Women in ministry survey announced

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PARNELL, Iowa—Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Mennonite Church USA denominational minister who manages the placement process for pastors, reports that women in ministry have less ambiguity about their roles than women pastors did 13 years ago, according to a 2006 survey sponsored by her office and to be released this month.

“[Women] are just as contented with their pastorates as men,” Brenneman says. “The three biggest challenges we discovered for women pastors are structural and attitudinal gender inequalities, balancing ministry and family roles, and women finding appropriate leadership and ministry styles.”

Pam Nath, professor of psychology at Bluffton (Ohio) University, conducted the survey for Executive Leadership under the auspices of a Lily grant.—Everett J. Thomas

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