Special to the CSB

FRESNO - Do California pastors really understand the women in their congregations?

In 2006, author Denise George and the California Southern Baptist conducted a statewide survey asking women what they want their pastor to know about women in the church. According to the results, here are the top three findings:

1. California Baptist women greatly appreciate their church pastors. They write:

•  "I wish our pastor knew how much we love him and support him."
•  "I pray for my pastor and I appreciate the work he does."
•  "I enjoy my pastor's sermons and the way he brings his love of God to all the people around him."
•  "I care about my pastor because of his love and ministry to us, to our children and our grandchildren."

2. California Baptist women crave God's Word, and desire to learn deeper theology from their pastor.

•  "Please, pastor, preach God's Word from the pulpit."
•  "We live in a time of intense spiritual hunger. We are searching for theological answers to our deepest questions."
•  "Women want to study serious theology. We want spiritual 'meat,' not spiritual 'milk.'"
•  "Women need God's truth from God's Word in order to survive the demands of everyday life. We need God's Word to help us get through the following week!"

3. California Baptist women want to use their individual spiritual gifts, and be more involved in the work of the church.

• "Pastor, please identify our spiritual gifts, train and equip us, and let us work within the congregation. Sometimes it just takes a little coaxing to get us to develop and use our gifts, but we are willing to work."
• "Encourage us and empower us to use our spiritual gifts for God through our church. Point us in the right direction, and show us what needs to be done."
• "Communicate with us on a regular basis. Keep us informed about what's going on in the church and tell us how we can plug into jobs."

George used survey results from hundreds of women throughout the United States to research her new book, "What Women Wish Pastors Knew."

"Some of the responses I received surprised me," George admitted. "Some of them even shocked me! I believe church pastors will receive some great insights into the needs of church women today from these candid responses.

"My hope is that this book will help pastors better understand and minister to the women in their congregations," George said.

In most churches today, women make up 60 percent of the congregation, and there are between 11 million and 13 million more "born again" women than "born again" men in the U.S. A recent study by researcher George Barna shows that:

• women are 100 percent more likely to be involved in discipleship than men;
• 57 percent more likely to participate in a small Bible study or prayer group;
• 46 percent more likely to disciple others in faith;
• 33 percent more likely to volunteer their time and help at the church;
• 29 percent more likely to read the Bible;
• 29 percent more likely to share faith with others;
• 23 percent more likely to donate to a church;
• 16 percent more likely to pray.

Barna calls women "the backbone of the Christian congregations in America."

"One of the characteristics of women that emerges from the research," Barna writes, "is their high degree of spiritual depth. (and) half of all women (49 percent) strongly desire to be personally active in a church, compared to just one-third of men (35 percent)."

Zondervan released What Women Wish Pastors Knew in February. For more information, visit www.authordenisegeorge.com or e-mail cdwg@aol.com.