Women’s Leadership and Young Women

Lauren Farmer, who serves as an Event Project Coordinator for LifeWay’s Women’s Training and Events, is our guest blogger today. Listen to one young woman share the importance of influence from older leaders to carry on the heritage of faith and leadership: 

"Leadership is a hot topic in many circles today.  Perhaps it has always been and I’ve just gotten old enough to really hear about it.  It does, however, seem like the topic of leadership in women’s ministry is becoming an increasingly popular topic.  As a young woman who has served in several different areas of leadership in the church and various ministries, I’m often asked by other young women how I ended up where I am, how they can have similar opportunities, and what advice I would give them based on their passions and giftings.  On the flip side, I also find myself being asked by “older” women (I purposely say “older” as I have become quite aware of the fact that age is a matter of perspective…  I learned last week from the small group of freshman girls I lead that I am “old.” Apparently, 27 is old when you’re 14. Ouch.)  These "older" women often express their desire to connect with younger women, invest in them, and pass on the torch of women’s ministry. Young or "old", it seems we are all looking for a way to connect with one another spiritually.

 I wish I had all the answers developing women into leaders and a neat formula to give you, but, of course, I don’t.   Instead, when I think of leadership, I see the faces of women I deeply respect and admire rather than concepts listed on the pages of a book.  There are many things I’ve learned in a classroom about leadership… I have a degree in women’s leadership from a seminary, after all.  While the concepts are absolutely essential and foundational in many regards, it’s the relationships with women who are leading me and others that continue to teach me how to lead. 

For instance, in one of my seminary classes we spent a lot of time discussing how to lead in a church or ministry when in many ways it is a “man’s world.”  As women our desire is to honor the unique and God-given roles of male and female and, yet, to also be faithful to use our gifts to forward God’s Kingdom.  And, although I learned a great deal in my class about how to navigate the waters of leading as a woman in man’s world, I’ve seen how to do so from the women who lead me.  It’s when my boss Faith gives me a quick tip on how to get a male co-worker to help me on a project that needed his immediate attention or watch my other boss Selma (we have a lot of bosses here at LifeWay if you haven’t noticed) facilitate a business team meeting composed of both males and females with skill, poise, ingenuity and femininity that I learn how to lead well. 

In my experience, leadership and relationship cannot be separated. They are two sides to the same coin.  With that in mind here a couple of things I’d encourage you to keep in mind as you seek to invest in and train up the next generation of women’s leaders:

·    Remember that leadership is both caught and taught.  By all means teach and train young women about the principles of leadership in formal settings, but never underestimate the power and influence of example… your example, that is.

·    Be intentional.  Seek to spend time with, talk to, and share your life with young women God puts in your path.

·    Share your successes and failures as a leader.  Younger women will have successes and failures as well.  It’s a comfort and encouragement to know that you’ve been in their shoes.

·    Bring them along with you.  Many younger women are eager to know you, learn from you and imitate you.  Yes, imitate you.  I kid you not that I’ve thought on more than one occasion, “I want to be just like Faith (or Selma or Chris) when I grow up.”  I promise you there are women around you that are looking up to in the same way I look up to these women in my life."

Lauren is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary  in Louisville, Kentucky, where she received a Masters of Divinity in Women’s Leadership. During her time in Louisville, she served as associate director of student life and instructor of Christian Education at Boyce College , the undergraduate school of The Southern Seminary.  Lauren has a passion for reaching and equipping young women.

For more information on women’s ministry, check out the following resources:

Women Reaching Women