Kay Smith & Should a Church Have a “Women’s Ministry”? (2024)
Kay Smith, the wife of pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, passed away last week. While Chuck was well known for his radio ministry, books, and leadership – Kay played a big role in what God did through Calvary Chapel and in the church as a whole in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
For example, it was Kay who had a heart for the hippies and would go and pray for them, broken-hearted over these lost youths filling the beaches and streets of Southern California in the 60’s, and urging Chuck to reach out to them.
Furthermore, Kay’s women’s ministry, Joyful Life, was very large and influential, and played a big role in popularizing “women’s ministry” and a certain type of women’s Bible study that is now considered common in many churches.
This week, Calvary Chapel published an article and a podcast featuring my wife, Rosemary, who is a member of the Women’s Task Team for Calvary Global Network.
You can listen to the podcast here, and I’ve copied the article below:
Should a Church Have a Women's Ministry? – When She Leads
Today, on When She Leads, we are discussing the question: should a church have a women's ministry? Women's ministries come in all shapes and sizes and we'll discuss all the facets and how it can be effective and healthy.Reference article by Rosemary Cady.—-When She Leads is a podcast for women in ministry hosted by Brenda Leavenworth, Jenn Benham, Rosemary Cady, and Kelly Bell.Email us at whensheleadspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram at @whensheleads
There is a growing controversy today with churches assessing whether or not to have a women’s ministry. Is it mandated in scripture, always beneficial, or not necessary at all? These are questions church leaders are asking. A large church in our town dropped their women’s ministry to promote community groups instead. I have friends whose churches only have an occasional women’s ministry event, and we have women who join our church because their old church did not offer a women’s ministry.
Women’s ministry can look different in each church. So first, let’s define it. The word “ministry” means “spiritual service.” Therefore, in a church, a women’s ministry would be where women go for spiritual, emotional, and social needs.
WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY?
The Bible does not mandate that churches have a women’s ministry; scripture never explicitly introduces the idea. And while it does describe principles for ministry, the Bible stops short of giving us methods to accomplish it. This gives us the freedom to minister in ways that are effective for our time and culture.
It’s true; one cannot reasonably argue that scripture mandates we have a women’s ministry. However, I think we can conclude that women ought to be engaged in ministering to other women. Titus chapter 2 tells older women to “train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God” (Titus 2:4-5 NIV). Paul charged Titus to equip the older women in his church so that they might be ready to teach the younger women. The list of what to teach younger women regards their character and matters of the home. With this in mind, we look for the best way for women to learn God’s heart for these things by teaching them scripture and how to apply it to their lives. Furthermore,Ephesians 4:11-13says that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the church “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature” (NIV). One integral way to bring about this maturity of faith is to teach women the Bible (cf.Romans 10:17).
There is no one model for how to minister to women, but many possibilities. It is imperative that a church show they care for women, which can occur in a variety of ways, but the key is spiritual health. From thriving Bible studies with hundreds of people to small prayer groups and everything in between, the women will grow in their faith if they are taught the Bible well.
BENEFITS
Women express that they are encouraged in their faith from the fellowship they experience in a women’s ministry, finding the strength to go on in life despite the trials, realizing they do not walk this journey alone.
Other benefits include:
· A safe space to share struggles and prayer requests, uniquely as a woman.
· Develop meaningful friendships.
· Accountability.
• Spiritual growth.
• Other relationships in their lives are blessed by their maturing.
· Opportunities to serve and use spiritual gifts.
Women have shared private matters and gained wisdom from others in women’s groups that they never would’ve with men present.
DIFFICULTIES
A basic difficulty is simply that some women feel anxious gathering with groups of women. Even seeing the words “women’s fellowship” strikes fear in their hearts! A simple group introduction or invitation to pray out loud can send someone out the door, never to return. These are women I’ve met at my church. One woman at our church in Hungary was skeptical about coming, saying, “What, are you going to teach me how to wear a dress?” Ministry leaders can help such women if they realize that they come through the doors with fears, anxieties, and horrible past experiences. Women with similar proclivities will come to your meetings, wondering whether they can trust those around them this time.
