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A strong Women’s Ministries program always has a healthy relationship with the church’s pastor. This article is full of practical ways to strengthen this relationship. Though written to pastors, any leader in Women’s Ministries will benefit from knowing this valuable insight.

The Pastor and Women’s Ministries

By Dary Northrup

I grew up in a church where the term Women’s Ministries was a familiar phrase and was usually associated with church dinners, banquets, or anything involving food. Ministry to women today, however, has expanded its focus far beyond church dinners.

The women’s movement in our nation has greatly diversified attitudes in the church. Some pastors — men and women — feel threatened by the rising influence of women in key church leadership roles.

Insecurities stem from some pastors’ lack of leadership and effort to develop God’s vision through women in the local congregation. In a day when women are presidents of corporations, chief executive officers, attorneys, doctors, etc., in the church we have often underestimated the leadership roles women can assume with divine anointing and inspiration.

Here are five keys to enhance ministry to women in the local church:

1. A strong support system. Meet once a month with your women’s coordinator to allow opportunity to express support of ministry to women, and to find ways to help promote its vital function in the church. The coordinator should also have regular meetings with other Women’s Ministries officers to support and encourage them. This support system is vital for sustained effectiveness.

2. Vision casting. A pastor who does not discuss the church’s vision with the women’s coordinator is neglecting a tremendous resource. A wise pastor shares the hopes, dreams, and vision of the church with the women’s officers and seeks to involve the women in fulfilling these plans. This is amazingly effective in diffusing potential problem areas. Women’s leaders will cast their vision with yours and share it with their group.

3. Advance planning. During monthly meetings compare calendars to be sure you share an understanding of upcoming events, thus coordinating through the master church calendar.

4. Honest evaluations. The pastor/women’s leader relationship should be open so those involved can honestly, sensitively share feelings about the effectiveness and appropriateness of current and scheduled activities. Discuss questions such as the following: “Is this activity meeting a need?” “Who is it benefiting?” “Is the activity part of our vision statement as a church?” “Who are we trying to reach?” Goals for ministry to women should reflect the local church’s thrust and can only be accomplished with honest evaluations of all activities and ministries.

5. Leadership development. Consider implementing a training system in the church where the women’s coordinator serves a 2-year term and the assistant coordinator trains to replace her at the end of the term. Thus the new coordinator is developing leadership qualities before she actually assumes the role. It also allows time to deal with potential attitude problems if she is not in harmony with the vision of the church. The person in such an important position of influence must have your support and confidence. Hence the pastor must give time, energy, and effort to maintaining understanding and communication.

Women’s Ministries is important in the church for several reasons:

Utilizes gifts and talents of women to the fullest extent.
Provides an opportunity to disciple women in leadership roles.
Provides a positive church and community impact.
Ministers effectively to women.
Honors biblical truth.

When the women of your church are dreaming, thinking, and planning, listen to them, learn from them, and you may discover they will bring energy, life, and excitement to the vision of the local church.