Monday, April 21, 2003
In church, women lead the way
Nationwide, churches find the most devoted followers are female. Women's devotion is a phenomenon that's been noticed for decades, and its recognition was reinforced in the Barna survey of 4,755 adults conducted and released in 2000. The survey found that 75 percent of women see a closer relationship with God as a desirable goal, compared with 65 percent of men. The poll had a sampling error of 2 percentage points.
"Women, more often than not, take the lead role in the spiritual life of the family," Barna said. "Women typically emerge as the primary - or only - spiritual mentor and role model for family members."
In modern churches, women are 33 percent more likely to volunteer than men, according to Barna research. That means women tend to take the lead in lay leadership, though nine out of 10 senior pastors are men.
"Sometimes the leadership issue is explained by the idea 'Men create theology but women carry it forward,' " said the Rev. Nancy Dean, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Millcreek.
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