Caring For the Small Church Insights from Women in Ministry

"Nancy Foltz offers wonderful insights at the intersection between the gifts of gender and the responsibilities of pastoral leadership."

From the foreword by Carl Dudley

Experience tells us that men and women frequently use different skills in solving similar problems. Drawing from her experiences with women in leadership positions, both inside and outside of the church, she highlights areas where the natural gifts of womanhood nurture small-church ministries and vice versa. Her enthusiasm for ministering to small congregations comes through clearly, making this an important resource for pastors and church leaders alike.

The author describes qualities such as caring and accessibility as being especially important in an environment where caretaking is valued. Other characteristics point toward an ideal fit of women with ministry in small churches:

Keeping a constant view of the long term Seeing themselves and their ministry as complex and multifaceted

Pacing and scheduling their days with an eye toward integration and efficiency

Women and men involved in small churches will want to read this book for different reasons. Women will see themselves and their female pastors in the light of a sense of affirmation and camaraderie. Men will come to a better understanding of the small church as seen through the eyes of women and will learn new relational techniques. Each chapter ends with "Questions for Reflection and Conversation" aimed at applying these new lessons to your unique congregation.