Gracie Tignor is a student at Liberty University pursuing a degree in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries with a cognate in Women’s Leadership and a minor in Youth Ministries. She has served as a Women’s Ministry Intern and a Student Ministry Intern at London Bridge Baptist Church, and as a Host Team Apprentice and Middle School Apprentice at Thomas Road Baptist Church. She has a passion for seeing her generation and the next generation know Christ deeper and make Him known.
Many of us are familiar with Titus 2:3-5 and the call for older women to teach “what is good, so that they may encourage the young women.” One of the most effective onramps for women to live out this calling is by having women in student ministry leadership alongside male student pastors.
As someone who is not far removed from student ministry and has served in volunteer and intern capacities at various churches, I see this need now more than ever.
To be clear, I am not advocating for women to replace male student pastors or serve as primary disciplers in student ministries. When I refer to “women in student ministry leadership,” I mean women serving in visible staff roles in student ministries, not simply volunteer or administrative roles (though those are vital and valuable).
I’ve been part of churches with women on student ministry staff and churches without them. Student ministries where both men and women lead together are stronger and more effective.
Here are three reasons student ministries need women on their leadership team:
- Female student ministry leadership closes a discipleship gap for female students.
A male student pastor can deeply care about and build relationships with female students, but he cannot fully step into every aspect of a female student’s experience, because he hasn’t been a teenage girl before. This reality affects how comfortable girls are in approaching the church when they are struggling or seeking guidance.
For example, if a female student is involved in sexual sin, she is unlikely to seek guidance from a male, nor would it be appropriate for a male to walk closely with her through that struggle. For that reason, the enemy is given a hold because that girl may dwell in the pit of shame, guilt, and isolation or she will turn to other outlets rather than turning to Jesus for forgiveness and transformation through the guidance of a female student ministry staff member.
The church should be the place female students run to when they are struggling. Female staff members close a critical discipleship gap by creating safe, wise, and appropriate pathways for confession, counsel, and transformation.
- Representation in leadership shapes ministry direction and culture.
In many student ministries, programming unintentionally reflects male interests – games like nine square and gaga ball, sports analogies in message, etc. While none of these are wrong (and some girls do enjoy them), when male pastors alone shape the vision of a ministry, especially one that often includes more girls than boys, this can unintentionally communicate that the ministry wasn’t designed with girls in mind, leaving female students feeling overlooked.
When women consistently have a seat at the leadership table, the vision broadens. Different questions are asked. Different needs are noticed. Common female struggles like identity, friendship, comparison, and insecurity are intentionally addressed. The goal is not to remove what engages male students, but to thoughtfully engage every student.
Additionally, when girls see women diving deep into and teaching Scripture, shaping culture, and using their gifts, it communicates that their voices, gifts, and perspectives matter in the church.
- Female volunteers are essential, but they need support.
Student ministries cannot function without faithful female volunteers. Volunteers are indispensable, but they have limits. Many volunteers have full-time jobs, school, or family responsibilities. They have limited availability and often serve seasonally.
A female staff member in student ministry provides consistency for female students, strategic vision for discipleship, coaching and encouragement for female volunteers, and support when volunteers reach their capacity. Female student ministry staff members strengthen and sustain female volunteers, preventing burnout and discouragement and ensuring long-term discipleship for female students.
Action Steps
Whether or not your church currently has women on student ministry staff, here are four practical steps forward:
- Give women a consistent seat at the table in vision-casting and planning.
- Place women in visible leadership roles (teaching, leading, shaping culture, etc.)
- Establish coaching structures to intentionally train and encourage female leaders.
- Consider hiring a female director or staff member to come alongside the male pastor.
When men and women partner in student ministry leadership, girls are more intentionally seen, discipled, and shepherded. Young women are too important and too impressionable for us to overlook the value of godly female leadership in student ministry.
