
Microphone image courtesy Evan Forester via Flickr
At Christian conferences and leadership events I go to and speak at, women up the front are always – always – in a small minority. (It’s the same on all of the governance boards I’m on.)
Very often, when I mention this to organisers, they say with regret that they just couldn’t find more women to be involved.
Tanya Marlow has an extensive analysis of this phenomenon in the United Kingdom, where across major Christian conferences, men outnumber women 2:1. Here’s what she thinks is going on:
The reason there are few women being asked to speak in conferences is not because there arenât enough gifted women, nor always because a conference is being sexist. It is simply that the women are invisible.
…
We need to try extra hard to appoint into leadership those whom society devalues â including women, ethnic minorities, elderly people, disabled people â not because of any worldly political correctness, but because of the Bible, and the character of God. God loves the widow and orphan and foreigner. He is a God of the oppressed minority.Â
Preacher Philip Brooks once defined preaching as âtruth through personalityâ. Hearing someone from another country preach the Bible is one of the best ways to reveal our cultural blindspots. We need womenâs voices: the voice of half the church. We need to hear the diamond of the gospel mediated through a myriad different voices and perspectives, so that the full spectrum of light can be seen.
[Read more at Tanya Marlow.]Â
The marvellous Rachel Held Evans, blogger extraordinaire, and author of the delightful Year of Biblical Womanhood, has begun a list of excellent women speakers and writers to halt this phenomenon:
Please do not wait to consult this list when you begin planning your next conference! This is not intended to help you find your âtokenâ woman.  This list is intended to introduce just a small portion of the talent, wisdom, expertise, passion, and faith present among women in the church. For better or worse, Christian conferences are a reflection of the Christian culture and so ultimately, the problem isnât that there arenât enough women in the typical conference lineup; the problem is that people planning the conferences arenât reading, listening to, and following women to begin with.  So read these womenâs books.  Add their blogs to your reader. Watch the videos in the links provided. Learn about their ministries and organizations. Subscribe to their podcasts. These are scholars, activists, writers, preachers, church leaders, artists, healers, and world changers. They are already speaking; itâs time to start listening.Â
Read more at Rachel Held Evans.]
Her list is basically North American, so she invites people to nominate anyone else in the comments, and has encouraged people to start their own national lists.
So here we are! I’m starting with the women I know or have heard and can personally recommend – which is all any of us can do. Of course, that means my list is very Baptist, and unrepresentative in other ways, so I’ll be relying on you guys to balance things out.
So I’ll get the ball rolling, and ask you to add your own recommendations from your own communities – we’ll rely on people from Dunedin to provide us with your local heroes, for instance.
Feel free to nominate yourself!
I’m not giving marks out of ten or telling you who each person will most appeal to – though you are welcome to recommend people at greater length. This is just a directory to help expand people’s horizons, not to rate or compare speakers.
Please use this format:
Name
Brief description of their role/experience/where they come from
Their areas of expertise or special interest, if appropriate – those who are ministers may be generalists, happy to preach on any text!
Website
Social media
Booking information
Video links
Those last four may not be so relevant for many Kiwis because of scale, but this is Rachel’s format and we’ll go with it for now. Most of the people on my list are pastors whose website links have sermons you can listen to.
Thanks! This is going to be brilliant!
101 Brilliant Christian Women Speakers: My 19 Personal Recommendations
In alphabetical order, and with a reminder that this is just the start of the list, based solely on women I have heard myself, and therefore not at all representative of the wealth of talent out there, let’s get started:
Sarah Beisly
Former youth pastor in Auckland, now working in South Asia to provide alternative employment to sex workers.
Contact through Marketplacers:Â https://www.marketplacers.co.nz/contacts
Miriam Bier
Lecturer, Old Testament, London School of Theology (but she’s a Kiwi so let’s give her a reason to come back!). Baptist, Anglican and Presbyterian connections.
Expert in the book of Lamentations and restoring the art of lament within the church; also feminist readings of the Old Testament
http://www.lst.ac.uk/faculty/faculty-member/53
Nicola Burrows
Associate Pastor, Laingholm Baptist Church
http://www.laingholmbaptist.org/contact-us
Naomi Compton
Pastor, Karori Baptist Church, Wellington
http://kbc.org.nz/index.php/thanks-for-dropping-by/
Ruby Duncan
Head of Iosis, an Auckland Baptist community ministry; Alongsiders; lived in Manila slums for several years.
http://www.iosis.org.nz/About+Us/Our+People.html
Watch:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq1Ifm6Xpnw
Sarah Field
Pastor, The Street City Church (Open Brethren), Wellington
http://www.thestreet.org.nz/staff
Laura Giddey
Youth pastor, marriage celebrant and social activist
https://www.facebook.com/weddingcelebrantlauragiddey
Val Goold
Head of Student Ministries, Tertiary Students’ Christian Fellowship, based in Wellington
http://www.tscf.org.nz/staff/val_goold
Nicola Hoggard Creegan
Senior Lecturer, Systematic Theology, Laidlaw College, Auckland
http://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/staff/hoggard-creegan
Nettie Holm
Team Leader, Te Whanau Putahi community services group; Pastor, Oxford Street Community Church, Hamilton; former national head of Baptist Community Ministries
http://www.hcbc.co.nz/pages/community/socialservices.htm
Lindy Jacomb
Pastoral Leadership student at Carey Baptist College.
