Page 38 | Volume 1 | The Leadership Journal of Dallas Baptist University

38 Ducere Est Servire: THE LEADERSHIP JOURNAL OF DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY and non-millennial generations share several concerns about factors that may impact the future of women’s ministry. Seven items reaching consensus were shared between the two panels including leadership opportunities and development for women; technology and social media; home life and family issues; racism and ethnic relations; gender issues; prominence of national women’s ministries and their leaders; and generational differences. Although there was general agreement on the factors potentially impacting women’s ministry, the two panels did not agree on which factors will have the greatest impact. The millennial generation was more focused on factors arising from the church, including clarity of the mission and vision in the church, focus on previously taboo subjects such as homosexuality and abortion, and home life and family issues. The non-millennial panel was more outwardly focused listing leadership opportunities and development for women, rising numbers of un-churched and de-churched, and postmodernism and relative truth as most significant. Modern church culture has predominately been defined by the older generation’s values and, as a result, Christianity in the United States has taken on many characteristics of the corporate world. People with the title of director now lead ministries instead of pastors. There is extensive use of hierarchical leadership that is often instructed to protect and grow the local church. Millennials agree there is some value to business structure in the local church, but they do not respond positively to business structure taking priority over the needs or interests of people in the community.28 Women’s ministries that resemble organized, corporate structures have found it difficult to attract and engage young women in ministry. The current study illustrates the disparity in how women of different generations understand the future direction of ministry with women. The non-millennial panel described women’s ministry as becoming more intentional and focused on relationships and mentoring, but they also maintained the desire for organized events and retreats. Structure was still a significant part of the women’s ministry design and application. In contrast, the millennial panel described women’s ministry as becoming casual and organic, focused on local small groups,

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