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Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why It's Essential for the Future of the Church
CHANGE REQUIRES US TO LISTEN TO VOICES OUTSIDE OF OUR NORM.
Our church is grappling with a crisis marked by declining attendance, political polarization, and culture wars. Amidst this crisis is the persistent exclusion of women. How can we truly embody Jesus’ vision for the church when we silence and sideline over half the congregation? Even when women are permitted to lead, they are frequently overlooked and left out of decision-making. The result? A depleted church with women leaving in droves.
Why have we limited women’s contributions? Consider what transformation might be possible if we choose to learn from and listen to women gifted to lead. It’s past time we elevated the voices of those closest to the issues and best equipped to provide meaningful solutions.
Need to Know draws on the perspectives of twenty-one authors—a diverse company of predominantly female voices who impart personal experience, theological analysis, and historical study. They challenge the prevailing structures, examine the benefits of empowering leadership, and envision a future where women and men lead together. This book is an essential resource for every church leader to create a more equitable and thriving church.
Our church is grappling with a crisis marked by declining attendance, political polarization, and culture wars. Amidst this crisis is the persistent exclusion of women. How can we truly embody Jesus’ vision for the church when we silence and sideline over half the congregation? Even when women are permitted to lead, they are frequently overlooked and left out of decision-making. The result? A depleted church with women leaving in droves.
Why have we limited women’s contributions? Consider what transformation might be possible if we choose to learn from and listen to women gifted to lead. It’s past time we elevated the voices of those closest to the issues and best equipped to provide meaningful solutions.
Need to Know draws on the perspectives of twenty-one authors—a diverse company of predominantly female voices who impart personal experience, theological analysis, and historical study. They challenge the prevailing structures, examine the benefits of empowering leadership, and envision a future where women and men lead together. This book is an essential resource for every church leader to create a more equitable and thriving church.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2024
13 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 8, 2024
In this powerful collection, contributors shed light on the gender-related challenges within religious leadership. The book is filled with questions and reflections that encourage readers to explore their own beliefs and understand the experiences of women in church settings. Each chapter challenges readers to think critically about how historical and cultural narratives impact today's faith communities. This is an essential read for anyone passionate about building an inclusive church that values all voices. Ideal for group discussions or personal reflection, the book invites readers to engage in meaningful conversations about equality and justice in faith communities.
October 11, 2024
Need to Know is a much needed book in today's church. Men and women have been created in God's image and gifted by God to advance His kingdom. But for too long, the gifts and contributions of women have been disregarded and downplayed, and as a result, many women have been sidelined as they try to live out their calling from God.
This book shares the perspectives of many brilliant leaders, both female and male, and inspires the Church to look more like what God intended--diverse in thought, background, gender, and ethnicity, yet wholly unified in purpose. The authors of this book define and identify the issues of misogyny, racism, patriarchy, and inequity; they share their personal experiences of abuse at the hands of leaders in the Church; they paint a hopeful and biblically based picture of what God intended the Church to be; and they offer solutions for how the Church can move forward in a healthier way--that both honors God's original design and treats all human beings with dignity and value.
There is a ton of wisdom in this book. And I appreciated that each chapter had a unique voice and perspective. Standout sections for me include Dr. Okuwobi's explanation of Othering and how it hurts disenfranchised groups, Aaron White's chapter on What do we do with Paul? and the danger of misinterpreting scripture through our modern lens and bias, Lori Anne Thompson's heartbreaking story on surviving abuse and trauma at the hands of her trusted leaders and church, and Carolyn Whatley's chapter on functioning versus functionalism--a very convicting chapter for someone who works in ministry.
I highlighted much of the book, but a few of my favorite highlights include:
Dr. Sistrunk Robinson: "As leaders in the church and the world, we have accepted the human revolt as the status quo and have adapted our theology on the ways humans should function around the fall, instead of focusing on God’s original intent."
Dr. Haddad: “When history and theology are distorted to privilege a class of people, it not only fosters bias and power imbalances, but it also furthers a trajectory of marginalization and abuse.”
Carolyn Whatley: “When we become driven by measurable ‘success’ at the expense of spiritual and emotional health, we have fallen into functionalism and miss the transformative power of the gospel that we are called to.”
I recommend this book for anyone who is committed to mutual flourishing, diversity, and equity in the church so that, together, we can reflect the fullness of the Imago Dei.
I read an advanced reader copy.
