Resilience as a Woman in Ministry: Amy Leudtke’s Four Recommendations for Women in Congregational Leadership

By Jerah Winn

A Call Unexpected

Amy Luedtke did not plan on becoming a pastor. She has taught psychology at Indiana Wesleyan University for over twenty years, and even when she developed an interest in ministerial education, she expected to keep working as a professor, maybe sliding over to the religion department. But God laid out another path for her.

As a psychology professor, Pastor Amy used to teach classes for ministerial students. During breaks, she would ask them countless questions. Many of the students were entering ministry as a second career, and the process fascinated her. At the same time, she said, “I had this voracious appetite for the Word.”

That was how her ministerial education journey began. Pastor Amy got ordained four years ago, during the pandemic. After that, a pastoral role at her church, where her husband is the lead pastor, opened up.

She is now the Pastor of Care and Connection at Fairmount Wesleyan Church. The position leaves room for her to continue working part-time at her counseling practice and as a professor. She loves getting to work with congregants through counseling, visitation, visitor follow-ups, and leading the care team and prayer team. 

Navigating Ministry Challenges 

Pastor Amy and her husband have faced struggles in ministry, but she said that most of them aren’t directly related to her position as a female pastor. Not everyone in the church was comfortable with her joining the pastoral team, but “for the most part,” she said, “our culture has accepted me as a female on staff.”Many of the obstacles women in ministry have to deal with, Pastor Amy said, are problems male pastors also face. However, she also knows that women may approach and handle these challenges differently from men. A few common struggles she mentioned include the loneliness that can come with leadership, handling criticism, and making time for self-care.

“We try to be Super-Mom, Super-Pastor, Super-Wife, and then that’s just burnout waiting to happen, if we never find ways to care for ourselves.”

Pastor Amy added that the fear of not being heard might be an obstacle that’s more specific to women. She said:

“I would mention to a woman who is dealing with that to remember: The church has hired you. So that means there is confidence in you. You do have a voice, and you do have a seat at the table.”

Amy’s Four Recommendations for Women in Ministry

For managing other problems, Pastor Amy had four recommendations for women in ministry: 

1. Put God first and trust that he’ll show you the way. 

‣ Allowing yourself to be guided by the Holy Spirit will help direct every other part of your life. 

2. Get support from a community. 

‣ That could mean other pastors, mentors, or a prayer team. Pastor Amy’s support circle includes trusted family members and a prayer warrior friend. 

3. Minister to the people who rise up in your congregation who are seeking you out. 

‣ Especially for women serving on a pastoral staff, she said, the people who seek you out for discipleship can be your main focus.

“Consider them the people who God has placed under your care to shepherd.”

4. Don’t be easily offended. 

‣ Instead of taking offense quickly, she said,

“Have a heart that’s willing to forgive quickly.”

Final Encouragement

As a closing word of encouragement, Pastor Amy said:

“Delight in the Lord with everything that you have, and he takes care of the rest. And I think people will recognize that you’ve been with God.”