101 Christian Women Speakers to Discover in New Zealand

101-christian-women-speakers-to-discover-sacraparental

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 aren’t 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 – including women, ethnic minorities, elderly people, disabled people – 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. 

Preacher Philip Brooks once defined preaching as ‘truth through personality’. Hearing someone from another country preach the Bible is one of the best ways to reveal our cultural blindspots. We need women’s 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.] 

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 “token” 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 isn’t that there aren’t enough women in the typical conference lineup; the problem is that people planning the conferences aren’t reading, listening to, and following women to begin with.  So read these women’s 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; it’s time to start listening. 

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.

Christian parenting, feminist parenting, women preachers in New Zealand

Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland

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: 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: 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: 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.lynnebaab.com/

http://www.otago.ac.nz/theology/staff/otago055717.html

Lindsey Bade

Youth Pastor at Ilam Baptist Church, Christchurch

http://ilambaptist.org/

Michelle Bayly

Pastor, Meadows Church. Paraparaumu

Youth / Young Women, New Generation NZ

http://www.meadows.org.nz/

Sarah Beisly

Former youth pastor in Auckland, now working in South Asia to provide alternative employment to sex workers.

Contact through Marketplacers: 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.

http://www.rosieboom.com/

Nicola Burrows

Associate Pastor, Laingholm Baptist Church

http://www.laingholmbaptist.org/contact-us

Lyn Campbell

Former Children’s 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

http://www.tabglobal.org/

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: 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

http://www.lakesranch.org.nz/

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 Women’s Studies

http://acnz.ac.nz/faculty-and-staff/jacqueline-grey/

Chris Harding

Director of OMF NZ, preacher, conference speaker, mission lecturer

http://omf.org.nz

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.

http://gpc.org.nz/

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: 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 Master’s 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: 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

http://tashmcgill.com/

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: 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 Children’s Pastor at Ilam Baptist and Carey Baptist College lecturer on Children’s 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

sue.croad@pfnz.org.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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109 comments on “101 Christian Women Speakers to Discover in New Zealand”

  1. Miriam Reply

    Thalia! I thought this was supposed to be IN NEW ZEALAND! And I take a look because I want to know who you’ve identified IN NEW ZEALAND and there I am first on the list! (alphabetically I know but still!). Naughty! But I’ll let you off because I will be IN NEW ZEALAND in approximately 20 hours, for a little while at least 🙂

  2. Stacey Reply

    Rosie Boom – “Christian author, musician, speaker, home-schooler and mother!” I’ve heard Rosie speak and sing at both of the Southern HEART conferences (Home Educator’s Annual RetreaT), and at another conference and have each time come away blessed, refreshed, encouraged and inspired. She has an infectious love for life and God.

    She was a missionary in Asia for some years, and more recently has lived in a barn with her family while building a house on a lifestyle block, and writing a great series of books about the experience.

    http://www.rosieboom.com/

  3. Andrew Reply

    Marjorie Gibson – was at the Tab in Auckland when I was there 10 years ago, but not sure where she is now! I loved her teaching on anything, not sure if she has specialised topics.

  4. Mark Reply

    Rev. Sara Park, was on staff of Auckland Anglican cathedral, now works for the diocese.

    Rev, Sarah Stevens, priest in charge, waimate north parish. (My former neighbour.)

  5. Val Goold Reply

    Sarah Harris – NT lecturer at Carey

    Carolyn Kelly – current chaplain at Auckand Uni

    Karen Spoelstra – working with Anglican Youth in Auckland

  6. not a wild hera Reply

    I’ll add Sarah Beisly, who I should have included originally. She’s living full-time in South Asia now, which is why I didn’t have her on, but she’s too good to omit, so here she is. If you ever hear that she and Paul are heading back to NZ for a month or two, make sure you get to hear her.
    The other reason I didn’t put her up originally is that I don’t have any contact details I can publish online. But get in touch with me if you want to track her down 🙂

  7. Rochelle Gribble Reply

    Wow- I’m shocked at how few I can think of – your good self would top my list, TKR. To be fair, I’m pretty out of the church conference circuit these days…

    Name: Jacky Sewell
    Brief description of their role/experience/where they come from: I’m not exactly sure what Jacky is doing these days but she works for the Anglican Church in Auckland.
    Their areas of expertise or special interest: She’s great on the intersection of art and faith.