Contact through Carey: www.carey.ac.nz
Thalia Kehoe Rowden
Baptist pastor on maternity leave; blogger, writer and preacher.
Christian ethics and bioethics, Kingdom of God, social change, postnatal depression, finding God in everyday life.
http://sacraparental.com
http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/author/thalia-kehoe-rowden/
http://kiwimadepreaching.com/author/thalia-kehoe-rowden/
Jo Kelly-Moore
Dean, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
http://www.holy-trinity.org.nz/our-people
Watch:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQzxY0c2aj0
Jody Kilpatrick
Pastor, Ponsonby Baptist Church, Auckland
http://www.ponsonbybaptist.org.nz/
Robyn Mellar-Smith
Pastor, Epuni Baptist Church, Lower Hutt
http://www.epunibaptist.org.nz/team.html
Jannine Parker
New Life pastor and worship leader, Livingwell Church, Rotorua
http://livingwell.co.nz/Living_Well_Church/Leadership.html
Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI7BwluQIk4
Stephanie Robson
Former Baptist pastor, now Anglican priest; lecturer in preaching and pastoral care at Laidlaw College, Christchurch campus
Brenda Rockell
Pastor, Cityside Baptist Church, Auckland; Cityside is very active in connecting the arts and worship
http://www.cityside.org.nz/
Merrilyn Withers
Lecturer, Carey Baptist College; former national head of Baptist Youth Ministries; all-round legend.
http://carey.ac.nz/teaching-staff/merrilyn-withers/
Your Turn!
Right, over to you. Rachel Held Evans’ post started with 101 women and had another 250+ comments with suggestions from readers.
I asked for suggestions on the Sacraparental Facebook page and got another couple of dozen names – now’s your chance to put their details here.
Please don’t give direct contact information without permission, but if you include a public website link, that should enable people to follow up and connect with speakers.
Let the recommending begin!
Update: The whole list in alphabetical order
In the (so far) 57 comments below we’ve added another few dozen names. Brilliant work, friends! We are still missing some sectors – I don’t think we have any Salvation Army or Roman Catholic women listed, for instance, and we’re light on the Pentecostal and Indepenent church movements – so please keep sharing this post with new people to expand the pool.
As new names are recommended, I’ll update them in this main post so they’re easier to find. Three things to remember:
- Each woman has been personally recommended by someone who has heard her speak, but of course not every woman will be perfect for every event or audience. See the comments thread below for what has been said about each speaker.
- I haven’t sought permission for people’s names to be included, so am happy to remove anyone who asks to be removed, but am assuming that since these women are known as public speakers, they won’t mind having a recommendation listed here.
- I don’t have direct contact details for most people, but Googling them or contacting a denominational office will probably track most down.
Heather Ameye-Beavers
Auckland, Baptist Pastor and Youth Consultant
http://www.bym.org.nz/about/item/57-heather-ameye-bevers
Lynne Baab
Preacher and teacher of preaching at Otago University
http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/staff/otago055717.html
Lindsey Bade
Youth Pastor at Ilam Baptist Church, Christchurch
Michelle Bayly
Pastor, Meadows Church. Paraparaumu
Youth / Young Women, New Generation NZ
Sarah Beisly
Former youth pastor in Auckland, now working in South Asia to provide alternative employment to sex workers.
Contact through Marketplacers:Â https://www.marketplacers.co.nz/contacts
Miriam Bier
Lecturer, Old Testament, London School of Theology (but she’s a Kiwi so let’s give her a reason to come back!). Baptist, Anglican and Presbyterian connections.
Expert in the book of Lamentations and restoring the art of lament within the church; also feminist readings of the Old Testament
http://www.lst.ac.uk/faculty/faculty-member/53
Rosie Boom
Author, speaker, musician.
Nicola Burrows
Associate Pastor, Laingholm Baptist Church
http://www.laingholmbaptist.org/contact-us
Lyn Campbell
Former Childrenâs Commissioner, past president of Baptist Churches of NZ, currently leader of Baptist Community Ministries
http://www.baptist.org.nz/general/Our-National-Ministries/Community/
Sherlene Chen
Regular preacher at Global Congregation, Auckland Baptist Tabernacle
Stephanie Christensen
Kiwi working in a Middle Eastern country for about 18 years.
Nadia Clark
Life Church
Viv Coleman
Formerly Presbyterian minister, currently discipleship coach and frequent preacher at Eastview Baptist Church, Botany
http://www.eastviewbaptist.org.nz/
Naomi Compton
Pastor, Karori Baptist Church, Wellington
http://kbc.org.nz/index.php/thanks-for-dropping-by/
Steph Couch
Youth Pastor at Shore Grace, Greenhithe (Wesleyan Methodist), Youth Work at Albany Junior High.
Sarah Davidson
Carey Mission Track Student, part-time at Windsor Park Baptist Church. Interest in refugees.
Nat Donald
Ex youth pastor, current early childhood teacher and holistic superstar on issues of faith, community, health, teaching.
Ruby Duncan
Head of Iosis, an Auckland Baptist community ministry; Alongsiders; lived in Manila slums for several years.
http://www.iosis.org.nz/About+Us/Our+People.html
Watch:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq1Ifm6Xpnw
Sandy Elkin
St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Dunedin, and Otago University Bioethics Centre.
http://stmatthews.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100&Itemid=81
http://spar.co.nz/contacts/dunedin/index.html?dept=bioethics
Leanne Ellis
Pastor, Livingwell Church, Rotorua
Women, Missions, Trafficking, Social Justice
http://livingwell.co.nz/Living_Well_Church/Welcome.html
Anthea Fairbrass
Site Principal, Impact Christian Training College, Lower Hutt.
http://www.impactcollege.ac.nz/about
Sarah Field
Pastor, The Street City Church (Open Brethren), Wellington
http://www.thestreet.org.nz/staff
Linda Flett
Elim pastor, National Internship Coordinator at Laidlaw College
http://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/staff/flett
Shelley Gapes
Kids Camp Director, Admin Team Leader at Lakes Ranch Rotorua
Women, Kids, Missions
Marjory Gibson McSaveney
Retired Baptist minister, Auckland.
Laura Giddey
Youth pastor, marriage celebrant and social activist
https://www.facebook.com/weddingcelebrantlauragiddey
Susan Gill
Vicar, Holy Trinity Anglican church in Nelson.
http://www.holytrinityrichmond.org.nz/mod/staff/about.php?staff_id=1
Val Goold
Head of Student Ministries, Tertiary Students’ Christian Fellowship, based in Wellington
http://www.tscf.org.nz/staff/val_goold
Sandra Gordon
Rimutaka Baptist Church
Jacqueline Grey
Academic Dean at Alphacrucis College, Auckland, lecturer in Old Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Womenâs Studies
http://acnz.ac.nz/faculty-and-staff/jacqueline-grey/
Chris Harding
Director of OMF NZ, preacher, conference speaker, mission lecturer
Sarah Harris
Anglican priest; New Testament lecturer, Carey Baptist College.
http://carey.ac.nz/teaching-staff/sarah-harris/
Helen-Ann Hartley
Bishop of Waikato diocese (Anglican)
http://www.waikatotaranakianglican.org.nz/
https://twitter.com/h_ahartley
Tani Haunga
Tongan Service Elder,Greenlane Presbyterian Church.
Nicola Hoggard Creegan
Senior Lecturer, Systematic Theology, Laidlaw College, Auckland
http://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/staff/hoggard-creegan
Nettie Holm
Team Leader, Te Whanau Putahi community services group; Pastor, Oxford Street Community Church, Hamilton; former national head of Baptist Community Ministries
http://www.hcbc.co.nz/pages/community/socialservices.htm
Lindy Jacomb
Pastoral Leadership student at Carey Baptist College.
Contact through Carey: www.carey.ac.nz
Thalia Kehoe Rowden
Baptist pastor on maternity leave; blogger, writer and preacher.
Christian ethics and bioethics, Kingdom of God, social change, postnatal depression, finding God in everyday life.
http://sacraparental.com
http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/author/thalia-kehoe-rowden/
http://kiwimadepreaching.com/author/thalia-kehoe-rowden/
Carolyn Kelly
Presbyterian, scholar, currently on Auckland University chaplaincy staff
Jo Kelly-Moore
Dean, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
http://www.holy-trinity.org.nz/our-people
Watch:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQzxY0c2aj0
Emma Keown
Minister, Glenfield Presbyterian Church
http://www.glenfieldpresbyterian.com/#!contact-us
Jody Kilpatrick
Pastor, Ponsonby Baptist Church, Auckland
http://www.ponsonbybaptist.org.nz/
Jacqui Lloyd
Taught at Laidlaw for 15 years, now a PhD candidate in New Testament at Otago University.
