I went to the first “woman’s Bible study” that I have attended for a long time. I was among a number of women who stated that they did not particularly care for these… but we were there, and it was probably partly due to the fact that our church is new and it matters whether you support things that are getting started. But it sort of got me thinking…for those of us who have turned off to women’s ministries, including the Bible studies, why is that? For one of the women who spoke up about her feelings, it was her lack of “emotional” approach- she just didn’t connect on that usual “feminine” basis. For me, I think it is that little promised has come through this means. I have loved studying the bible, but not in women’s groups so much…and it isn’t as if I haven’t tried. I’ve gone to plenty over the years.
This one is in the format that many of the more recent ones that I had attended had been: centered around a DVD with workbook lessons to use during the week. It is a “Beth Moore” program, the first I’ve ever listened to. Maybe one of her proffered observations about the way women treat women (not always kindly) is one basis for women who have been disappointed in women’s ministries.
Anyway, more for my daughter than myself, I will give it a shot and think a little more about how women’s ministries can be a benefit for those of us who attend them.
Have any thoughts on your own experience?
Whilst I have enjoyed many Women’s Bible Studies, I do feel that they tend to be very ‘dilute’. When you have an active and able mind academically, I find that Women’s Bible Studies have never really hit the spot and I would gain far more being with the men! Also as a young, single woman, I have found that I don’t really fit in – all of the other women are older and married! We seem to have little common ground in order to discuss things, which is a real shame!
I get where you are coming from completely… even though I’m older and married 🙂
I only attended the introduction, but thought the topic in this particular study was one that had interest for younger women ( and thus my daughter’s interest) of being comfortable in your “woman’s skin” ,dealing with power, and in a “pagan” society. I liked the fact that I learned something new. Now I know what the “whole megillah” means.
Beth Moore has a style I’m used to, having listened to women preachers in Pentecostal settings. I’m not sure how the physical study will be- breaking up into small discussion groups after viewing the video.
Maybe some of the women’s Bible study format has been done to death, and it might be better for some of us if it has some newness and edge to it .
I hate women’s small groups, Bible studies, etc…. I find that among church women, I am expected to either a.) “expose” a side of me that actually doesn’t exist or I am considered to have “walls up” b) talk about shoes, clothes, pregnancy and What Not to Wear (even though I think it’s shameful that any Christian woman watches that show), c) talk about how my husband and I are so different and how he doesn’t really understand me (he does) and d) talk about how refreshing it is to have “girl time” and how important it is to have “girlfriends” when, in actuality, I truly see people as just people and relate way better to concepts and ideas, not feelings.
Even if we are talking about the Word, the DVD we’re watching, or theology, it always slips in there…
Maybe it’s because I have a dad and a husband who love shopping with their wives and daughters, voluntarily do the dishes after dinner, sit through chic-flicks while tearing up more than their wives do, and spend hours each week just lounging on the couch chatting with their wives about their thoughts and plans and days…
So… maybe I think women only find in other women what they can’t, but should be able to, find in their husbands, so I don’t understand the need for all the “girl talk”, Christian based or not.
Just where I stand… I get that other women enjoy it…
Elizabeth, I like hearing your take… and it is one that many women share, but not widely discussed. Maybe there isn’t a platform for that, or maybe we tend to feel guilty about not liking something that is supposed to be so “good” for us”.
I see more of a need for women sharing together than I did in the past, but feel like it gets really mangled in the way we’ve done the women’s groups heretofore.