This book shares the perspectives of many brilliant leaders, both female and male, and inspires the Church to look more like what God intended--diverse in thought, background, gender, and ethnicity, yet wholly unified in purpose. The authors of this book define and identify the issues of misogyny, racism, patriarchy, and inequity; they share their personal experiences of abuse at the hands of leaders in the Church; they paint a hopeful and biblically based picture of what God intended the Church to be; and they offer solutions for how the Church can move forward in a healthier way--that both honors God's original design and treats all human beings with dignity and value.
There is a ton of wisdom in this book. And I appreciated that each chapter had a unique voice and perspective. Standout sections for me include Dr. Okuwobi's explanation of Othering and how it hurts disenfranchised groups, Aaron White's chapter on What do we do with Paul? and the danger of misinterpreting scripture through our modern lens and bias, Lori Anne Thompson's heartbreaking story on surviving abuse and trauma at the hands of her trusted leaders and church, and Carolyn Whatley's chapter on functioning versus functionalism--a very convicting chapter for someone who works in ministry.
I highlighted much of the book, but a few of my favorite highlights include:
Dr. Sistrunk Robinson: "As leaders in the church and the world, we have accepted the human revolt as the status quo and have adapted our theology on the ways humans should function around the fall, instead of focusing on God’s original intent."
Dr. Haddad: “When history and theology are distorted to privilege a class of people, it not only fosters bias and power imbalances, but it also furthers a trajectory of marginalization and abuse.”
Carolyn Whatley: “When we become driven by measurable ‘success’ at the expense of spiritual and emotional health, we have fallen into functionalism and miss the transformative power of the gospel that we are called to.”
I recommend this book for anyone who is committed to mutual flourishing, diversity, and equity in the church so that, together, we can reflect the fullness of the Imago Dei.
I read an advanced reader copy.
October 11, 2024
I wish I could put this book in the hands of every leader in the church, especially every male leader. This book is not only a rich Biblical and theological deep dive that makes an incredible case for equitable cross-gender partnership, but gives the gritty, real stories we need to hear from women about their experiences of patriarchal leadership that we need to hear.
I am so grateful to all the authors of this book for their honesty, courage, and wisdom in writing every chapter. It makes my heart ache with longing again for what could be - what the church could be if we truly empowered women to lead in the gifts they have and in who they were created to be. The world is exploding in chaos and more than ever we need to elevate the leadership and voices of women who are natural peacemakers. Please read this book and pass it along!
I am so grateful to all the authors of this book for their honesty, courage, and wisdom in writing every chapter. It makes my heart ache with longing again for what could be - what the church could be if we truly empowered women to lead in the gifts they have and in who they were created to be. The world is exploding in chaos and more than ever we need to elevate the leadership and voices of women who are natural peacemakers. Please read this book and pass it along!
October 24, 2024
Such a wealth of teaching and experience within this book. It is a compilation of 21 different writers, mostly women, from a diverse set of backgrounds, speaking to a vast breadth of issues that Church leaders especially need to know about women in the Church. The basic through line is that women are central to God’s idea for humanity and for the Church, and yet have been mostly sidelined by the Church over its history. We cannot understand humanity or God without the contribution of women, and this book gives a series of potent, well-supported broadsides towards the end of full empowerment of female leadership. A must-read for the Church.
October 22, 2024
If you are interested in the church, or in church leadership, there are important things to know about the experiences of women in the pews and in leadership, and about how careful and faithful biblical scholars interpret particular Bible passages. This book provides a wealth of information from multiple scholars and leaders, to equip and inform. And, if you are someone who knows *all too well* this book is like the knowing glance of someone who understands you, giving language to the things you’ve experienced. Highly recommend!
October 18, 2024
I appreciated the vast number, and differences of contributors to this book. There are women, BIPOC, and men who all have lots of experience, as well as knowledge of the Bible. The writings are a mix of American, and Canadian, all calling for change and offering important theological information. There's also a denominational mix, so you get even more perspectives. Simply put, it's a valuable resource for any evangelical Christian to have.
April 30, 2025
This was such an encouraging book and reminded me that God has plans for me as a woman and that I do not need to be afraid as He will look after me. This book challenges that status quo in Church in a healthy way, showing that Jesus loves, empowers, and uses all people, and that all are made in the image of God.
October 19, 2024
To say it simply... this book will challenge you! Especially if you are a man in today's church (I am one). This book lets you hear from voices that are often silenced in our churches today. It might be too much to call you 'brave' for reading this.. but maybe not. We should not fear to hear from voices different than our own. And, when these voices are those of our sisters in the Faith, it is essential. We weaken and harm the Church when we don't. So, pick up this book and read it. Let it challenge you, provoke your thinking, and maybe.. just maybe, change you.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews