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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (386
notes).

Note 384 by UMNS on Oct. 14, 1997 at 16:06 Eastern (4880 characters).

CONTACT: Linda Green				 572(10-21-71B){384}
	    Nashville, Tenn. (615)742-5470		Oct. 14, 1997

Study finds United Methodist Clergywomen leaving 
local church 10 percent faster than clergymen	
	
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - A four-year study indicates that United Methodist
clergywomen leave local church ministry at a 10 percent higher rate than men.
	The results of the "United Methodist Clergywomen Retention Study," conducted
by the Anna Howard Shaw Center of Boston University School of Theology and the
denominations Division of Ordained Ministry were presented at the annual
meeting of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry here,
Oct. 9-12. 
	According to the research, the study found that lack of support from the
hierarchical system, inability to maintain their integrity in the system,
rejection from congregations/parishioners, and the conflict of family and
pastoral responsibilities are major reasons women are leaving local church
ministry.
	The main objectives of the study were to identify reasons clergywomen leave
local church ministry and identify ways the church structure can intervene to
retain them. 
	Margaret Wiborg, director of the center, said, "We have named this experience
of gender-related issues that lead to clergywomen leaving local ministry. No
clergywoman has to think she is all alone again." 
	Wiborg said the issue "needs to be dealt with for the health of the church."
	The study was prompted by clergywomen of the Southern New England Conference
who in 1991 wanted to know why so many of their colleagues were disappearing
from local church ministry.  The Rev. Lynn Scott, staff member of the Division
of Ordained Ministry was hearing the same concern expressed in other
conferences.
	A questionnaire was sent to 2,495 of the estimated 4,000 clergywomen in the
denomination -- full and probationary -- 1,388 responded. Telephone interviews
were conducted with 143 participants.
	"There had been studies done before based on peoples attitudes toward
clergywomen but not ones based on the womens experiences," said the Rev. Beth
Collier, Shaw scholar and researcher for the Clergywomen Retention Study.
	"Women sent back the questionnaires with writing all up and down the sides
and all over the page," Scott said. "They were so grateful someone was asking
them about their experiences."
	Approximately 81 percent of the participants indicated they entered ordained
ministry because of a specific call to preach. Eighty-two percent said they
intended to serve as local church pastors after receiving their elders
orders.
	"Women really felt called to their ministry, so why, after they had fought so
hard for ordination, were they leaving?" was one of the questions Wiborg
wanted answered.
	The study researched ethnicity, marital status and denominational background.
The interviews showed clergywomen struggled with a system that was not
supportive as they encountered theological, social, cultural and biological
issues different from the issues clergymen face. Findings also showed women
leaving to enter another type of ministry such as a chaplaincy or governing
board of the church.
	One of the interviewees said: "There was a man in one of the churches who was
convinced I was demon-possessed [because I was a woman] and spread that
around. There was a Baptist Church in that county that had a covenant service
in which they decided to pray without ceasing until I left the county . . .
And I did!"
	In the interviews, 74 percent of the clergywomen had negative comments about
the appointive system. 
	One woman said, "One of the things that I have found in all of the
appointments, I think, frustrating was that when the district superintendent
told the church who they wanted to appoint there, it always seemed to be a
defining factor that I was a woman . . . Not Heres what the person is like,
heres what the person can do, heres a little bit about the person. But,
Hold on to your seats, were going to send you a woman."
	The retention study challenges the appointive system, annual conference
leaders, clergy colleagues, congregations, seminaries and clergywomen. 
According to Scott, the division of ordained ministry plans to develop ways to
use the survey results to make changes that will promote more equitable,
cooperative and respectful attitudes for men and women within the church.
The study indicates that the loss of these clergywomen "should be the grief of
the entire church." It states the "local church has lost clergywomen who
wanted to be in ministry in that setting and who appreciated and respected the
life and relationships found in the local church."
For more information on the United Methodist Clergywomen Retention Study,
contact Scott at P.O. Box 871, Nashville, Tenn. 37202-0871; telephone: (615)
340-7391.
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