Churches and ministries that want to support women in leadership can do so through mentorship, training and development opportunities, and a genuinely supportive environment. This page looks at what that support can look like, and at a question Christian traditions do not agree on.
Where Christians Differ
Christian traditions hold different views on whether women may serve in ordained pastoral leadership, such as senior pastor or elder. Complementarian traditions (including many Southern Baptist, some Presbyterian, and some other churches) hold that Scripture reserves the office of pastor/elder for men, while affirming women’s leadership in many other ministry roles. Egalitarian traditions (including many Methodist, many Presbyterian (PCUSA), Lutheran (ELCA), and other churches) ordain women to any pastoral office on the same basis as men. This page does not take a side on that question; it addresses ministry leadership roles more broadly.
Historical Context
Women served in various roles in the early church, including as deaconesses. Over the centuries, formal church leadership structures in most traditions were male-led, though this has varied by tradition and era, and many denominations today have expanded formal leadership opportunities for women.
Ways Churches Can Support Women in Ministry
Common ways churches and ministries support women in leadership roles include:
- Mentorship programs pairing women with experienced ministry leaders
- Training and development opportunities to build ministry skills
- A culture where women’s ideas and experiences are heard
- Clear paths for women into the leadership roles a given tradition makes available to them
- Recognition of the contributions women already make in ministry
The Role of Mentorship
Mentorship gives women in ministry access to guidance from experienced leaders, helps build ministry skills, and creates relationships that support long-term growth in leadership.
Summary
Churches and ministries can support women through mentorship, training, and a culture that recognizes their contributions. Christian traditions continue to differ on whether women may hold ordained pastoral office; this page leaves that question to each tradition’s own teaching rather than settling it here.