I recently had the privilege of attending a three-day Lutheran conference here in Phoenix, Arizona, where I had deep and meaningful conversations with both men and women about identifying their next steps in leadership—whether that meant stepping into greater responsibility within their local church or exploring seminary opportunities. Many were eager to grow, yet uncertain about the path forward.
When I encouraged women to consider further theological education or leadership training, I often heard a hesitant yet familiar response: “I love the church, but I don’t feel called to children’s ministry. That seems to be the only place for me.” It became clear that while their hearts burned with a passion for ministry, they felt confined to roles that didn’t fully align with their gifts. This recurring theme showcases a critical need: the church must do a better job of recognizing, developing, and equipping women for the broad spectrum of leadership opportunities available in the body of Christ.
In the LCMS, the primary recognized roles for women in ministry outside of lay service are Deaconesses, Directors of Christian Education (DCEs), and other child-focused positions. While these are invaluable roles, they do not reflect the full spectrum of God’s gifting in women—myself included! Many women feel a deep call to lead in areas such as discipleship, pastoral care, organizational leadership, theology, and preaching in their context. But they often don’t see a path forward.
I was left asking myself, “How do we intentionally raise up women as leaders in a way that honors our Lutheran confessions, respects theological convictions, and yet fully embraces the gifts and callings God has placed on half of His church?“
1. Recognizing the Problem.
The first step is acknowledging the tension. Many churches spend considerable time identifying and mentoring men into pastoral ministry, but do we put the same effort into investing in female leaders? The fact that so many women at this conference felt confined to children’s ministry roles shows that there is a gap in how we cultivate and release female leadership.
Many times, women don’t step into leadership roles because they aren’t invited. I was extremely fortunate that the Holy Spirit led me to my current church in Gilbert, Arizona, where leadership encouraged me from the very beginning. From my first invitation as a small group leader to deeper involvement in ministry, I was consistently given opportunities to grow. In 2019, I was tapped to be part of the Unite Leadership Collective, a pivotal step in my leadership journey. And here’s something important—all of the people who “tapped” me were men in leadership roles. Their invitation and their recognition of my gifts made all the difference. I can’t help but wonder how many other women are eager to lead but never receive that same invitation. Too often, women don’t step into leadership roles because they aren’t asked. The church tends to default to a male leadership model—not necessarily out of intentional exclusion, but because systems and traditions have reinforced it over time. The unintended consequence? Women don’t see themselves as capable of becoming, or even allowed to become, leaders in meaningful ways. If we truly want to raise up more women in ministry, we have to be intentional about identifying, encouraging, and inviting them into leadership spaces.
2. What Does Leadership Look Like for Women in the LCMS?
The LCMS has a clear theological stance on the pastoral office, reserving it for men. However, that does not mean women cannot or should not lead in other meaningful ways. The official Deaconess job description highlights roles in women’s ministry, youth ministry, education, and visitation. But is this truly the full scope of what women can contribute?
Women have been vital leaders throughout church history:
Phoebe was a deaconess (Romans 16:1).
Priscilla taught Apollos alongside her husband Aquila (Acts 18:26).
Deborah was a judge over Israel (Judges 4:4-5).
Lydia led a house church (Acts 16:14-15).
The Samaritan Woman was the first to proclaim Jesus as the Christ.
The women at the tomb were the first to proclaim Christ’s resurrection.
If the early church embraced female leadership in these ways, then surely there is space today for women to lead in areas beyond just children’s ministry.
3. How Do We Invest in Women Leaders?
It is not enough to simply acknowledge the need for women in leadership. We must actively invest in them.
Mentoring & Leadership Development
Churches often have intentional mentorship pathways for men discerning a call to ministry. Why don’t we have the same for women? We need structured programs that help women grow in their leadership skills, theological depth, and confidence.
Encourage women to pursue theological education.
Identify female leaders and give them leadership responsibilities outside of children’s ministry.
Offer female-led mentorship programs where younger women can learn from experienced female leaders.
