7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership

We've all heard of the 7 deadly sins. But now the organisation W'men in Leadership, designed for Christian women in ministry or the marketplace who influence others, has devised the '7 deadly sins of women in leadership'.

You can find out more about them - or how to avoid them - at a series of day conferences. The first of the series is being held in London on Saturday 27th February - follow links on the website to find a booking form.

The deadly sins are:

1. Limiting self-perceptions


2. Failure to draw the line (boundary issues)


3. Inadequate personal vision


4. Too little life in the work


5. Everybody's friend, nobody's leader


6. Colluding and not confronting


7. Neglect in family matters

I am always reluctant to stereotype. But I do think there is truth in each of the 'sins' they have identified. Regarding 'Limiting Self-Perceptions', for example, I know many women who 'cultivate a limited and unrealistic view of themselves.'

'Women are particularly susceptible to inadequate personal vision.' If your new year resolution is going to include better self-development as a leader, this series of events might be one place to start. Another resolution might be to read Growing Leaders (esp chapter 5) by James Lawrence, Living on Purpose by Tom and Christine Sine or To be Told by Dan Allender.

Happy Christmas!

Bishop Eve - a child bishop

The subject of women bishops is controversial. But amid all the controversy, and endless debate about how to accommodate those who disagree with women's episcopal ministry, I was struck by a lovely news story I heard about today: a thirteen-year-old, Eve Johnson, inaugurated as a child bishop at a church in Wellingborough.

In this revival of an ancient tradition, Eve will serve until December 28th, Holy Innocents Day, during which time 'she will preside at services and pray for and bless the parish congregation'.

So for this congregation at least, it seems that having a female bishop is not out of the question.

Eve: her name reminds me that God created a team of two when he gave human beings instructions on how to look after the world.

Still a man's world?

'It's still a man's world on screen', laments Mirren.

That was one headline in the papers on Saturday. She went on to say, 'I'm looking forward to the time that at least there's a balance. Women represent half the population and I want to see as many female roles as there are male roles, because at the moment the balance is very unfair.'

TV and film is dominated by men, and it sounded from the article as though actresses still suffer sexism. Reading my Church newspaper, I am reminded that sadly the Church is no better. It's one thing to disagree on the basis of theological conviction, but I was disturbed to read a letter about sexist jokes in the pulpit. She makes the point that sexist jokes are a form of violence.

I must admit I've been surprised by the use of sexist jokes, by preachers who should know better. A few years ago I heard a well-known evangelist tell a joke which I thought completely inappropriate. What was almost more worrying was the fact that so few people found it disturbing (or perhaps they just didn't let on). What was he doing? Assuming that a male audience found it funny to make a sexually loaded joke?

I could rant on, but that's probably not very constructive. On a more positive note, but still reflecting the 'man's world' of the church, I've just been reading a blog post by Lucy Moore on the Share site. She laments the lack of women blogging on the subject, and whether that reflects a lack of women involved in Fresh Expressions (of course it could just reflect a lack of women blogging generally).

But since this is something I've noticed before. Why are there so few women involved in Fresh Expressions? or is it the fact that lots of women are involved, but they are not speaking or writing about it?

Perhaps it's time we generated a bit more thinking about this issue and ensured women's voices are heard in the world of Fresh Expressions....

A woman's place is in the boardroom?

If you recognise the title of this book, you may have read it a couple of years ago.

But you may not have read the sequel, which has the addional subtitle: The Roadmap. This is now reviewed on the CPAS website. Book reviews are in a slightly different location from previously, but the whole site is much more colourful and easy to use, with better access to resources.

The idea behind this second book is to give more of the how-to for women aspiring to senior posts.

Why am I reviewing it? The 'senior' part of the Church is not a boardroom. But there are distinct similarities and connections.

Christian leadership is very different in many ways from leadership in the corporate world. But I believe there are things that Christian women leaders can learn from the corporate world which will help us to negotiate an alien leadership arena.

Arrow: developing as a leader

This morning I was talking to a woman who was planning to apply for a place on the next Arrow programme. It's great to hear from women who want to be on the programme, and I'm particularly excited this year because we've already heard from several women who are planning to apply. So far, we've heard from more women than men!

The CPAS Arrow programme is designed to develop Christian leaders for the Church of the 21st century. It's more than just another leadership course, and through its unique blend of residential, mentoring, peer support and project work, it aims to transform leaders, addressing issues of call and character as well as competence and confidence.

