6 Women Every Christian Should Know by Genice Phillips l Women in Christianity l Women in the Church l Impact of Women in Christianity l Role of Women l Women and Religion l Christian History

Pandita Ramabai

Pandita Ramabai was a visionary leader of woman’s rights in India. Born in 1858 as Ramabai Dongre (later named Pandita), she grew up in a home of intellectuals. Her father, a prominent Sanskrit scholar, believed in education for all and influenced Pandita’s ideas on equality and justice. She experienced much suffering throughout her life, with the passing of her family, including her husband, but during those moments of tragedy, she stood strong and fought to help others.

In 1881, she founded Arya Mahila Sabha, an organization that championed female education and a higher marriage age for girls. She moved to England at the age 25, where she became exposed to Christianity teaching and started to read the New Testament. This led to her conversion to Christianity, but she still maintained her Hindu faith and culture.

In 1889, she returned to India and opened Sharada Sadan, an Indian school for child widows. She was also the founder of the MuktiSadan, a shelter for women that suffered from abuse, disability, and other difficulties.

Her hard work, courage, and dedication made her a pioneer in women’s education and livelihood.

Anne Hutchinson

Daughter of an Anglican minister, Anne Hutchinson is known as one of the most famous women in Christianity.

With her husband, William Hutchinson, Anne frequently ministered the “covenant of grace” which attracted many people throughout her hometown, Lincolnshire, England.

Several local preachers and religious leader disliked her presence and influence within the ministry, and sought to destroy her.

In 1637 they took her trial and convicted of heresy. She was banished from the town. Her family quickly moved to Portsmouth, or what is now, Rhode Island. Supporters followed her, and she continued to challenge the role of women in ministry by encouraging women to study the Bible and increase female leadership within the church.

Amanda Berry Smith

Amanda Smith was the first African American woman to work as an international evangelist and missionary.

Born into slavery in 1837, her father sought freedom for himself and his family. He raised enough money to buy his freedom and moved his family from Long Green, Maryland to Pennsylvania.

There she grew up and converted to Christianity. She became a part of the Holiness movement, a movement that sought to publicly and openly share their faith. She became a popular speaker, and preached in churches across New York and New Jersey.

The movement will propel her to go overseas to continue preaching the Good News. She traveled to several countries, including England, Scotland, India, and many African countries. Her missionary work lasted 12 years until her return to the US in 1892. Seven years later, she founded the Amanda Smith Orphanage and Industrial Home for Abandoned and Destitute Colored Children.

Leymah Gbowee

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee organized and led the women’s peace movement in Liberia, ending the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003.

What started as women praying and singing in the markets, quickly grew into a force of women standing up for positive change. Social worker Leymah Gbowee and church leader Comfort Freeman, founders of the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET), developed and led the women’s peace movement, Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace.

"In the past we were silent, but after being killed, raped, dehumanized, and infected with diseases, and watching our children and families destroyed, war has taught us that the future lies in saying NO to violence and YES to peace,” their statement of intent reads. “We will not relent until peace prevails.”

With nonviolent peace protests, sit ins, and prayer from women of different faiths and religions, the peace movement forced then President Charles Taylor to begin peace talks in Ghana. This led to a free election and the governance of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman to be head of state in an African nation.

Leymah continues to promote peace throughout Liberia.

Bishop Minerva Carcaño

Minerva Carcaño is the first Hispanic woman to be elected to episcopacy of the United Methodist Church.

Raised in Texas, her family experienced several economic hardships which impassioned her to create a ministry that helps impoverished communities, immigrant workers and refugees.

In the late 70’s she studied theology, receiving her Masters at the Southern Methodist University in 1979. That same year, she was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church. Over the next seven years, she would serve as pastor in several churches along the west coast.

Since 2004, Carcaño has served as the Resident Bishop of the Los Angeles Episcopal Area, which includes Hawaii, and Pacific Islands.

She is a vocal advocate on immigration and supports the LGBT community.