I read Jim's "If women run the church" to be a statement of fact more than a statement of women's desires.  Most (male) pastors and leaders acknowledge that women ARE the backbone of the church.  The Sunday School teachers and potluck cookers and secretaries and schedulers...oh, and the attenders.  And the kid-bringers.  And the husband-bringers.

We are the church.  But not the teaching leadership in most evangelical churches.

Some of my women friends whom you know (Paula, Kara, among others) have left evangelicalism for mainline churches, women's empowerment being one though not the sole reason. Some, like my friend Rachel, have left "ministry" for "the world" because they hit a much bigger glass ceiling in the church--Rachel had had more Bible credits than anyone else on staff except perhaps the senior pastor--at one time--but could never be "Children's Pastor" or even "Associate Pastor" and felt like she was hitting her head against that ubiquitous glass ceiling. Now she uses her many gifts in a secular school classroom (and they are lucky to have her).  Some go to the mission field, where by dint of the scarcity of any sort of leadership, women are often allowed lives of scope they aren't in the American evangelical church.  (That was my plan until I nearly lost my faith, found enough of it to keep clinging to Jesus, and married a US-rooted man.)

Our church is finally mentoring women into a teaching role--but sadly, our senior pastor has been thwarted in this desire (so he says, and I believe him) by many older WOMEN in the church who have been taught (what he and I consider) bad theology about women in ministry.  We did have Roberta Hestenes speak at our church, and I did, sadly, notice some people walk out.  Including some women.

Ah, well, kids to put to bed, other things to think about, but mostly I wanted to say "thanks" to you for writing this and for "Provoketive" for publishing it.  I can't wait to read more.