If you don't know about Arrow you can find out more by clicking here. The deadline for the next Arrow programme, starting in March and running through to autumn 2011, is 3rd December.

But when I remind folks that Arrow is only open to leaders between the age of 25 and 40, I know what response I'll have. 'Why 40?'

There are good reasons, but I know that if you're in your 40s, that does not help!


We had one enquiry today, and it makes me sad that we have to say sorry to some of those who would really value the programme. Many women are frustrated, because by the time you've struggled with what the Bible says about women leaders, with people who encourage men to lead but don't encourage you, and you've negotiated selection, training and ordination or moved into some other leadership role - you find out that when it comes to Arrow, you are 'too old.'

Part of my brief is to help equip women for leadership. If you're reading this, thinking 'I'm over 40 but I'd really love the kind of things which Arrow gives', why not respond to this post? I'd love to hear what you think your greatest needs are when it comes to leadership. ... We are currently thinking about a similar 'not Arrow' leadership programme, and about other ways of helping women to access some of the teaching, insights and opportunities that Arrow gives.

And if you have not already found the resources for women leaders on CPAS's website, click here. We've got a great new CPAS site! In the resources section there are book reviews and articles, and downloadable studies to go with the book Growing Women Leaders.

If you have any comments on all this, do add them to the post, or you can email me directly at rward@cpas.org.uk.

One Hundred Awesome Women

I'm so excited that the number of members of Awesome has reached one hundred!

The name Awesome is an acronymn for 'Anglican Women Evangelicals: Supporting our Ordained Ministries'. We're a network of ordained Anglican women from across the evangelical spectrum, and aim to support each other and to equip each other for ministry in the Church.

The network was launched in January 2004, so almost six years on it's good that we have attracted good numbers of women, and a record number of 42 at our most recent conference in September. Click here for our website, where there's more information.

Membership has reached 100, and we know that there are more women who support our aims. Some 20+ have been members but are lapsed or no longer active, and many others agree with our aims but find support through other networks.

It can be tough an evangelical woman at this point in the life of the Church of England. Many of our ordained sisters come from a more liberal perspective, while some of our evangelical brothers don't believe that those of us who are priests should be ordained!

But there are always signs of hope around too. I'm excited about a couple of books I've just read. One is called Inspiring Women: discovering biblical role models, and it's about the significance of role models and how to preach some of the women in Scripture so that women find new roles models there. Click here for a review. It's a great little booklet, which deals with some of the tricky passages about women as well as encouraging preachers to look at some of the 'little people' in Scripture. Jehosheba, Sheerah, Shallum's daughters? I'd never heard of them either, but I have now!

What else is good news? Another woman appointed archdeacon: Christine Wilson, currently vicar of Goring by Sea has beeen appointed Archdeacon of Chesterfield, bringing the number of women archdeacons to 15. It's going to take a while to change the climate of the church when it comes to senior leadership, but there's slow progress being made.

I want to change the world, but I realise that progress usually only comes in very small steps.

Are women up for 'stepping up'?

I've just received some fascinating results of a survey on 'Women in Senior Posts' (in the Church of England).

A total of 1083 questionaires were returned, from women clergy currently in posts ranging from dean to curate. In response to the question, 'If the opportunity arose some time in the future, would you be prepared to take up a more senior post?' 850 out of that 1083 (78%) said 'Yes'.

This is somewhat at variance with the view that many ordained women are just not interested in posts which come with a high degree of responsibility.

The project was focused around women's aspirations to senior posts, including episcopal ministry. Of most interest to me were responses about other posts which women aspire to, what might prompt them to apply for these posts, and what might prevent them from applying.

Out of those 1083 women, 635 said they'd consider a Team Rector post, 537 being Rural Dean, and 597 a Major Incumbency. What would encourage them to apply? 80% said a personal approach, and only 5.6% said they'd respond to an open advertisement.

If they would not consider a senior post, the first reason given (21.5%) was lack of confidence, followed by the nature of the role, and way down at 2% was geography.

I'm fascinated by this. Almost surprised at the large proportion saying Yes, despite the current situation of deployment patterns. Not surprised that women lack confidence. And moderately surprised at the gap between those who would only respond to a personal response and those who would take the initiative to apply.

If women are up for stepping up, then it seems that the lack of women in senior roles is not so much to do with women's aspiration. So is it, as many have been saying, more to do with hidden bias in the system, and the male leadership culture of the Church? And if so, what is ever going to change it?