insight and information about how to deal with women in conflict for any stage of life

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book dealing with how to handle conflict in a Godly manner. Conflict is inevitable in this life and I want to be prepared to handle it in the most positive, effective way I can, learning from the experience regardless of the outcome. Invaluable book.

[Ryan Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I would’ve read this book if it weren’t required for one of my classes, but it turned out to be the book I didn’t know I needed to read. Sue and Kelley have captured well the nuances of dealing with conflict and pursuing reconciliation amongst ladies of the church. They explain in depth what makes conflict between women a different animal to tame compared to resolving conflict between men.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for women who lead women.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to equip women to bravely handling conflict in a loving, godly way.

[Bethany Fader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I would have read this book years ago!

[Miss Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a book on conflict management as powerful as this one. First impression was feeling abit jaded about all the ugliness and attacks others with different opinions or personal agendas can set out to undo your ministry at all costs while being on a self-righteous, holy but ungracious crusade, but Dr Sue's advice was for us to be ready and be prepared that these things can happen, and while being mentally prepared so we aren't taken by surprise, we also respond by loving the dragons wisely, and bravely confront the situations as Jesus instructs us according to Matthew 18. It is a treasure to read.

[Brittany Ketter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman who is working in the ministry needs to read this. Whether it is vocational or volunteer, this book is an excellent read and gives insight in managing conflicts that rise among women in the church.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

good content at an opportune time. I especially appreciated the analysis of secular studies on men's and women's conflicts in chapter 2.

[Annie Slagboom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!