    Name: +Victoria Matthews
    Brief description: I don’t know her and have only heard her on the radio but I imagine that +Victoria Matthews is pretty great – http://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/Contact-Us/Diocesan-Staff/Rt-Rev-Bishop-Victoria-Matthews

    Will keep thinking on this one!

      • Rochelle Gribble Reply

        Yeah – I’m not quite sure what Jacky is up to but I have tagged her on FB and have also posted on her timeline…

        On reflection over night, I am feeling even more shocked at how few I can name! I’m actually finding it quite distressing! As I said, to be fair, I don’t really move in church talky circles at the moment but I can’t even really think of many / any from ‘back in the day’! Great initiative on this!

  8. Heather Ameye-Bevers Reply

    Nadia Clark, Part of Life Church. Co-pastors with her husband Craig. Entertaining speaker with lots of great stories that connect to insights on life that reveal our hearts and where God wants to intersect with our pain and misgivings and transform us. Speaks on Sundays, at conferences and to small groups with equal care and passion.

  9. Heather Ameye-Bevers Reply

    Johanna Vannathy. She is the the Wellington Baptist Consultant to support Youth Pastors. She is inspirational with crowds of over 4,000 and instructional with training groups of 50. She can organise, strategise and inspire. Her positivity, stories and insight help people to get their faith and to move into new and inspired places.

    • Raewyn Moodie Reply

      Johanna is fabulous. Also Merrilyn Withers – former national youth leader and now based in WEllington but available to preach anywhere in NZ. ABsolutely inspiring. When she was Baptist president her address to the Assembly was so moving. She speaks on many issues, especially dealing with life, counselling, can be youth oriented but great for all audiences. Make use of this lady.
      Also I’m very proud to say Lindy Jacomb is a fabulous communicator. She has done some very strong preaching at WEstgate BAptist church this year!

  10. George McLaren Wieland Reply
  11. Stacey Reply

    Mary Maina, currently at St Stephens in Christchurch, is also good. The only online presence I can find for her is the Anglican Taonga page welcoming her husband Steve (and family) to his new role as CMS director http://anglicantaonga.org.nz/News/Tikanga-Pakeha/CMS

    Mary spoke at our women’s retreat last year, and has led at least one CMS short-term missions trip of NZers to Africa. She is a counselling psychologist and (from memory) has also worked with microenterprise schemes in Kenya.

  12. not a wild hera Reply

    We’ve got to 50 by my count. Half way there!

    Keep ’em coming, peeps, and do share the post around your networks as a resource and for people to add to.

  13. Stephanie Robson Reply

    Bishop Victoria Matthews is already on the list – a wonderful preacher! Add also Lynda Patterson who is Dean of ChristChurch Cathedral – she is a legend! I find both these women inspiring, challenging, sometimes funny and always memorable.

  14. Jon Parker Reply
  15. Philip Church Reply

    Here is a few Thalia
    Jacqui Lloyd, taught at Laidlaw for 15 years, now a PhD candidate in NT at Otago Uni.
    You may have Emma Keown, Minister at Glenfield Presbyterian Church. Don’t have an email address, but I am sure you can find the website.
    Also, Stephanie Christensen. Has been (and still is) a Kiwi working in a Middle Eastern country for about 18 years.
    I have not heard Sue Jacobi, but have published one of her sermons in Stimulus.
    That is a good start.

  16. Heather Ameye-Bevers Reply

    Hi Thalia,

    You asked me where I am and what I like to speak on.

    I like in Auckland and work for Baptist Youth Ministries National and I am lecturing in the Foundations for Youth Ministry course at Carey.

    I can talk to teens on issues of faith, development, sex etc.
    I can do training on mentoring youth and young adults.
    Training for youth leaders and pastors.
    I enjoy helping churches understand how to grow their young people as a whole church.
    I speak on being the missional church.
    I talk to community mums on coping with stress, time management, anger and frustration etc.

  17. mikecrudgephd Reply

    Hi Thalia – here’s another excellent NZ Christian speaker/communicator/researcher that I didn’t notice on your list so far:

    Carolyn Robertson, Christchurch.
    Baptist preacher, previous Children’s Pastor and Carey Baptist College lecturer on Children’s Ministry, turning Anglican.
    Academic interests: sociology, theology, missiology, consumerism.

