The central role of women in Christian communities worldwide is undeniable. Scholars have stated for decades that women are ‘more religious’ than men, with Christian women reporting higher rates of church attendance, prayer, and religious self-identification. The point of departure is that women have been the most active participants in Christianity across time and place.
And yet, women’s contributions to church and society are often elided from history and sidelined today. In this context, discussions on the role of women in World Christianity should go beyond facts and figures into probing the challenges and opportunities that are before them.
On Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 1400 UTC, Dr Gina A. Zurlo, Senior Researcher and Lecturer on World Christianity at Harvard Divinity School, will discuss quantitative trends in World Christianity from 1900 to today as a framework for understanding challenges and obstacles related to studying women in World Christianity. This webinar will detail several gender gaps in World Christianity in church membership, congregational participation, and pastoral leadership and provide us with a rare opportunity to discern the crucial role women played in molding our faith and witness.
