![Ministry Shouldnāt Hurt Ministry Shouldnāt Hurt](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65725.jpg?h=168&w=300)
It’s true that ministry is hard. It’s true that ministry takes sacrifice. But ministry shouldn’t hurt.
We teach young women the same concept in romance: love shouldn’t hurt. We say if a man says he loves you but hits you or treats you badly emotionally ...
![Iām Rare: I Havenāt Been Harassed Because Iām a Woman Iām Rare: I Havenāt Been Harassed Because Iām a Woman](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65661.jpg?h=168&w=300)
I'm a rarely seen species: a woman in theology who has no sad stories to tell you about being harassed, roadblocked, or discriminated against. I've spent ten years in formal study of theology, but no one has ever made a snide remark to me about my gender. I've ...
![The Struggle to Find a Mentor The Struggle to Find a Mentor](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65604.jpg?h=168&w=300)
If you were to imagine your ideal mentor, what would she be like?
Let me tell you about mine. My ideal mentor would be a woman, at least a step or two ahead of me in life. She would be wise, discerning, and nurturing. She would be devoted to Christ, with a contagious faith. ...
![Three Ways to Simplify Advent Three Ways to Simplify Advent](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65380.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Much has been written to the individual about how we should simplify holidays, but it gets a bit more complicated for those of us in ministry. We are, after all, responsible for other people whom we fear may be alone or neglected during the holidays. We also feel compelled ...
![Troublesome Women Preachers Troublesome Women Preachers](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/64981.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Editor’s Note: This year for Thanksgiving, we want you to know that we’re thankful for you! For all the work you put in, for all the awkward situations you navigate, for all the hard messages you preach. Being a woman in ministry is not always an easy path. But you ...
![Pastor or Director: Does Title Matter? Pastor or Director: Does Title Matter?](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65267.jpg?h=168&w=300)
Several years ago, I had a breakfast meeting with an elder at my church. When the check came, I reached across the table to pay. But he refused and said, “I have a policy that I always pay for the pastor.” I laughed. “But I am not a pastor,” I said, using ...
![Leadership Without a Title Leadership Without a Title](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/64992.jpg?h=168&w=300)
How would you exercise spiritual leadership if you weren’t allowed to be employed by a church, teach publicly, or attend seminary?
Sarah Edwards (1710–1758), wife of famous colonial pastor Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), lived with all these restrictions, ...