    A sermon sample in online here:
    http://ilambaptist.org/2009/08/12/sermon-9-august-2009-carolyn-robertson/

    • not a wild hera Reply

      Great, thank you! I did want to put her on, on the strength of hearing her at Baptist Assembly one year, but had no idea where she was or what she was doing now. Thanks very much! Her sermon that morning was the highlight of the weekend for me.

      • mikecrudgephd Reply

        And another:

        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 Master’s 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: http://www.resonate.org.nz
        http://www.projectesther.co.nz
        dmarsden@swbc.org.nz

          • mikecrudgephd

            Yes, South West Baptist is a new name for two churches that have become one-church-two-sites: Halswell Baptist Church and Spreydon Baptist Church, which are located in the south west suburban area of Christchurch.

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  20. John Tucker Reply

    This is a great initiative, Thalia! I’d also add Julia Pilbrow. Julia is married to Lance Pilbrow, Associate Pastor at North Point Baptist in New Plymouth. Julia is a trained lawyer and is
    currently completing a Masters of Applied Theology through Carey. She preaches occasionally, and very well. 🙂

      • Lydia Reply

        No I’m not: I was visiting Nelson on a brief personal/writing retreat last year and found myself paranoid and deeply lonely as lots of internal stuff made it to the surface. I Googled for local churches and ended up attending a service there. Susan greeted me after the service and soon enough I was crying… she invited me to her home for lunch and I made some new friends that day. She was just a very warm person with an open mind, heart and home. I had never been in an Anglican church before and I loved her down-to-earth style. It was a moment where the church really did its work… through Susan and the others there 🙂

  21. Stacey Reply

    Sandy Elkin, from St Matts in Dunedin. She led an excellent lecture series on the New Testament last year, is thoughtful, insightful and generally terrific.

    I can’t believe I didn’t think of her before. Cultural misogyny is far reaching (to my own shame!)

    • Steph Reply

      Sandy is also a bioethicist and is very highly regarded as an academic. I second your nomination of her Stacy!
      I wondered about adding Katie Elkin to this list too but I’m not actually sure if she does Christian conference speaking. She is certainly a sought after speaker at academic and legal conferences on medical law.

  22. michelle print Reply

    Dr Rev Susan Thompson-Methodist Minister. I have had the pleasure of hearing a couple of her sermons. They are beautifully crafted and hopeful. She has a lovely way of delivering her sermon ie she is not ‘shouty’ (to use our 11 year olds term for rating teachers)

  23. Peter Li eham Reply

    Carolyn Manning, former associate pastor of Eden Community Church and counsellor and lecturer. Aucklamd based. Contact candbmanning@vodafone.co.nz. Very insightful.
    Sheila Pritchard, former BCNZ (now Laidlaw) lecturer now spiritual director and counsellor, Ponsonby Baptist Church. S.pritch@xtra.co.nz. Provcoative challenging of shibboleths, deep insights.
    Helen Martin, minister of Mosgiel Presbyterian Church former worker in a nu ber of Christian education age cies. Helen artindn@gmail.com very shrewd and perceptive
    Jenny McIntosh pastor counsellor jenny ac50@gmail.com wellington based
    Have other ideas eg some scripture union staff and anglican ministers but these are very good

    • not a wild hera Reply

      Thanks so much, Peter. Great list.

      I see the N and M on your device aren’t working so well… I’ll add them in and hope I’ve got it right on the addresses etc 🙂

  24. Laura Reply

    I’d like to put in a few votes!

    Steph Couch
    Youth Pastor at Shore Grace, Greenhithe (Wesleyan Methodist), Youth Work at Albany Junior HIgh; Steph is enthusiastic and passionate. stepheniecouch@gmail.com

    Nat Donald
    Ex youth pastor, current early childhood teacher and holistic superstar on issues of faith, community, health, teaching. nat.donald@gmail.com

    Amanda Pilbrow
    Young Adults Pastor and regular preacher at Windsor Park. Honest and challenging.
    amanda.pilbrow@windsorpark.org.nz

    Sarah Davidson
    Carey Mission Track Student and working part time at Windsor. Huge heart for the Bible and also refugees.
    sehz.davidson@gmail.com

  25. Tash Reply

    I’m just catching up with this list, Thalia. Brilliant, really. And very honoured to have made it – especially that George sent it through. The bio that I use these days is along the lines of a focus on adolescent development, spiritual formation and communities. This is a great site. Well done.