Another difficulty arises when a women’s ministry becomes a church within a church. Suppose women can attend women’s ministry activities without ever attending church services. In that case, it could be a red flag to the ministry leader that the ministry has created a church of their own. Such an ascription of authority to the women leaders may usurp authority from the pastors of the church.
Those leading must be motivated by love, having a heart for women, and displaying a good character, not self-serving or self-promoting. Skills can be taught; a heart to serve has to develop from within. It has been said that “everything rises or falls on great leadership,” so having the right women in place is essential.
PUSH-BACK
What if a Lead Pastor is not interested in having a Women’s Ministry? Prayer would be the best place to start in this situation, and possibly a meeting with the pastor to hear his heart on the matter and share yours. The Women’s Ministry must follow the Lead Pastor’s vision for the church and help serve the needs of the women within it.
What if the women’s ministry leaders are gossips, slanderers, spiritually immature, or are running a ministry where power and position are more valuable than understanding and obeying scripture? Sometimes, a pastor’s best course is to shut down an unhealthy ministry and re-launch it with a healthy vision and leaders to match. To establish a healthy ministry, leaders must be mature in doctrine, character, service to the women, and submission to their pastors and elders.
IN CONCLUSION
Although scripture doesn’t mandate Women’s ministry, it is beneficial if teaching the Bible is foundational and is done with mature leadership and healthy guidelines. The benefits reaped are creating a community where spiritual growth flourishes, training takes place, spiritual gifts receive room for use, and the community provides support and encouragement in a loving environment with hearts oriented towards God.
Look for the next steps in our post on how to start a Women’s Ministry!
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Our most recent episode of“When She Leads,”a podcast for women in ministry, is a companion episode to this article. Listen in as our team discusses whether or not churches must have Women’s Ministries. Each month, we gather around the table to consider the complexities and realities of leading as a woman.
What do you think? If you have a topic in mind, email us at:whensheleadspodcast@gmail.com. You can also stay in touch by following us on Instagram@whensheleads
It allows someone to focus on Bible studies, support groups, and events for women besides the pastor's wife, which many times will fall to her if there is no women's ministry. 3. It gives you someone to talk and pray with about the women in your church, and to share a “big picture” vision for the women.
This is accomplished by building relationships according to the 4 Pillars of Doctrine/Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking Bread, and Prayer, so that they will be fruitful and multiply in every area of their lives.
Reading through Scripture, a few passages stand out that directly speak to the role of women in the church: 1 Corinthians 11:3-12, 14:34-35, 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and Titus 1, 2. These passages are the foundation for the conclusion that women cannot be lead pastors in churches.
"In the same way, women who are servants in the church should be dignified and not gossip. They should be sober and faithful in everything they do." The Good News: Women are faithful to all things in their lives: God, their children, their loved ones, their careers, and so much more.
Women have a biblical role in society from helping within the church to fulfilling the Great Commission. The Bible encourages all Christians — both male and female — to follow the commands of God in telling others about Him.
"True women", according to this idea, were supposed to possess four cardinal virtues: piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness. The idea revolved around the woman being the center of the family; she was considered "the light of the home".
One event each month is plenty. Consider where your women are on the ministry funnel and plan with their needs in mind. Choose simple events that will be successful even if only 2 women come.
There is also an important practical difference between ordaining women and having women in top leadership roles. For example, 71.8% of U.S. congregations surveyed say they allow women to preach or lead services.
This is the sure way of success; then thou shalt make thy ways prosperous and then thou shall have good success. Success of God is a good one unlike that of men. Success in ministry means doing the ministry work in total obedience, compliance to the specification of God.
Effective ministry is built on the supernatural power of the gospel. Our preaching should not become bogged down in personal opinion or theological minutia. Of all the things we must do, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly is our primary task.
1 Timothy 2:12 is the twelfth verse of the second chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy. It is often quoted using the King James Version translation: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
One of these is found in 1 Timothy 2:12: I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. Another text often cited as evidence that women should not be in leadership roles in churches is found in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35: Women should be silent in the churches.
