Role Of Women In Church Today

Six Unique Ways Women Bring Life and Health to the Church

Knowing these truths, what are the unique and varied ways women contribute to the life and health of the church? What are some facets of their “work of ministry” that build up the church toward the goal of Christlikeness?

(Disclaimer: Each of the below points could apply to men as well (except the first), but many women are particularly gifted in these areas.)

1. Childbearing

This fact must be acknowledged—women literally build up the church by adding to it through childbearing! By having children, we grow the church’s population, ushering in tiny earthly lives that we pray will be born again into Christ. A friend once said, “Pregnancy is the ultimate measure of hospitality,” as we lay down our bodies for another human and welcome them into the world.

2. Hospitality

Speaking of hospitality, women are uniquely gifted by God to nurture and create home. We love to include people, welcoming them into our lives and through our doors. This doesn’t mean we’re Martha Stewart; hospitality is more than HGTV perfection. It means we share whatever we’ve been given by God with others, trusting he’ll use our hearts and homes – however flawed – to build up his people and do the work of maturing the church.

3. Compassion

Women have a unique emotional capacity for care, empathy, warmth, and sensitivity. Of course, men demonstrate compassion too, but not in the same contexts as women do – especially as we minister to other women. Through our mercy, gentleness, and desire to serve women’s needs, we build up the church in the knowledge of Christ, who’s all these things for us.

4. Teaching

As God has called men to pastor churches, to preach and teach in a specific context, so he’s called women to the unique role of teaching his Word to other women (Titus 2:3-5). What might this look like within the local church?

• Large group Bible teaching
• Small group teaching
• Writing

These are teaching roles women can fill for the good of their sisters, as we grasp and enter into women’s questions, struggles, and joys. In this way, we also help pastoral staff by pouring into women. We’re teachers, and God uses this work of ministry to build up the body of Christ in faith and knowledge.

5. Relationships

Whether introverts or extroverts, women in the church tend to be relational, naturally gravitating toward people and especially other women. We invite women to church. We disciple other women. We share wisdom in our conversations through submission to God’s Word. Older women are mentors and spiritual mothers to younger women, while younger women seek out older women to speak truth and wisdom into their lives. These relationships lead to Christlikeness.

6. Leadership

Women bring all of the above qualities to bear within leadership roles. They head the children’s ministry; they direct the hospitality team; they lead service groups; and they work as church staff (among many other positions). Because of the way God has wired women, they bring perspective, ideas, and help for the church that men may not necessarily bring. Women add to the church’s life and health as we exercise the gift of leadership in various capacities and contexts.

“The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” is the church’s goal – the life and health of the body. What “work of ministry” is God calling you to right now? How will you build up your local church and pursue its growth in Christlikeness through your unique gifts?