In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Jackie sits down with Janet Ables—pastor, author, and leadership coach—to expose what it’s really like for women serving in male-dominated ministry spaces. From unequal pay and lack of titles to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) messaging that keeps women “one down,” Jackie and Janet share personal stories, theological insights, and hard-earned wisdom. Why does it matter if your church has a woman on staff? Because when women are in leadership, it expands the lens through which Scripture is interpreted, gives voice to half the congregation’s lived experiences, and reminds every woman in the pew that she, too, is made in the image of God—with gifts worth using and a calling worth honoring. Whether you’re in vocational ministry or simply attend a church, this episode will open your eyes to why women in leadership deeply matter—for all of us. Three Questions: Take a moment to think about who you were before the world told you who you should be. What do you think is your native way of being—who you’ve always been at your core? If you were exactly the same person you were at age 7—but grown—what would still be true about you? What’s stayed unchanged about how you move through the world? Take a breath and think of a moment when you felt most yourself. Not performing. Not proving. Just present. What did that version of you feel like?

The Marcella Project

Rev. Dr. Jackie Roese

#128 - Behind the Curtain: What Women Face in Church Leadership

JUN 4, 2025-1 MIN
The Marcella Project

#128 - Behind the Curtain: What Women Face in Church Leadership

JUN 4, 2025-1 MIN

Description

In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Jackie sits down with Janet Ables, pastor, author, and leadership coach, to expose what it’s really like for women serving in male-dominated ministry spaces. From unequal pay and lack of titles to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) messaging that keeps women “one down,” Jackie and Janet share personal stories, theological insights, and hard-earned wisdom.Why does it matter if your church has a woman on staff? Because when women are in leadership, it expands the lens through which Scripture is interpreted, gives voice to half the congregation’s lived experiences, and reminds every woman in the pew that she, too, is made in the image of God, with gifts worth using and a calling worth honoring. Whether you’re in vocational ministry or simply attend a church, this episode will open your eyes to why women in leadership deeply matter, for all of us.