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PORTER?”Older women either have retired from ministry with women, or they think the younger women do not want to hear from them. But the younger women are saying just the opposite. They strongly desire for older women to just be friends with them and share experiences they have had that the younger are about to face.”
Chris Adams, the senior lead women’s ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources, offered her observation in a recent interview with the TEXAN, having addressed the future of women’s ministry at last year’s Women’s Ministry Forum hosted by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
The collaborative work of the generations has been one of the most challenging and rewarding elements of fostering women’s ministry within Southern Baptist churches. Adams is convinced the different generations can work together toward a common goal.
To facilitate the inter-generational cooperation, this year’s Women’s Ministry Forum will feature a panel discussion featuring younger women and how they interact with the women in their churches.
“In years past, boomers made up the large majority of women’s ministry; however, that has changed,” Moses said. “As I travel around our state, I find more and more that women’s ministry is attracting all ages. I’m so pleased to say that our older and younger women alike are finding a place together in women’s ministry.”
The panel discussion addressing “Leadership Realities” is a feature she is especially looking forward to as the issue has been on her heart for some time.
“Older women are excited to hear what these younger women have to say about women’s ministry,” Moses said. “My goal is to promote a seasoned leader who will mentor a younger woman.”
She models this priority by having younger women on her state leadership team. “We have seen a real growth in the number of younger women coming to our training.”
Just as women’s ministry today differs from what it was a generation ago, Adams said it continues to transition, reflecting the influence of an up-and-coming generation.
From a single-faceted focus on missions and service to a multi-faceted approach that includes Bible study, ministry, outreach, missions, evangelism, worship, and other elements, Adams sees women’s ministry evolving again as the younger generation steps up.
The goal of women’s ministry?to harness the gifts, skills, and resources of women to advance God’s kingdom?does not change with the evolution, she said, but the means to the end does.
At the local church level, Adams has observed that those in the decision-making roles are between the ages of 35 and 55. Instead, she encourages having all ages represented in leadership positions to ensure “we are not missing a pocket of women who need to be ministered to and who need to minister to others.”
There have been struggles within local church ministry to women, Adams and Moses admitted. Relinquishment of leadership roles by older generations, misinterpretations of motives, and poor communication are leading causes of setbacks. But, for the most part, Adams and Moses agree that there is a desire within the generations to work together for a common goal and establish meaningful relationships along the way.
“We still need to help women in leadership understand the younger women and bring them along,” Moses said, “but I’m very encouraged by what I hear from the hearts of those in leadership.
“There is a real movement taking place among the boomers (and the generation before) to reach out to the younger women. I see a desire in the older generation to find and walk with younger women. I believe, with all my heart, that we need to educate women about the different generations and provide many opportunities to bring the younger and older leaders together,” said Moses.
Both women see the role of women in the church and community outlined in Titus 2, calling on women of all ages to encourage and hold one another accountable. And though more women are seeking post-graduate degrees from seminaries to enhance their knowledge of Scripture and its application in the church, the older women of the church have a great deal of life experiences and wisdom to share as well. And they are eager to do so, said Adams and Moses.
The tenets of Titus 2 should be the foundation for all that women do, Adams said.
“God has instructed more experienced women to pour into the lives of younger women. We don’t have a choice since this is God’s mandate to us! It needs to be a lifestyle we model and teach to women. It can be a formally developed ministry as well. But it’s not optional.”
Moses added: “I think both groups of women are coming to understand that the younger woman desires a deeper level of friendship. It is encouraging to me to see these two groups of women moving toward this kind of relationship. It is for this reason that I encourage my [Boomer] age group to find those younger women and take them by the hand and journey with them.”
Adams and Moses said the women’s ministry conferences and forums hosted in Texas and around the nation provide the perfect setting for women of all generations and from churches of all sizes to share ideas, and encourage and challenge one another.
“Leaders love being challenged, inspired and equipped to do what God has called them,” Adams said. “They love to worship together. Also they find it helpful to network with others who are or have been where they are. They love sharing and hearing ideas and challenges. Most of all they love the practical help they get from a leadership conference.”
