Quitting Church: The MAJORITY Minority, Where are the Women Leaders and Teachers?

Not Wanted:  Qualified Women Leaders 

I grew up in a church that did not allow women to be in leadership or teach except if it was to other women. I have personally witnessed someone who was allowed to preach and this person could barely read or write so I'm sure he wasn't studying the text and coming up with a lesson. 

Yet a woman who had studied theology or actually studied the scriptures would never be allowed to preach or teach.women weren't even allowed to lead worship or pray in public!

I have vowed to never attend another church that held these types of views. One of the reasons I really liked Shiloh church in Oakland was that they were founded by a Canadian woman named Violet Kiteley She was a pioneer for women preachers and just hearing her story was so inspiring. She died in 2015 and as I watched her services I was amazed by the tremendous impact she had on so many people.

Most women these days aren't going to plant churches and as author Carolyn Custis James, author of the 2002 book When life and beliefs collide said in the book Quitting church that women have long since taken their talents outside the church. (140)

James encourages women to get masters degrees in theology but what are you going to do with that because in most cases the only way women get a chance to lead in church is if they're married to the preacher. As I always like to say, marrying the preacher doesn't automatically give you the gift of teaching and speaking. If a teacher marries the preacher then that's different but you don't automatically become a leader because you marry the preacher.

Take your show on the Road  unless you're married to the preacher

James encourages women to get masters degrees in theology but the question becomes: What are you going to do with that degree in theology? In most cases the only way women get a chance to lead in church is if they're married to the preacher. As I always like to say, marrying the preacher doesn't automatically give you the gift of teaching and speaking. If a woman who is a leader/teacher marries the preacher then that's different but you don't automatically become a leader because you marry the preacher. Since women weren't allowed to be leaders in any form  or preachers When I was growing up the only real position for women was to be the preacher's wife.

This is not a unique experience. From Custis James

“Generally I am hearing women don't feel there is a place for them at the church. Women CEO’s are told to take a turn in the nursery. I talked with a lawyer for whom the only job they had for her at the church was the receptionist: I know one woman who approached church elders to form a support group for women in crisis, but they turned her down. They said, “Women will gossip.” Women are sent to either help at Sunday school, with mercy ministries or the women's ministry. That's like telling men they can just be handymen, ushers, or help with the boys club.”

Since Carolyn Custis James is a published author, she is on the road giving talks and writing books and not contributing much to the local church.

It seems that I am not alone in thinking my act needs to be taken on the road and not in church.

Where are the Women Teachers and Leaders?

When I was growing up the argument was always not usurping the authority of men. Herein lies a major issue with this type of thinking: The only qualification many of these men to be leaders or have authority is that they were born with a twig and berries. They aren't alpha males, they aren't leaders, and they are highly insecure. 

That is the reason they have trouble getting people to respect them, let alone follow them. If iron sharpens iron then they should welcome strong women to the team to help make it better and to hold each other accountable. It's not happening in most places unless of course it's the husband and wife pastor team. Other than that women are banished to the nursery and kitchen.

I suppose that's one of the reasons I like Joyce Meyer so much. She was the First Lady preacher I've ever followed and I really like her, Lisa Bevere, and Christine Caine. Aunt Joyce (as I like to call her) is usually one of the only Christian women making the best seller lists. I've been to several of her conferences and while there are mostly women there, she also attracts quite a few men. She is so no nonsense that her message resonates period which is how it should be. She's far more gifted in teaching than 90% of the preachers I heard growing up. I learned more from her about the Bible and applying it to my life in 5 years, than I learned in 20 years of sitting in pews.

What I find fascinating is that black women are the most religious of all and yet don't have a leading black woman preacher.  Juanita Bynum was on the circuit for a while but that mess with her ex husband slowed that down. Pastor Shirley Caesar is one of my favorite gospel singers but she's more known for her music than her preaching.

It's not surprising since many of those men leading black churches are misogynists and don't bother to hide it. I also don't think many of the shady McGrady pastors want women calling out the BS that goes on in church. They'd rather the miserable, hopeless, fatalistic hang on til heaven women in the pews than the strong empowered women prophesying in Jesus name.

All Women are Jezebels but men are not all teenage horndogs

Quitting church also talks about how women are seen as temptresses. I have a huge issue with this because What I would like to know is/ who is holding the men accountable for not being able to keep it in their pants? This Jezebel narrative is tired. Maybe If the men had better self Control and discipline then they would not see all women as temptresses and could conduct themselves as adults instead of teenage horndogs.

What if the men were held accountable and responsible for their actions?

Exit Stage Right.....

Even the author of this book Julia Duin was steered towards ushering, greeting, and child care. She was a busy author and writer so she couldn't commit to these things. Here was this single ambitious woman who was a published author, a journalist with tremendous reach, and with a seminary degree to boot and every time she volunteered to teach or lead anything (even the singles ministry) she was turned down. What happened? She stopped offering her services, concentrated on outside activities such as helping Kurdish refugees, and she eventually left that church. 

She said she didn't feel like she really belonged in a church until years later when she adopted a little girl because finally she was in a role other Christians could accept.