What's Wrong With This Picture?

"Blessed art thou, O God, for not making me a Gentile, slave, or woman." (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Menachot)

According to The Barna Group, a recent survey of 603 "Christian" women over the age of 18 revealed that:

81% of the women polled, say that their church provides women with the same degree of leadership opportunities as Jesus would.

While I respect much of the work of The Barna Group, they have come under scrutiny and criticism regarding this particular survey methodology. Let me try to paint by number here to give an accurate picture of women in Protestant Churches in the US.

According to research by The Barna Group, there are up to 13 million more Christian women than Christian men in the United States.

Citing women as the "spiritual heavyweights," the Barna Group found they were:
57 percent more likely to attend an adult Sunday school class.
56 percent more likely to hold a leadership position. (not senior pastors)
54 percent more likely to join a small group.

70-80% of the Christian book market are...you guessed it...women (according to Michael Hyatt, Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Now, compare that picture to the fact that, less than 5% of Senior Pastorate positions in Protestant churches are held by women. ("Why Men Hate Going To Church" by David Murrow)

So, to summarize, while women make up more than 50% of church volunteer staffs and Christian education students and more than 70% of the Christian book market, less than 5% of Senior Pastorate positions are held by women.

What's wrong with this picture? (aside from the fact that the survey methodology was biased) It does not fit the Scriptural example painted by Christ throughout his ministry. It does not match the New Testament picture of the Early Church (even given the fact that the culture at that time was horribly oppressive with regards to women).

Jesus came for one purpose: to reconcile lost humanity with a loving creator. He didn't do it the way the religious elite thought he should. Every single interaction he had with a woman ascribed value and communicated empowerment in a culture where women were constantly devalued and kept in subservience. His purpose was not to be a revolutionary, however his life revolutionized the world. Perhaps its time to color outside the lines. Perhaps it's time to paint a different picture.