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.
In The Proverbs 31 Homemaker, Jami discusses the six characteristics of a wise woman: her character as a wife, her devotion as a homemaker, her generosity as a neighbor, her influence as a teacher, her effectiveness as a mother, and her excellence as a woman.
A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future, but a woman of strength realizes that life's mistakes can also be God's blessing and capitalizes on them. A strong woman walks surefooted, but a woman of strength knows God will keep her from falling.
Bible Gateway Proverbs 31 :: NIV. do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
These include the 5 Feminine Power Virtues: Presence, Authenticity, Sensuality, Spirituality and Gratitude. Each short chapter will explain the relevance of these virtues in your life and how they can shape a new way of existing in today's world.
ADVERTIsem*nTS: She plays a key role in the preparation and serving of meals, selection and care of clothing, laundering, furnishing and maintenance of the house. As an administrator, she organizes various social functions in the family for social development.
In my opinion, a male pastor should meet only once with a female member to assess the situation (with his spouse in the room or assistant outside his open door). After this first and only meeting, he should connect her with either a female church member for encouragement or with a Christian counselor.
Women's Theme Idea: “Not easily broken” This women's ministry theme encourages attendees to reach outside themselves and to open up and connect with other women in the Body of Christ.
She should be a good hostess, able to prepare a meal at short notice. She must be an early riser—and go-to-bed laterer. She should attend all church functions, always being on time. She should dress well, but not too stylishly.
Many of the nation's largest denominations, including Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons (Latter-day Saints), and the Orthodox Church in America, do not ordain women or allow them to lead congregations. Other religious groups have taken small steps in the direction of female ordination.
“While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” In point of fact, as we have seen, this statement is false.
Welcome to the Women Executive Pastors Group, also known as WXP. We are a group of women who sit on executive teams and function in second chair positions at our churches. Our typical jobs include staff and leadership development, budgeting, hiring and firing, and more.
In this passage, Paul lists five offices that are referred to as the five-fold ministry: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. Many Christian leaders have taken this verse out of context and elevated these five roles above their rightful place.
Including the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirits of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, here are represented the seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God.
Each of the five ministry gifts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher) are common social/cultural topics. The first ministry gift listed, apostle, has significant meaning for the first-century church.
"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." v. 20 This busy and industrious worker also had a heart of compassion for those who were unable to accomplish all that she was doing in providing for her household. Her virtue shows as she shuns sinfulness.
Priscilla. Priscilla is an example of a Godly wife in the Bible: Throughout her marriage to Aquila, the couple was known for their powerful ministry and generosity to those in need. Priscilla in the Bible: "Meanwhile, a certain Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus.
A godly woman does not dress in public in ways ungodly, suggestive, slovenly, or slipshod. Her outer adornment reflects her inner demeanor. She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong (Proverbs 31:17). Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future (Proverbs 31:25).
The seven practices are clarify the win, think steps, narrow the focus, teach less for more, listen to outsiders, replace yourself, and work on it: Practice #1: Clarify the Win: Define what is important at every level of the organization.
The role of a woman's ministry is important to any congregation, especially since women may experience spiritual development differently from men. Regardless of where on the theological spectrum your church is, a women's ministry provides a place for women to grow, learn from, and encourage one another.
Females were highly respected and seen as spiritual equals. The respect for women is highlighted in Galatians 3:28 where it was stated that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.
The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, has moved dramatically to bar women from holding leadership roles in its churches. The organization voted overwhelmingly yesterday to finalize the expulsion of two churches for having female pastors.
The Bible encourages all Christians — both male and female — to follow the commands of God in telling others about Him. Women can use avenues such as serving in church and political appointments to accomplish this charge.
Abbess, Prioress, or other superior of a religious order of women or a province thereof: The Reverend Mother (Full Name), (any religious order's postnominals); Mother (Given Name). The title of women religious superiors varies greatly, and the custom of a specific order should be noted.
In 1st Timothy 2:12, Paul said, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” (c.f. 1 Cor. 14:33-35).
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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