Women’s Ordination: Support and Opposition

By Joelle Kopacz

Women’s ordination in American denominations is a complex topic.  Some denominations do not allow women to become ordained ministers (for example, the Southern Baptist Convention).  Yet in the past few decades, a number of denominations have begun to ordain women, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Even when denominations allow women’s ordination, some worshipers continue to prefer male pastors.  Because of the predominant hiring of male pastors in its congregations, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has just offered to pay travel and interview costs when congregations interview a woman for a head pastor position.

Yet official denominational positions and worshipers’ opinions about women’s ordination may vary.  How supportive are worshipers of women’s ordination in their denomination and of having a woman pastor at their own congregation?

Mainline Protestant worshipers are most supportive of women’s ordination.  Nearly all mainline Protestant worshipers (93%) say that their denomination should allow women’s ordination either under any circumstance or when certain conditions are met (when women are married or abstinent if single).  Six in ten conservative Protestants support women’s ordination (59%), while 43% of Catholic worshipers do.  Substantial minorities of Catholic and conservative Protestant worshipers do not support women’s ordination (32% and 23%, respectively).  Others express ambiguity, with one in five Catholics (22%) and one in six conservative Protestants (16%) saying they are “not sure” if women should be ordained in their denomination.

Most worshipers would accept a woman pastor in their own congregation.  A majority of mainline Protestants (93%), conservative Protestants (62%), and Catholics (56%) would accept a female minister in their church.  Sizable numbers of Catholic and conservative Protestant worshipers would not be accepting (14% and 9%, respectively) or are not sure (16% and 17%, respectively).

Many worshipers, from a variety of Christian faith traditions, support women’s ordination.  Nonetheless, women continue to be a minority group in pastoral ministry.  The Roman Catholic Church does not ordain women pastors, and neither do some conservative Protestant denominations.  According to The Barna Group, in 2009 only 10% of Protestant senior pastors were women (although this increased from 5% in 1999).  In mainline Protestant congregations, 28% of senior or solo pastors are women.

Yet women who are not ordained clergy also have much to offer.  How can your congregation honor and utilize the ministry gifts and skills of female worshipers and leaders?  If your denomination ordains women to pastoral ministry, what are some ways that you and your congregation can encourage young women to consider a call to ministry?  How can you support the success of female pastors?