The Evidence For Women’s Leadership

Posted Jan 5 2010 by Jonathan Brink in Leadership, Social Justice with View Comments

What if the evidence suggest women are actually better at leading than men?

Many of you know I’m a huge proponent of women’s leadership. I’ve led the Call To Men to lead the way in lifting up women. I’ve called out injustice and oppression. My primary reason for lifting up women is based in the idea that humanity can only see the whole image of God in BOTH the man and the woman. Adam was originally both expressions. So in order to see the God image in ourselves (I’m speaking from a man’s perspective) we need women fully integrated into the decision making process, leading the way.

But recently I came across an interesting article that kind of caught my attention in a new way. What if the historical evidence suggests women are just better leaders than men? The Pew Forum study on religion revealed a startling piece of evidence. Women just stay with God better and in more numbers than men. It’s just a fact. And as the study suggests, women have been doing this for long periods of time.

I have a Masters in Organization Leadership and I can tell you that the evidence of leadership is based in modeling the defined response, not just talking about it. The capacity to influence is rooted in integrity to an idea, not just the capacity to speak about it. This idea was deeply explored in Robert Greenleafs Servant Leadership. A true leader is the servant of all. Even Jesus suggested this with his own words.

Mark 9:35 – Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

And to press the evidence, women have been doing this even in the face of injustice and oppression towards women. Women have remained faithful even in spite of the injustice. The article calls out the injustice.

Not a single major faith is led by members of its female flock, and the more deeply adherent a religious group becomes, the less freedom it offers its women, not to mention power. It’s hard not to compare women sticking with faith to wives confined to bad marriages: They’re so committed to the institution that they’ll willingly shrink under mistreatment just to maintain their own status quo.

In other words, history reveals that women just get it better than men. They reveal stronger faith. And if we’re going to be honest about who we’re really going to follow, wouldn’t it then be more honest to admit that women are better leaders?

What better way to explore the Adventurous Life than to begin being honest with ourselves. The real winner is all of us. To begin including women into the idea of leadership means we can begin to see the whole image of God in our midst. We can begin to see the beautiful voice that has been missing in the conversation for so long.

Category: Leadership, Social Justice

Jonathan Brink - I am an author, coach, speaker and consultant. I work with communities and networks looking to engage God's mission in the Way of Jesus.

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Seminary

We do have different perspectives on every topic. I agree with pballard14, women and men should be treated the same way. A true leader is a servant to all, no questions asked. If you'll got to a seminary it will help you understand more the questions that are being raised by Rev. Brink
aamoslove

Sorry about missing the point.

Thought the post was about
"The Evidence For Women’s Leadership"

In the corporate world, leadership, men or women, is fine.

In "the Body of Christ" "The Church," servant is the only way to go.

Now, in the 501 (c) 3, non profit, tax deductible, religious corporation,
the IRS calls "The Church" have all the leaders you want.
No problem. But...

Should we call a corporation "The Church?"

Those I've met that said they were "servant- leaders."

Really meant -

They were the "leaders" of the servants.

If a leaders "Title" is not an idol;

Just ask them to lay it down.

Ever ask that of a "Senior Pastor/leader" ;-)

Better have your running shoes on.

Be blessed.
aamoslove

Love the word adventure.

A bold undertaking, where hazards are to be encountered,
and the outcome is based on unforeseen events.

A unique undertaking in one's own personal history,
often of a romantic nature.
aamoslove

Jonathan

But the ekklesia has a leader. His name is Jesus.

Why would I want a man or a woman leader.
They have both been known to mess up.

The Bible warns us about leaders.

Isaiah 3:12
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.
O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err,
and destroy the way of thy paths.

Isaiah 9:16
For the leaders of this people cause thee to err;
and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof
teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money ...

Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Leaders. AAARRRRGGGGUUUHHHH.

And Jesus told “His Disciples” NOT
to be called “leaders.”

Why even use the word? Servant worked fine for “His disciples.”

If that is our choice, “disciple of Christ” or “leader?”
Which one do you choose?

They wanted to make Jesus a King. (Ruler, leader, of the people.)
And He ran away. If Jesus could turn down a position, me too.

Don’t titles become idols and
Pastors become masters? (Ezk 14 Idols of the heart.)

In my experience...

The “position” and “Title” of “leader” will become an idol.
It changes people. It changed me.

No matter how humble one is... eventually...
No matter how serving one is... eventually...
No matter how loving one is... eventually...

Leader = Exercise Authority = Lord it over = Abuse = Always

Have you considered the ant?

An ant is small and insignificant. Or is it?

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having
no guide,
overseer,
or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer,
and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-9

Guide - 07101 qatsiyn from 07096
KJV - ruler 4, prince 4, captain 3, guide 1
1- chief, commander, dictator.
2- ruler (of one in authority)

Overseer - 07860 shoter {sho-tare'}
KJV - officers 23, ruler 1, overseer 1; 25
1- official, officer.

Ruler - 04910 mashal {maw-shal'}
KJV - rule 38, ruler 19, reign 8,
dominion 7, governor 4, 81
1-to rule, have dominion, reign
2- to exercise dominion.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

“Jesus had a big enough vision to think small.”

