Leadership: A word from Mennonite Church USA leaders

A recent audit of women in leadership in Mennonite Church USA provided considerable data on the number of women in leadership roles. As we shared this data across the church, we heard a common question: “Why are women always saying no when asked to take on a leadership role within Mennonite Church USA?”

At a Constituency Leaders Council meeting, we heard that the Leadership Discernment Committee works carefully to ensure good gender balance in their board appointments. But then women turn down the invitations to lead. These “no” responses result in fewer women serving on boards and in leadership roles, and the Leadership Discernment Committee is then blamed for not putting enough women in leadership roles.

Why do women say no? There are many reasons why women tend to say no more quickly than men. The following reasons are generalized and do not represent all women.

An article in the Sept. 27 issue of Newsweek on changes in gender roles states that “the average wife still does roughly double the housework of the average husband: the equivalent of two full workdays of additional chores each week. Even when the man is unemployed, the woman handles a majority of the domestic workload, and it’s the same story with child care. If both parents are working, women spend 400 percent more time with the kids.” Women tend to have less discretionary time than do men.

Women also tend to be less driven by titles, egos and status than men are. They tend to have identities other than through their employment. Many take lower-paying jobs or part-time jobs so as to have more time for children and families. Their time and their relationships are important to them. Churchwide assignments take a lot of time, thus women are more likely to say no.

Women who are of an age to be moderator of Mennonite Church USA, for example, are also more likely to be serving in traditionally female roles—as teachers, nurses, secretaries—that often don’t permit them the flexibility to take on a churchwide assignment. Fewer Baby Boomer women are administrators, pastors, lawyers, doctors or CEOs. Therefore the pool of women available for some of these leadership roles is limited, compared with the pool of available men. When these women say no, it is more obvious than when a man says no.

While we have made great strides in gender balance on a variety of fronts, the reality is that we are still a white-male-dominated church and society. Too often we still have a “token” woman on a committee or board or in an employment situation. Being the only female voice is not easy. I’ve lost track of how many meetings I have attended where I was the only female. I’ve also lost track of how many times I’ve made a suggestion or comment that was ignored, but when a male colleague made the same comment, action was taken. Unfortunately this even happens with open-minded male co-workers and committee members.

Working at gender balance and equality is an ongoing process. I celebrate that Mennonite Church USA has made progress in affirming women’s leadership gifts and abilities. For example, we have more female pastors now than ever before in our history. And I observe that young adults are less bound by gender roles. In another 20 years we will be at a different place. I hope we won’t be hearing complaints about women saying no in 2030.

Marty Lehman is associate executive director for churchwide operations for Mennonite Church USA.