Why Are There So Few Solo Women Church Planters?

Hey there, Nadia. You missed the other solo female church planter you graduated with who's still in the Denver area: Anne Dunlap at Liberation Community (www.liberationcommunity.org)

I wouldn't want a church plant to be planted by a solo woman or man. I think the team approach is the best! Can women serve on a church planting team? Absolutely! The Body is filled with diversity and we need that kind of diversity on our church planting teams. So, I wouldn't advocate for a solo woman church planter, ever!

My mom planted a church by herself. (She was even pregnant with my brother at the time). For a while it went really well! However, pro-sexist ideologies still exist--even in denominations that support the ordination of women. Long story short, they gave the church which she started to a man, hoping he could pull the attendance up when the numbers began to fluctuate. He promptly ran it into the ground, and the church no longer exists.

Thank you for asking the question. So glad you're blogging with Sojourners' God's Politics. For women who are interested in connecting with other women in ministry, I recommend WATER: Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual and The Sister Fund.

Hi Nadia! Ran across this blog and even though it's a year old, I want to thank you for writing it! We solo church planting women are still out here but we are very far and few between. It is absolutely pioneering work for sure. And it's sad how resistant God's church is to God's upcoming revolution of having as many women planting and leading churches as there are men. It's exciting though because our generation is about to see it happen in miraculous ways! I know I am and will be a small piece in it. Keep praying family of Christ, God's will WILL be done because it's not about us, nor male or female but it is all about CHRIST and how He can use both genders. faith 101 sheesh! :-) Love, Lin W. / Church Planter / Founding Senior Pastor www.churchatmovies.com www.thatwomanpastor.com

I wouldn't want a church plant to be planted by a solo woman or man. I think the team approach is the best! Can women serve on a church planting team? Absolutely! The Body is filled with diversity and we need that kind of diversity on our church planting teams. So, I wouldn't advocate for a solo woman church planter, ever!

In my synod (Northeast Ohio), there are two church planters; one white male, one black female. I think it's hard to be a church planter and have a family (at least for women). It takes a lot of self-confidence, too (which I don't think is encouraged as much in women). On the other hand, when I was a teenager, I couldn't imagine being a pastor (since I'd never seen a female pastors) and now I am one!

That most Christian men are just not about to follow a woman? That seems like a biggie to me. Not a characteristic of the planter, but an important stumbling block for many "plantees."

A lot of it has to do with sexism, unfortunately. And I think differences in how the sexes often are taught to view the church. I know a lot of women who try very hard to support the existing structures (as many of us have been socialized as 'supporters' rather than allowed to be 'independent') and put our energy into that avenue for outreach.