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.

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/