Mary Maina
St Stephens Anglican Church in Christchurch
Carolyn Manning
Former associate pastor, Eden Community Church. Counsellor, lecturer.
bcmanning@xtra.co.nz or candbmanning@vodafone.co.nz
Daphne Marsden
Baptist Pastor, pastoral/community/social work with women and families at risk, including prison work.
Academic interests: Violence and the Evangelical Church (title of 2012 Masterâs Thesis)
South West Baptist Church, Christchurch.
2012 Society for Research on Women (SEOW) Award (for conducting research that benefits women and/or girls in New Zealand).
There are sermons online at:Â http://www.resonate.org.nz
http://www.projectesther.co.nz
dmarsden@swbc.org.nz
Helen Martin
Minister, Mosgiel Presbyterian Church
http://www.mosgielchurch.org.nz/index.php?module=content&content_id=8
Victoria Matthews
Anglican Bishop, Canterbury Diocese
http://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/Contact-Us/Diocesan-Staff/Rt-Rev-Bishop-Victoria-Matthews
Margaret Mayman
Minister at Pitt St Uniting Church in Sydney, Australia; formerly at St Andrew’s-on-the-Terrace in Wellington.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/search/results?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=margaret+mayman
https://www.facebook.com/pittstreetunitingchurch
Tash McGill
Auckland writer and speaker
Jenny McIntosh
Wellington pastor and counsellor
Robyn Mellar-Smith
Pastor, Epuni Baptist Church, Lower Hutt
http://www.epunibaptist.org.nz/team.html
Julia Moore-Pilbrow
Masters student, Carey Baptist College
Rachel Murray
Director of Mission World (NZ Baptist Missionary Society)
http://www.missionworld.org.nz/
Sara Park
Anglican Priest now working for Auckland Diocese
Jannine Parker
New Life pastor and worship leader, Livingwell Church, Rotorua
http://livingwell.co.nz/Living_Well_Church/Leadership.html
Watch:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI7BwluQIk4
Lynda Patterson
Dean of Christchurch Cathedral
Amanda Pilbrow
Young Adults Pastor and regular preacher at Windsor Park Baptist Church.
Sheila Pritchard
Spiritual Director, Counsellor, former Laidlaw College lecturer. Ponsonby Baptist Church.
http://sheilapritchard.blogspot.co.nz/
Stephanie Robson
Former Baptist pastor, now Anglican priest; lecturer in preaching and pastoral care at Laidlaw College, Christchurch campus
Carolyn Robertson
Christchurch. Baptist preacher, previous Childrenâs Pastor at Ilam Baptist and Carey Baptist College lecturer on Childrenâs Ministry, turning Anglican.
Academic interests: sociology, theology, missiology, consumerism.
A sermon sample online here:
http://ilambaptist.org/2009/08/12/sermon-9-august-2009-carolyn-robertson/
Rachel Roche
Until recently Families Pastor at Northpoint Baptist Church, New Plymouth, now Internship and Field Education Co-ordinator at Carey Baptist College
http://carey.ac.nz/about-carey/teaching-staff/
Brenda Rockell
Pastor, Cityside Baptist Church, Auckland; Cityside is very active in connecting the arts and worship
http://www.cityside.org.nz/
Csilla Saysell
Old Testament lecturer, Carey Baptist College
http://carey.ac.nz/teaching-staff/csilla-saysell/
Jacky Sewell
Auckland Anglican Diocese
Karen Spoelstra
Youth Facilitator for the Auckland Anglican Diocese
http://www.aym.org.nz/index/about/the-team
Sarah Stevens
Anglican, Priest in charge, Waimate North Parish
Emma Stokes
Brethren, Tauranga
http://www.gbc.org.nz/shop/product/8046/Mark_&_Emma_Stokes/
Sue Templeton (formerly Croad)
Former Baptist pastor, currently in prison ministry with prison Fellowship NZ
Susan Thompson
Methodist minister and Superintendent.
http://www.methodist.org.nz/find_us/waikato___waiariki/home/contacts
Johanna Vannathy
Wellington Baptist Youth Consultant
http://www.bym.org.nz/about/item/54-johanna-vannathy
Renda Warner
Youth worker, Titirangi Baptist Church
http://www.tbc.org.nz/2011/renda-warner/
Shelley West
Carey Baptist College Pastoral Leadership graduate.
Merrilyn Withers
Lecturer, Carey Baptist College; former national head of Baptist Youth Ministries; all-round legend.
http://carey.ac.nz/teaching-staff/merrilyn-withers/
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