1

Summary of Women in Leadership Audit 2009 Mennonite Church USA Active Male and Female Pastors Compared to Total Database

Part-time vs. Full-time Ministry

2946

498

1409

353

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Male Female

Total

Active

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Full-time 3/4 time Half-time Less than

half-time

1992

2005

Men - 2005

2

Above graphs compiled by Dorothy Nickel Friesen, May 2009

Numbers of women serving on denomination-wide boards

General Conference General Board

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

Year

Nu

mb

er

Women

Men

Mennoniite Church General Board

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

-87

1988

-89

1990

-91

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1999

Year

Nu

mb

er

Women

Men

Mennonite Church USA Executive Board

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1999

/200

1

2001

/200

3

2003

/200

5

2005

/200

7

2007

/200

9

2009

/201

1

Year

Nu

mb

er

Men

Women

3

Governance Council

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2002,

Dec.

2003,

Nov.

2004,

May

2004,

Nov.

2005,

May

2005,

Nov.

2006,

Apr.

2006,

Nov.

2007,

Apr.

2007,

Nov.

2008,

Mar.

2008,

Nov.

2009,

Feb.

2009,

Apr.

2009,

Aug.

Date

Nu

mb

ers

of

Wo

men

an

d M

en

Women

Men

Above graphs compiled by Joanna Shenk, October 2009

Number of active credentialed persons by area conference

(In terms of number of active females in the database by area conference, these all have more

than 20.)

Male Female

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference 140 62

Western District Conference 76 38

Lancaster Mennonite Conference 378 36

Central District Conference 47 34

Virginia Mennonite Conference 133 28

Franconia Mennonite Conference 74 24

4

Central Plains Mennonite Conference 55 20

Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference 49 20

These two area conferences have no females listed.

Franklin Mennonite Conference 31 0

North Central Conference 12 0

Percentage of active credentialed persons by area conference

This shows the areas conferences with the highest percentage of active females. E.g. 42% of the

Central District Conference pastors are female, 33% of WDC. There is considerable variation

among area conferences.

Central District Conference 42.0%

Western District Conference 33.0%

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference 30.4%

Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference 28.2%

Central Plains Mennonite Conference 26.7%

Mountain States Mennonite Conference 25.0%

Charts compiled by Dorothy Nickel Friesen, May 2009.

More extensive summary of findings Mennonite Church pre-transformation

General Board of General Conference (1980-1999)

5

o During these years the percentage of women on the board fluctuated between 25% and 44%. In 1980 the percentage was 25% and in 1999 it was 28%

o Chart available

General Conference General Board

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

Year

Nu

mb

er

Women

Men

Mennonite Church General Board o During these years the percentage of women on the board fluctuated

between 11% and 40%. Surprisingly, in 1980 the percentage of women was 40%, followed by 11% the next year. In 1990 the percentage was up to 39% and by 1999 it was back down to 28%.

General Conference Nominating Committee. Information not yet received.

Mennonite Church Nominating Committee

Mennonite Church Nominating Committee

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

-87

1988

-89

1990

-91

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1999

Years

Nu

mb

er

Women

Men

6

Mennonite Church USA

Executive Board (1999-2011)

Executive Director—No women have filled this position

Moderator—Of the six moderators, two have been women.

Governance Council (2002-present) o The percentage of women on governance council has fluctuated between 8%

(Nov. ’03, Mar. ’08, Nov. ’08, Feb. ’09) and 36% (Nov. ’05). Currently of the 10 members on Governance Council, 1 is a woman.

o Chart available

Governance Council

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2002,

Dec.

2003,

Nov.

2004,

May

2004,

Nov.

2005,

May

2005,

Nov.

2006,

Apr.

2006,

Nov.

2007,

Apr.

2007,

Nov.

2008,

Mar.

2008,

Nov.

2009,

Feb.

2009,

Apr.

2009,

Aug.

Date

Nu

mb

ers

of

Wo

men

an

d M

en

Women

Men

Mennonite Church USA Executive Board

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1999

/200

1

2001

/200

3

2003

/200

5

2005

/200

7

2007

/200

9

2009

/201

1

Year

Nu

mb

er

Men

Women

7

Constituency Leaders Council o Chair (1999-2011)

1 female chair 1 female co-chair 4 male chairs 1 male co-chair

o Vice Chair (1999-2011) 4 females 1 male

o Secretary (1999-2011) 1 male

o Worship Facilitator (2001-2011) 3 female 3 males

o Churchwide Leadership Discernment Committee (1999-2013)

6 females 6 males

o Gifts Discernment Committee (2001-2011) 12 females 9 males

o Listening Committee (1999-2011)

16 females 11 males

o Delegate Assembly (2001-2009) 9 females 8 males

o Delegate Assembly—Listening Committee (2005-2009) 4 females

2 males

Overall: CLC is showing a healthy amount of gender balance, excluding the positions of Chair and Vice Chair. Although the gender of the Chair and Vice Chair has not been the same, a majority of the Chairs have been males and a majority of the Vice Chairs have been female.

