Lederleitner, Mary T. Women in God’s Mission: Accepting the Invitation to Serve and Lead. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018. 240 pp. Paperback, $24.99.
In this book, Mary Lederleitner curates stories gathered from ninety-five women across thirty countries involved in various Protestant mission leadership positions and contexts. Her stated goal is to widen the discourse on service and leadership by cultivating a “better understanding between men and women, so when we labor together in God’s harvest fields we might be more fruitful” (10).
Lederleitner elaborates on victories, challenges, and opportunities faced in women’s leadership. Bolstered with references to current scholarship, including the Minority Identity Development Model and Transformative Learning Theory, she listens well to the leaders and discerns patterns in their testimonies. Prioritizing women’s voices and lived experiences over theological debate, her research focuses on two questions: “(1) What are diverse women experiencing as they lead in God’s mission? (2) What do they believe they need in order to do their best work as leaders in God’s mission?” (211). Each chapter concludes with discussion questions that prompt reflection and discernment. She ends the book with sections related to research methodology, extensive endnotes, and a bibliography.
Each story reveals that gendered leadership roles cannot be understood apart from context. Cultural expectations and nuance shape each lived reality. Some participants recount that they have experienced great kindness and support from men and spiritual communities. Others indicate they consistently labor for authenticity in their roles while simultaneously strategizing for ways to deal with gendered limitations. At the extreme, women navigate power structures, resulting in a shift in their expectations for their work. For example, one participant, Idha, responded to obstacles demonstrating that while she believes that her gifts might point to one place of service or leadership, limitations in culture and tradition forced her to adapt, ultimately choosing influence over power. As she puts it, “just because a door closes, I don’t stand outside and kick it… I just keep creating opportunities for myself to serve” (134).
Lederleitner argues that resilience to face challenges must be “transformative rather than deformative” (89). When women leaders encounter hardship, barriers, or restrictions, they must balance knowing and responding to God’s mission against their desires for tangible impact. They also identify areas of liminal space where the inconsistencies of gender restrictions require that they address the dissonance through accommodation, compassion, flexibility, and sensitivity. Testimonies specifically touch on how ministry and service have been impacted by personal and/or working relationships bearing gender power differentials. In response, and at the crux of Lederleitner’s analysis, she expands on ways the body of Christ should navigate and invest in Godly connections: advocating the exemplar found in Christ’s relation to the church for marriages, considering the term sacred siblings as a useful metaphor for shared ministry between genders, recognizing that male advocacy can be a tool, and participating in genuine dialogue and mentorship between genders.
The strength of Lederleitner’s analysis surfaces in her observation of how women are already leading and serving as a conduit to better understand their achievements in relation to their challenges. Lederleitner is careful to place parentheses around what this study is not- it is not an attempt to demonize or totalize but rather to show the realities of gender discrimination in hopes of promoting transformation. The book raises critical theological concerns and questions, which makes this compilation of stories a valuable tool for local communities to sharpen their understanding of leadership in advancing God’s mission to the world. It is accessible to a non-academic audience, including men and women, and promotes holistic growth in ministry by supporting women who “faithfully follow God in his mission and develop to their God-given potential” (208).
Tracy M. Shilcutt
Professor Emerita
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX, USA
