As church membership declines in the United States, a recent study from Rice University’s Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance reveals that working women, regardless of their affiliation with conservative or liberal congregations, don’t perceive sufficient support from their clergy and churches.

The study delves into the sentiments of working women regarding their church communities, spanning activities, sermons, and pastoral support.

Religious support

Researchers conducted over 200 hours of interviews with 107 Christian women across the country who attended religious services at least once a month and were employed (full-time or part-time) or seeking employment. Additionally, they interviewed clergy from 29 congregations around the U.S. about their church programs and services for women.

The findings indicate that working women generally feel that their employment is not appreciated within religious spaces. Some even express doubt about whether well-intentioned clergy can truly comprehend their experiences, especially given that many clergy have not worked outside of religious institutions.

“When congregations are ill-equipped to serve workers, religious individuals are left without spiritual support to bridge the Sunday–Monday gap,” the researchers explain.

Disconnected to women

According to working women who attend church, their congregations seem disconnected when organizing activities and volunteer opportunities for women, often scheduling these events during work hours. In contrast, activities for men are typically arranged on evenings or weekends.

Women interviewed also pointed out that male pastors are often reluctant to meet with them, indicating a preference for pastoral spouses to offer guidance in one-on-one sessions. This pattern was observed in both conservative and more progressive churches, suggesting that women frequently face challenges in accessing direct communication with their pastors.

“Clergymen have been taught not to meet with women to avoid the appearance of impropriety, but when nearly 80% of clergy are men and the majority of congregants are women, there isn’t adequate support there,” the authors continue.