Creating Meaningful Roles
Many churches unintentionally box women into “safe” roles that align with traditional caregiving stereotypes. While there is nothing wrong with these ministries, the church should recognize that leadership is not limited to specific functions.
Women should be encouraged to lead Bible studies, discipleship groups, and adult education.
Women should have a voice in strategic leadership teams and church governance.
Women can serve as spiritual care leaders, counselors, directors of ministries, and even consultants in church growth and leadership development.
If we do not create roles where women can fully use their gifts, we are neglecting the very people God has called and equipped for His Kingdom work.
4. How Can Men Be Supportive?
At this conference, many women shared with me that they feel overlooked or even discouraged when they express a desire to lead. If we want to change this culture, male leaders must become advocates.
Here are some practical ways men in leadership can support women:
Invite women into leadership conversations. If there are no women in the room when important decisions are made, invite them.
Acknowledge the barriers. Many women feel they shouldn’t lead because they’ve been told—directly or indirectly—that leadership isn’t for them.
Advocate for their growth. If a woman in your church has leadership potential, invest in her just as you would a man.
5. Moving Forward: Encouragement for Women.
To the women who feel overlooked or underutilized in the church: God has called and gifted you for His work. Your contributions matter deeply, and your leadership is needed. You do not have to fit into a predetermined mold to serve God faithfully.
Women often hesitate to step into leadership, not just because of external limitations but because of internal doubts—fears planted by the enemy to keep them from fully stepping into their calling. I had the privilege of walking alongside a dear friend for many years as we both pursued seminary. She had a deep love for the Gospel, a passion for theology, and a heart for ministry. Yet, she constantly wrestled with guilt, shame, and fear—afraid that earning a Master of Divinity might be unbiblical or that she was somehow being disobedient to God. The weight of that fear became too much, and ultimately, she dropped out of the program. To this day, my heart aches for her, not because she isn’t faithfully witnessing to Christ—she absolutely is, sharing God’s promises with believers and unbelievers (yet) in her daily vocation—but because I know how much richer her theology could have been had guilt not driven her away.
If you feel that same hesitation, that same fear whispering that leadership isn’t for you, I want to encourage you: It’s time to break free from those doubts. Step boldly into the full calling God has for you. The enemy wants nothing more than for women to believe they are unworthy or incapable. But God is calling you to something greater—to grow, to learn, and to lead in the way He has uniquely gifted you. If you are struggling to find your place, seek out mentors, advocate for leadership opportunities, and most importantly—trust that God has created you for such a time as this.
Call to Action
But let’s be clear—this isn’t about meeting a cultural agenda or simply getting more women into leadership for the sake of numbers. The church doesn’t need more leaders just for leadership’s sake; it needs called leaders, Spirit-filled leaders, men and women alike, who are discerning God’s voice and stepping into the roles He has prepared for them.
If we truly believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12), then we must trust His leading in raising up women leaders as well. This means intentionally seeking out those whom God is calling—not based on personal preference or societal trends, but through prayer, discernment, and a deep commitment to Scripture. When we recognize the Spirit’s work in a woman’s life, we must nurture it, encourage it, and invest in it, just as we would with a man sensing a call to ministry.
The church thrives when both men and women operate in their God-given callings. When we fail to invest in female leaders, we are cutting off half of the church’s potential. Respecting our theological traditions does not mean ignoring the leadership gifts of women—it means finding ways to empower them in biblically faithful ways.
So let’s start asking the right questions:
Are we identifying and developing women as intentionally as we do men?
Are we creating leadership roles that reflect the full range of gifts God has given women?
Are we fostering a culture where women feel encouraged, not confined?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then it’s time for change. Not because of pressure from the world, but because of faithfulness to the Gospel. The body of Christ flourishes when all its members are equipped and released to serve in the ways God has designed. Let’s commit to being a church that listens to the Holy Spirit, identifies His work in all believers, and raises up leaders—not because we think we should, but because God is calling them forward.