  26. Pingback: The Church’s Missing Workforce | Sacraparental

  27. Minson Reply

    Would like to reccomend the following woman for your list
    Name: Megan Herles-Mooar

    Anglican Priest at St Christopher’s Church Avonhead Christchurch. Guest tutor at Laidlaw College in Women in Leadership and Narrative Preaching.

    Inspired narrative preacher and great public speaker who connects the human experience with the Gospel in a powerful way.

    Can hear some of her sermons on http://www.stchristophers.org.nz/ I believe she has a facebook page

  28. Aisha Te Kani Reply

    Hi there. I don’t have a website but I just want to make some connections with other Christian women who are speakers. You can view a short talk that I have given at the following link

    • thaliakr Reply

      Great, hi Aisha!

      What sort of subject matter/areas/kind of events do you mostly do? Would you like to share a bit of background? 🙂

  29. Janet Balcombe Reply

    I don’t feel like a convicted kidnapper, meth-survivor or ex-longtime girlfriend of a meth cook; but someone given a second chance.

    I didn’t have a plan for my life, but sitting in jail on a raft of charges including kidnapping, guns, drugs and counterfeiting was a little disappointing.

    If this wasn’t rock bottom it would certainly do until I got there. But years later, lying amongst the ruins of my toxic life I knew I’d had finally arrived.

    Grief. Meth-addiction. Adultery. Evil. Brokenness.

    My life was a psychotic hybrid of Breaking Bad and Paranormal Activity. There had to be a divine intervention or things just weren’t going to end well. But no matter how bad things get, there’s hope.

    Out of it all came the memoir ‘Take a Walk on the Wild Side’ – a classic good vs evil piece of action and a kick-ass modern day survival story. I regularly get contacted by readers who have been inspired and encouraged by my raw and real story of redemption.

    My husband, Ray Curle was Bill Sufritzky’s campaign manager for 13 years and a founding member of Promise Keepers NZ. We speak and minister together in the area of healing and deliverance.

    Take a Walk on the Wild Side was a finalist in the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust – Mind Body Spirit Literary Awards 2015. You can find me on Facebook.

  30. Dr Janelle Sinclair Reply

    My name is Dr Janelle Sinclair. I am a mother of two, a christian (I go to Elim and grew up in the Salvation Army), I am a biochemist and natural medicine practitioner. I specialise in the area of mental wellness. I am a speaker, and I speak about natural solutions for depression, anxiety, fatigue, postnatal depression, stress management etc. I believe these topics can bring freedom to God’s people. These topics might not fit for a keynote speaker for a conference, but would work for conference workshops.
    I live in Hamilton NZ, but am happy to travel. If anyone is interested, feel free to contact me.
    Thanks! Dr Janelle

  31. Fredrick Reply

    Dear servant of God ,
    Greetings of our Lord Jesus Christ ,am a Bishop serving the Lord in Fountain of Water Ministry in Kenya serving the Lord in Seminars ,Crusade ,Evangelist and in children ministry together with my wife Sarah in same ministry .i humbly invite you to come and speak in our annual Women Conference in this year 2016.as guest speaker .hope to hear from you in Jesus name.
    Bishop Fred and Sarah.

    • thaliakr Reply

      Dear Bishop Fred and Sarah,

      Thank you for your kind invitation and for the work you are doing. I’m not available to travel to Kenya in the near future, but it is possible other women listed on this page might be. You can contact them with the details they’ve provided above.

      All the best!
      Thalia (Sacraparental)

  32. Samantha Millar Reply
  33. Samantha Millar Reply

    Rosy Keane – Spoken Word poet and communicator. Communicates deep theological concepts through her work, is very engaging, throught provoking and inspiring. Works for The Salvation Army in NZ.
    https://bcmnz.wordpress.com/…/bcm-thought-matters…/

    Missy Ditchburn – Church Pastor, The Salvation Army Glen Eden.
    A passionate and gifted preacher, can speak from any text. She has a passion for social justice and is a great communicator in this arena. Has also preached on Gender Equality in the past.
    https://soundcloud.com/salvation-army-glen-eden/herding-cats