Mennonite Church USA Denominational Ministry

Conference Leadership

General Conference (1980-2000) o During these years there was an increasing trend of women in leadership

positions overall, although Eastern District had no women leaders.

Mennonite Church USA (2001-2009) o Increasing numbers of women in conference leadership in certain

conferences, although other conferences still have not had women in leadership roles (Franklin, Gulf States, Lancaster, New York, North Central, South Central, Southeast, Virginia)

8

Number of Women in Leadership Positions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2001 2002/2003 2004/2005 2006/2007 2008/2009

Years

Nu

mb

er

of

Po

sit

ion

s

Number of Women in

Leadership Positions

Pastoral Ministry Overall: There are increasing numbers of women in pastoral ministry and attitudes are shifting, for the better, regarding women in pastoral ministry. Much intentional effort has been put forth to insure the empowerment of women in pastoral ministry. Mennonite Church USA Agencies No women have ever filled the position of Executive Director for any of the four church-wide agencies.

Mennonite Board of Missions/Menonite Mission Network

Three presidents since 1980, no women (Although Marty Lehman served as Interim Exec. Director of MBM during the transition to Mission Network.)

Executive Cabinet 2002-present. o No women on Cabinet 2002-2006, 5 men o 2007 – 1 woman, 4 men o 2008 – 1 woman, 3 men o 2009 – 2 women, 3 men

Board Chairs o No women from 1980-2002 o Woman from 2003-2007 o No women from 2008-2009

9

Female & Male Board Makeup at

MBM 1980-2000

0

2

4

6

8

10

121980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Fem

ale

s &

Male

s

Women

Men

Female & Male Board Makeup at

MMN 2002-2009

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2002

2004

2006

2008

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Fem

ale

s a

nd

Male

s Women

Men

Mennonite Mutual Aid (now Everence)

Presidents. Since 1945 MMA has had eight Presidents. The first two MMA leaders were actually called General Managers. There have been no female Presidents.

Vice-Presidents/Directors o Since 1996, MMA has consistently had 1-2 females in upper management until 2009.

Board Chairs o Since 1982 we have had 10 board chairs; three were female

Board Members o Since 1996, MMA's board has consisted of 13-17 board members and of those members, four to six

have consistently been female.

Mennonite Publishing Network (now MennoMedia)

Faith & Life Press was the General Conference Mennonite Church publishing entity till 2001, when it merged with Mennonite Publishing House of the former Mennonite Church. The merged entity was called Mennonite Publishing Network with Faith & Life Resources as its imprint for curriculum, periodicals and other congregational resources, and Herald Press as its imprint for books.

The following information was provided by MPN, but remains incomplete. Faith & Life Press

CEO Norma Johnson

COE/FLP Education Area/ Editorial Staff Rosella Wiens Regier Norma Duerksen Susan Janzen Department Directors Rose Stutzman Eleanor Snyder

Editors Alice Hershberger Helen Alderfer Marjorie Waybill Rose Stutzman Mary Meyer Carol Duerksen June Mears Driedger Susan Swan

Faith and Life Resources Board Members

Faith and Life Resources Board Members

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1988-

89

1990-

91

1992-95 1996-97 1998-99 1999-

2000

2001-

2006

2007-

2009

Years

Nu

mb

er

Female

Male

Gendered Percentages of Books Authored

Gender Percentages of Books Authored

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

1977-7

8

1979-8

0

1981-8

2

1983-8

4

1985-8

6

1987-8

8

1989-9

0

1991-9

2

1993-9

4

1995-9

6

1997-9

8

1999-2

000

2001-2

002

2004

2006

2008

Years

Perc

en

tag

e Percent

by women

Percent by men

Mennonite Education Agency

Two women have served as college presidents (Bluffton and Goshen). Currently no women fill that position at any institution of higher education in Mennonite Church USA.

