EMQ » April–June 2019 » Volume 55 Issue 2
By Mary T. Lederleitner
InterVarsity Press, 2018
Downers Grove, IL
240 pages
ISBN: 978-0830845514
USD $18.00
Reviewed by Carly J. Smyly, Associate Director of Client Services, Azusa Pacific University, and former Director of Off-Site Ministries at Forest Home.
Mary Lederleitner, who has served as a consultant with Wycliffe Bible for over twenty years and is now leading Missional Intelligence, tells the stories of approximately ninety-five women in leadership from about thirty countries, for the benefit of both men and women involved in missions. The women come from evangelical backgrounds and are respected leaders in their context. Lederleitner’s purpose is to bring these women’s voices into the general discussion of leadership and to the specific discussion of service and leadership in God’s mission.
She acknowledges theological differences regarding women in leadership and clearly states that her aim is not to persuade the reader toward one point of view. The theological debate is polarizing and inadequate to describe the complexity of how God is working through women around the globe. Rather, Lederleitner’s goal is to foster understanding between men and women co-laboring in ministry so that all may see greater fruitfulness for the Lord.
Lederleitner recognizes that women have experienced discrimination, rejection, bias, and ill-treatment due to their gender from both women and men. Throughout her critique and retelling of these challenging experiences, she is respectful and gracious to all involved. She includes practical strategies various women have employed to counteract such challenges. Although much of her book discusses the injustice women face in leadership, she also tells stories of reconciliation and overtly praises the men and women who have supported women in leadership making it possible for them to lead effectively in God’s mission.
Lederleitner argues that leaders should evaluate ministry policies that perpetuate gender bias, whether implicitly or explicitly. For example, many ministries have a policy that prevents men and women from traveling together or meeting together one-on-one to avoid sexual improprieties. In most evangelical ministries, men hold the vast majority of leadership positions and decision-making power. Such policies may result in the exclusion of women. They may prevent women from being mentored by the incumbent leaders because they are men. This can result in career stagnation for women and a lack of gender diversity in leadership. Similarly, many times organizational strategy and vision are discussed among leaders in informal settings (e.g., when traveling for work or out for a meal). When policies are in place that limit the interaction of men and women informally, women are excluded from strategic aspects of decision-making. They miss participating in the discussions that occur in many informal settings because of these policies, and therefore, are not readily included in many of the organization’s direction-setting conversations.
This book is for both men and women. Its message is: Women, if you experience ill-treatment in your ministry, you are not alone. Men, you have an important role in encouraging and elevating women to flourish so that you also will flourish. Men and women, see the gifting of women who are leading in God’s mission and acknowledge the resulting goodness.