    Margaret Hay – A retired Salvation Army Officer. Won Britains Preacher of the Year in 2000 (was the first woman to win it). A really gifted communicator. Could probably be contacted through The Salvation Army in Upper Hutt.
    http://www.csmonitor.com/2000/1220/p1s4.html

  34. edward qaser Reply

    Dear Brother /Sister ,

    It is my privilege to have an email with you. I am Pastor Edward Qaser from Lahore , Pakistan. I am serving the Lord Jesus Christ with Evangelistic and Humanity based ministry , to glorify His name and there is good team of Ministers working with us in the field of Harvest in Pakistan. Our main focus is to reach to unreached with Love of Christ.
    People of Pakistan need of knowing about the truth and Love of our Lord Jesus Christ especially the poor people are deprived one.
    Dear , EGM Pakistan is a Humanity base organization and working for the development of the human beings its main object is to mitigate the effects of poverty, disease, illiteracy, disasters, human rights abuse and environmental degradation, on the human race at grass roots level and against all odds, restore its decorum.
    We accomplish this mission by implementing various community based programs like Empowerment of women projects , Computer Centers, Sewing Centers, Relief in disasters, Provide food to Poor and Disable families, Orphan Center, Scholarship for Poor and Needy Students .
    I want to invite you with great love and encouraging words to come to Pakistan and bring the Good News of Lord Jesus with people of Pakistan. Only 2.8 % Christian in Pakistan out of 200 million people , so there is an urgent need of Servants of the Lord.
    May Lord lay burden on your heart for your Pakistani brethren .
    We are inviting you come to Pakistan to conduct crusades, seminars, Leadership conferences and Evangelical Meetings … Hope to hear from you as soon as….

    God Bless you
    Edward Qaser ( Director )
    Cell :- 92-300-843-7639
    Office :- 92-423-596-5371
    website :- http://www.egm.org.pk

  35. Sarah Harris Reply

    Good news! I see this list is now live on the Baptist Life-Long Learning page.(http://www.lifelonglearning.nz/women).
    As the list is quite old now, is there any chance of an update? There are many on the list who have moved roles, are in new roles, and even one who has died. I am also sure there will be more women to add to the list.

    • thaliakr Reply

      Yes, good idea to do an update. The list is crowdsourced, so will depend on readers and speakers giving updated info. I’ll do a promo in a minute, and if you could share it round on FB that would be helpful!

  36. Helen Brereton Reply

    The glorious Josie Te Kahu – a passionate advocate for Māori and women and currently NZ Bapt Union VP, the fabulous Reti Ah-Voa – on staff at Carey Bapt Coll , passionate about women, multicultural participation and leadership and is an ex-misso in Middle East, the wonderful Jo Robertson – multi-talented but esp passionate about sexuality and pornography

  37. Christina Reply

    Eleanor Sanderson recently appointed Assistant Bishop in the Wellington Diocese of the Anglican Church, and Rosemary Dewerse recently appointed Research Fellow at Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership
    Kirstin Cant NZCMS
    Also lots of Mission Agencies have female speakers that may be available but are not able to make their names publicly available so people should feel free to get in touch with agencies and ask who they have.

  38. Caleb Day Reply

    Here are a few I can definitely recommend. Words written by me, not them.

    Bronwyn Kerr
    Stillwaters Community, Wellington
    Ending sexual and domestic violence in church and society; Te Tiriti o Waitangi; LGBTIQA+ justice. Experience in Treaty education, bicultural supervision, restorative justice facilitation, church education, preaching, queer youth work, and social work with people who have been abused and people who have done abuse. Education in theology, social work, te reo Māori and kaitiakitanga/supervision.
    https://www.facebook.com/Ngati.Manene/

    Rosie Fyfe
    Anglican Diocese of Wellington/NZCMS/Stillwaters Community, Wellington
    Community development and refugee ministry work in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Wellington. Seminary trained in US.

    Cat Noakes-Duncan
    Lower Hutt
    Community development in central Wellington, Newtown, South Dunedin, and Naenae with Urban Vision. Teaching and raising children on the autism spectrum. Anglican.
    https://www.neighbourly.co.nz/organisation/spectrum-playgroup

  39. Bronwyn Kerr Reply
  40. KOREANRASHI : MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER Reply

    The reason there are few women being asked to speak in conferences is not because there aren’t enough gifted women, nor always because a conference is being sexist. It is simply that the women are invisible.
    i love this line ever.

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