tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post3633021488304763916..comments2024-03-14T10:22:46.180+00:00Comments on We Mixed Our Drinks: Are women deserting the church - and what can be done?Hannah Mudgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06367085612049349757noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-50936444733369428672011-08-30T18:14:01.379+01:002011-08-30T18:14:01.379+01:00serenasnape - I can see how this would happen! At ...serenasnape - I can see how this would happen! At my church I haven't experienced a culture of resentment as yet and I do know that people across all age groups are in general very happy to volunteer but I think that some people have to realise just how busy life is these days. And of course, it's difficult to talk about money, particularly at smaller churches which might not be able to employ people. I go to a large church with a lot of employees and they all have to work very hard to keep everything running although some people do help out on a volunteer basis. Many people just can't afford to work for free, though!Hannah Mudgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06367085612049349757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-45559271182722624002011-08-11T15:02:07.240+01:002011-08-11T15:02:07.240+01:00Great read - thank you! Interesting stats as well...Great read - thank you! Interesting stats as well. The recent emphasis on 'getting men back' and the blame of the 'feminisation of church' as driven me insane - what about the women that are leaving?! Would 'manning' up church help them? Do men matter more? I think not! We need to address issues relating to both genders - and all classes, ages, etc. <br /><br />JoJo Royalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08660256915350483156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-3542461299666104252011-08-11T11:09:22.110+01:002011-08-11T11:09:22.110+01:00Another really helpful post, thanks Hannah. I am ...Another really helpful post, thanks Hannah. I am a 20-something woman, and found myself nodding along as I read! I fully intend to avail myself of mother-type groups once I am one, but right now that's not relevant to me or most of my friends (and being settled and married, I'm closer to them than most but still...!). I am lucky to have flexible working hours because I am self-employed, but even so daytime events are often impossible to attend.<br /><br />My husband and I have recently changed church, but it was noticeable at our old church that the older generations seemed bewildered by the lack of people to do all the jobs that they did when they were young marrieds. They seemed completely oblivious to the fact that most women have not married and had two kids and given up work - despite the fact that all the mothers in our church were going back to work part-time! This led to a resentment (occasionally expressed but frequently felt) against the younger generation for not "pulling their weight", coupled with a reluctance to pay anyone to do jobs that have "always been done for nothing" in the past. The sad thing about that was that young people moving back from university would have been so delighted to do a paid internship or similar, even for a year or two.<br /><br />Your point about gender language, particularly the ridicule of men as feminine (cough*Mark Driscoll*cough) is RIGHT ON.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com