Change our vision, think small.
Two or three... Who needs a leader?
God’s ways higher then our ways. Yes?

Just about every seminary of the IC has in it’s mission statement
that they are “training leaders.”

But Jesus told His disciples not to be called leaders.

Leader = Exercise Authority = Lord it over = Abuse = Always

In His Service. By His Grace.
Jonathan Brink

Amos, this is becoming an adventure in missing the point.
aamoslove

Jonathan

Just wondering...
I have some question’s about the use of the word “leader.”

The word “leader”seems like a “high place.” Yes?

Jesus always took and recommended the “low place.” Yes?

Jesus humbled Himself, made himself of no reputation
and took on the form of a servant. Php 2:7

How do “you” reconcile the use of the word “leader”
when “Jesus” told “His disciples” not to be called leader?

Jesus in Mat 23:10 told His disciples “NOT” to call
themselves master/“leaders”
for you have one master/"leader” the Christ.

King James Version -
Neither be ye called masters:
for one is your Master, even Christ.

The Interlinear Bible -
Nor be called leaders,
for one is your leader the Christ.

Phillips Modern English -
you must not let people call you leaders,
you have only one leader, Christ.

Today's English Version -
nor should you be called leader.
your one and only leader is the Messiah.

The Amplified-
you must not be called masters ( leaders )
for you have one master ( leader ) the Christ.

Jesus told His disciples not to be called "leaders" and none did.

Ro 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ,
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ,
Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God,
Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant

His disciples all called themselves "servants,"
none called themselves "leaders." None? None.
None called themselves "servant-leader." None.

If Jesus instructed “His disciples” NOT to call themselves “leaders”
and someone calls themself a "leader"
or thinks they are a "leader;"

Are they a "disciple of Christ?"

Why isn’t “servant of Jesus Christ” good enough?

Be blessed in your search for truth... Jesus.
Jonathan Brink

Amos, I love your comments but I have to wonder if you read the post. I essentially made the same argument you made. I even said, "A true leader is the servant of all," and quoted Jesus.

But I used "leader" because we're no dealing with a common language around how we talk about human action. We're dealing with human perception. I agree with your assessment but we're also talking about a human construct and the language commonly used when talking about being a roles.

I would offer that in the same vein, women are still better servants.
Jeff McQ

Jonathan, this reminds me so much of the mindlessness of our theology sometimes. I have often questioned whether we have interpreted the Bible correctly when so many naturally gifted women leaders have to sit idle because our doctrine says they must. I ask why God would gift them in the first place if He never intended to allow them to use those leadership gifts? The answer I usually get back from some of the traditionalists is, "They may be gifted, but they are not called." What??? Doesn't one tie in to the other? We settle on a certain interpretation of Scripture, then we throw it out there as an undebateable point so we don't have to think about the anomalies that challenge it. Then when a statistic like this one comes out, we simply don't know what to do with it. :) Thanks for putting this out there.
JamesBrett

i have no problem with women leading (and doing so well) when men are not properly living into their God-given role. but i also have to side with arthur -- i'm not going to negate scripture in order to do what seems to work best.

i'd argue, then, that the answer is not to give up on male leadership, but to seek to follow scripture and still pass the litmus test of fruit production.
jonswerens

"What if the evidence suggest women are actually better at leading than men?"

I'm afraid it may mean you're not using a biblical definition of leadership ... or headship, for that matter.
Perezoso

Alas, I disagree, Rev. Brink.

"Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all." Samuel Johnson
Jonathan Brink

Aint it grand that we get to disagree. ;-P
MistiPearl

Thanks for your support in this matter Jonathan. A book that helped me understand this matter better is "Why Not Women?" by Lorn Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton. Perhaps Perezoso would be willing to learn more about this matter from a different perspective and give the book a read.
~mp:)
Arthur Sido

Absolutely. What matters is what we perceive works the best, not what Scripture says.
Jonathan Brink

Arthur, I knew this guy who used to say, "And you shall know them by their fruit."
j a n

Also, don't know if you saw any of the many articles on leadership and the current economic meltdown - the vast majority of financial "leaders" are men. Their innate sense of "adventure" (or recklessness) was seen to be a key factor. Whereas women tend to lead as a team, incorporating input from others. But I agree with your point - why would we exclude half of God's nature from our leadership? We give such a limited view of God to the Body of Christ.
pballard14

Yeah, on our board at church we have a woman as the treasurer. It's a good thing. She's thorough, smart, cool headed, faithful, and keeps everyone straight. We need more of her.

It's all balance. We were made for each other to maintain balance. Wars happen too often because there are too many men in the decision making process.
kinnon

Jonathan,
My wife is the daughter of Estonian immigrants to Canada (who escaped Estonia in 1944, first to Sweden and then to Canada in 1951). Most of her cousins grew up behind the Iron Curtain.

What I find interesting is that during the Soviet years, committed Christians were predominantly women - in spite of the cost to their social position. Yet the evangelical churches insisted that church leadership must come from men. (And many still do.)