The Table Briefing: Faith, Vocation, And Women In The Workplace -- By: Darrell L. Bock

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 176:702 (Apr 2019)
Article: The Table Briefing: Faith, Vocation, And Women In The Workplace
Author: Darrell L. Bock


The Table Briefing: Faith, Vocation, And Women In The Workplace

Darrell L. Bock

and

Mikel Del Rosario

Darrell L. Bock is senior research professor in New Testament studies and executive director for cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. Mikel Del Rosario is a doctoral student in New Testament studies, project manager for cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary, and adjunct professor of Christian apologetics and world religion at William Jessup University, Rocklin, California.

As pastors greet people each Sunday, what kinds of women do they see? Single women talking over coffee. Mothers holding babies by the nursery. Wives walking into church with their husbands. But these scenes do not tell the whole story. During the week, any of these women may report breaking news as a journalist, run a technology business, or facilitate the manufacturing of products locally and abroad. While their professional lives may seem veiled in a church setting, these women are not intentionally going undercover. They appreciate the church’s affirmation of mothers who stay at home to care for children. Still, they also want to know that pastors and ministry leaders understand the worlds of women who work outside the home.

At a Hendricks Center Leader Board event, Polished executive director Kat Armstrong revealed what she has learned ministering to millennial women: “Almost 80 percent of women over the age of 18 are working . . . and when you poll [working] women about the emotional support they feel from their local church, almost half would say they feel zero.” These women need encouragement and training for living as ambassadors of Jesus in the competitive, corporate world that awaits them after the worship service. Many are

already integrating their faith with their work in remarkable ways. But how can church leaders better understand Christian women in the workplace if we don’t take the time to hear their stories?

To this end, we sat down with Inside Edition national correspondent Megan Alexander, Marinus Analytics president Emily Kennedy, and Akola founder Brittany Underwood to discuss how they approach integrating their faith with their vocations. First, Alexander relates how her position as a reporter allows her to be a Christian influence in the media. Next, Kennedy explains how honest work in the tech industry helps law enforcement better fight human trafficking. Finally, Underwood shares how her social business creates jewelry to help marginalized women and their families flourish. We close with suggestions for how the church can better support...

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