Hesston College

Pastoral Ministries Program. Since 1985 there have been 114 men, and 13 women who have graduated from the Hesston PM program. Of the 13 women, 8 are serving as pastors of local churches. 3 others are chaplains in hospitals hospice or retirement communities.

Hesston Pres. Cabinet/Council

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

Year

Nu

mb

er Female President

Cabinet/Council

Male President

Cabinet/Council

Hesston Board Members

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

Year

Nu

mb

er Female Board

Members

Male Board Members

Bethel College

Bethel College Board Members

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Nu

mb

er

Female Board Members F

Male Board Members M

Bluffton University

Bluffton President Cabinet/Council

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

Year

Nu

mb

er Femalel President

Cabinet/Council

Male President

Cabinet/Council

Bluffton Board Members

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

Year

Nu

mb

er Female Board

Members

Male Board Members

Eastern Mennonite University

EMU President Cabinet/Council

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

Year

Nu

mb

er Female President

Cabinet/Council

Male President

Cabinet/Council

EMU Board Members

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

2005

2008

Year

Nu

mb

er Female Board

Members

Male Board Members

EMU Professors

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Year

Nu

mb

er

Female Professors

Male Professors

Female Assoc.

Professors

Male Assoc.

Professors

Female Ass't.

Professors

Male Ass't. Professors

Goshen College

Goshen Board Members

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

2004

2008

Year

Nu

mb

er Female Board

Members

Male Board Members

Goshen Professors

0

5

10

15

20

25

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Nu

mb

er

Female Professors

Male Professors

Female Assoc. Professors

Male Assoc. Professors

Female Ass't. Professors

Male Ass't Professors

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (now Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary)

Many women in non-teaching leadership positions: Librarian, registrar, academic dean (also holds faculty rank), associate dean, campus pastor, director of AMBS Great Plains (also holds faculty rank), and director of communications.

AMBS Board Members

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Year

Nu

mb

er

Female Board Members F

Male Board Members M

AMBS Professors

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

Year

Nu

mb

er

Female Professors

Male Professors

Female AssociateProfessors

Male AssociateProfessors

Female AssistantProfessors

Male AssistantProfessors

Women and Men Enrolled at AMBS

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

18080-8

1

82-8

3

84-8

5

86-8

7

88-8

9

90-9

1

92-9

3

94-9

5

96-9

7

98-9

9

00-0

1

02-0

3

04-0

5

06-0

7

08-0

9

Year

Nu

mb

er

Male

Female

Mennonite Church USA Affiliated Organizations

Mennonite Health Services Alliance (now an agency of Mennonite Church USA) o On the boards of the 59 organizations that are connected to MHS Alliance, altogether there are 424

men and 221 women. o Of the 59 CEOs there are 41 men and 18 women. o In leadership positions, those who report directly to the director, there are 107 men and 158 women.

Mennonite Economic Development Association

o President: No presidents have been female o Vice-President: Currently one of the four vice presidents is female. The first female VP was

appointed in 1995—1998. Then there were no female VPs until one was appointed 2004—present. o Board Chair: Sue Miller was chair of the MEDA board for a three year period. Other chairs have

been male o Board members: currently eight members of the 22-member board are females

Board Members MEDA

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Wo

men

an

d M

en

women on bd

men on Board

Mennonite Central Committee (No response received)

Mennonite Disaster Services

MDS Board Members

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

Year

Nu

mb

er

Women

Men

Summary

Overall, there is reason to be optimistic about increasing numbers of women in leadership. In the past number of years there have been increasing numbers of women on the Boards of agencies and affiliated organizations. According to the research most recently presented by Dorothy Nickel Friesen (Columbus 2009), there are increasing numbers of women in congregational leadership and changing attitudes, in a positive direction, toward women in pastoral ministry. This is a great accomplishment, based on much intentional effort. Unfortunately we do not see the same about of intentionality when it comes to empowering women in organizational leadership. The numbers on Governance Council tell this story. It is also clear that the moderator position needs to be reevaluated based on the fact that many women have not been able to accept the appointment. This reality raises questions about the expectations put on those in top leadership positions, particularly those that have not been filled by women (Executive Director and Agency Executives) as well as the Moderator role, in which only 2 women have served. In this process of reevaluation the work done to empower women in pastoral ministry should be used as a guide. Christian Peacemaker Teams also has anti-sexism resources that help to uncover the systemic framework that disempowers women, and others, who do not fit in the patriarchical mold. Although there are accomplishments to be celebrated, we have much good work to do.

Compiled by Joanna Shenk. September 2009.