Iowa women more active in church than some

Although a national study found a drastic drop in the involvement of women in churches over the past 20 years, Eastern Iowa still sees plenty of female faces in the pews, as well as at the altar.

Barna Group, a research company in Ventura, Calif., that focuses on the intersection of faith and culture, reports that since 1991, the percentage of women attending church during a typical week has decreased by 11 percentage points to 44 percent.

Bible reading and women volunteering in churches also has decreased, according to the study, which sampled 1,000 or more randomly selected adults in 1991 and 2011.

“We're not noticing anything here,” said Dave Martin, parish manager at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 1224 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. “It's a non-issue.”

Not only is the number of women in the pews remaining steady, he said, 50 percent of the 32 lectors and servers

reading Scripture and giving Communion are women.

When he was growing up in the Lutheran Church, it wasn't as common for women to be at the altar as it is now.

“But that's a society-specific attitude, not just the church,” he said of the increase in women involved in services.

The inclusion of women and people of all faith is what attracted the Rev. Jennifer Masada to New Song Episcopal Church, 912 20th Ave., Coralville, in 2004.

“I stepped into the service for the first time and heard things said in such a fresh way,” she said. “It was a real awakening for me.”

She was so moved, she became an ordained minister in the Episcopal Church. She is one of three rotating priests at New Song, which has a ministering community, rather than a community gathered around a minister.

“The idea is for people to come to New Song, or any church, with skills and gifts to do important ministry work,” she said. “A healthy church community encourages people to offer those gifts.”

Masada, 46, of North Liberty, was ordained in 2010, after five years of education and training. New Song's priests are not paid but do not consider themselves volunteers, she said.

“It is a joy and privilege to serve,” she said. “It does take tremendous time and energy, but it's part of what I'm called to do.”

Along with church duties, Masada juggles a family and full-time job. Her two sons, 11 and 14, are active in music and school activities. Most of her day is spent in external relations for the graduate college at the University of Iowa.

Church is still part of her everyday life.

“It's a challenge to stay organized, sometimes a struggle,” she said, “but I don't think it's a struggle beyond any other woman in any other job.”

With support from her husband, Kirk Corey, she is able to spend time every day on church-related tasks.

“I set pretty clear boundaries,” she said. “Ultimately, (shared ministry) is more sustainable to keep people engaged. When a couple people do everything, boundaries go out the window.”

As younger women become more involved with their jobs and children's activities, they seem to have less time for church committees, said Janice Johnston, president of the Iowa District East Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

“We are a gray group, getting older and older,” said Johnston, 64, of Wapello. “Younger women are not as interested.”

She realizes times have changed since she was a young girl in northern Wisconsin.

“When I grew up, church was the social center in our town,” she said. “Now, the school has so many activities.”

The league's Young Women's Representatives program gives two women, ages 22 to 35, from each district a chance to attend the annual conference.

In another conscious effort to include busy women, the league offers Bible studies, devotions and “e-socieities” for women to chat with each other on its website, www.lwml.org.

While Johnston is pleased members can participate in church activities online or at remote locations, she still believes gathering at a service in a church building is important.

“It's fellowship with others and taking the Lord's Supper together,” she said. “You can't do that on a golf course. It's a time to meet together and life each other up.”