A groundbreaking, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary analysis of women's experiences in World ChristianityWomen in World Christianity: Building and Sustaining a Global Movement is the first textbook to focus on women's experiences in the founding, spread, and continuation of the Christian faith. Integrating historical, theological, and social scientific approaches to World Christianity, this innovative volume centers women's perspectives to illustrate their key role in Christianity becoming a world religion, including how they sustain the faith in the present and their expanding role in the future.Women in World Christianity features findings from the Women in World Christianity Project, a groundbreaking study that produced the first quantitative dataset on gender in every Christian denomination in every country of the world. Throughout the text, special emphasis is placed on women in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the period of Christianity's shift from the global North to the global South. Easily accessible chapters - organized by continent, tradition, and select topics - introduce students to the wide variety of Christian belief and practice around the world. The book also discusses issues specifically relevant to women in the church: gender-based violence, ecology, theological education, peacebuilding and more. This textbook:* Provides a balanced view of women's involvement in Christianity as a world religion and how they sustain the faith today* Introduces students to female theologians around the world whose scholarship is generally overlooked in Western theological education* Discusses women's essential contributions to Christian mission, leadership, education, relief work, healthcare, and other social services of the church* Complements the growing body of literature about Christian women from different continental, regional, national, and ecclesiastical perspectives* Explores the contributions of contemporary Christian women of all major denominations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Oceania* Helps students become more aware of the unique challenges women face worldwide, and what they are doing to overcome themWomen in World Christianity: Building and Sustaining a Global Movement is an excellent primary textbook for introductory courses on World Christianity, History of Christianity, World Religions, Gender in Religion, as well as undergraduate and graduate courses specifically focused on women in World Christianity.

Acknowledgments xList of Tables xiiList of Figures xvIntroduction: Why Women in World Christianity? 1Gender and Quantitative Research on World Christianity 2Women in the World Today 4Is World Christianity a Women's Movement? 6Contents of This Book 7Part I Women in World Christianity by Continent 111 Women in World Christianity 13World Christianity, 1900-2050 14World Christianity by Major Tradition, Family, and Denomination 19Dynamics of Religious Change 24Women in Christian History 26Women in Social Scientific Research 28Women in Theology 31Conclusion 322 Women in African Christianity 35Christianity in Africa, 1900-2050 37Women in African Christianity: Past and Present 42African Women in Theology 49Conclusion 503 Women in Asian Christianity 54Christianity in Asia, 1900-2050 56Women in Asian Christianity: Past and Present 62Asian Women in Theology 70Conclusion 714 Women in European Christianity 76Christianity in Europe, 1900-2050 78Women in European Christianity: Past and Present 84European Women in Theology 91Conclusion 925 Women in Latin American and Caribbean Christianity 97Christianity in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1900-2050 98Women in Latin American and Caribbean Christianity: Past and Present 105Latin American and Caribbean Women in Theology 112Conclusion 1136 Women in North American Christianity 117Christianity in North America, 1900-2050 118Women in North American Christianity: Past and Present 124North American Women in Theology 132Conclusion 1347 Women in Oceanic Christianity 138Christianity in Oceania, 1900-2050 139Women in Oceanic Christianity: Past and Present 145Oceanic Women in Theology 150Conclusion 152Part II Women in World Christianity by Tradition and Movement 1578 Women in Catholicism 159Catholics, 1900-2050 160Women in Catholic History 164Vignettes: Catholic Women Worldwide 166Conclusion 1769 Women in Orthodox Christianity 181Orthodox, 1900-2050 182Women in Orthodox History 187Vignettes: Orthodox Women Worldwide 191Conclusion 19410 Women in Protestant Christianity 197Protestants, 1900-2050 198Women in Protestant History 202Vignettes: Protestant Women Worldwide 205Conclusion 21111 Women in Independent Christianity 215Independents, 1900-2050 216Women in Independent Christian History 220Vignettes: Independent Women Worldwide 223Conclusion 22812 Women in Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity 231Pentecostals/Charismatics, 1900-2050 232Women in Pentecostal/Charismatic History 237Vignettes: Pentecostal/Charismatic Women Worldwide 239Conclusion 24513 Women in Evangelicalism 248Evangelicals, 1900-2050 249Women in Evangelical History 254Vignettes: Evangelical Women Worldwide 256Conclusion 259Part III Women in World Christianity by Select Topics 26314 Christianity and Gender-based Violence 265Gender-based Violence and Discrimination Worldwide 266Christianity and Gender-based Violence 268Christian Responses to Gender-based Violence 272Conclusion 27915 Christian Women and Ecology 284Global Ecological Challenges 285Gendered Impacts of Ecological Challenges 286Christian Responses to Ecological Challenges 287Conclusion 29516 Christian Women and Theological Education 300Historical Vignette: Women and Theological Education in the United States 301Women and Theological Education Worldwide Today 302Conclusion 31117 Christian Women and Peacebuilding 316What is Peacebuilding? 317Christianity and Peace 319Vignettes: Christian Women in Peacebuilding 320Conclusion 326Conclusion 330Further Research 332Appendices 334Glossary 345Index 352