Female leadership in the Church is necessary for a sustainable future of the Christian tradition.

“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Christ?” —John 4:29

In order to further God's kingdom in today's Church, women need to be encouraged—and willing—to take the lead. Women are in the workforce and getting advanced degrees now more than ever, which allows them to offer a feminine balance to traditionally masculine roles. By following the call to ministry, female religious leaders provide a more diverse, empowering, and welcoming face to the modern Church. With a decline in the Millennial-age churchgoing population, creating a newer, more inclusive image of Christianity may be one remedy to attract the next generation of worshipers. 

Image courtesy Virginia Theological Seminary's Facebook page

Think of it this way: Instead of the usual male voice and perspective heard echoing every Sunday, what if a woman's voice were there to add a balance? Many women churchgoers would feel more comfortable discussing personal issues like infertility, child-rearing, self-esteem, marriage, divorce, and singlehood with a female leader than they would with a male. Having a leader that they can relate to and feel heard by would add a significant amount of trust to any house of worship. To serve as an advocate for women who otherwise don't feel they have a voice is a ministry in and of itself.

If you or a woman you know is considering following a call to minister and to become a part of the new face of the Church, know that women's leadership is truly needed. The above scripture passage came from the story of the Samarian woman at the well, also known as the first evangelist in Samaria. If she can boldly lead then, you can boldly lead now.