Center for Women in Christian Ministry

Supporting Women in Ministry

Our aim is to support women in ministry regardless of how or where they are serving. At Abilene Christian, more than 63% of students and 52% of instructional faculty are women, making our work vital throughout our university. We strive to create opportunities for community-building and provide resources for all women pursuing service in ministry.

Find Your Place Here

The Center for Women in Christian Ministry serves the communities both on and off campus. Not only do we support our undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff, but we are equipped to mentor any women desiring to serve in ministry. Whether you are formally pursuing a vocation of ministry or simply seeking to minister to others as an active part of your life, you have a place here. We invite you to reach out and join us for an event or let us walk alongside you as you help others grow closer to Christ.

What do we offer?

We provide a variety of resources both on campus and in our surrounding communities, including:

Support for women pursuing careers in or currently serving in ministry
Opportunities for building community and relationships through small and large group gatherings
Vocational support to help with an interview, resumé and contract processes
Connections with job and leadership development opportunities
An environment in which women called to ministry are able to lean into their giftedness

Find Support in Community

We offer both large group and small group gatherings designed to support our community of women pursuing ministry. We invite you to join us for our monthly small group chapel. Whether we are worshiping together or reflecting on God’s word, you will experience a time of encouragement and affirmation. We hope you will join us!

Small Group Chapel

Fourth Tuesday each month
11 a.m.
Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building
Room 105

Chelsea Stirman (’21)
Family Minister
Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, San Antonio, TX

“Ministry can be a relatively isolated job, much more so as a woman in a church historically led by men. Having a support network throughout the educational process that has followed me into ministry has been crucial in helping me feel like I have people in my corner. Both growing in theological understanding and practicing ministry require deep inner work, and sharing this work within a supportive community gave me roots and encouragement along my journey.”

Connect with Us

Are you ready to join us? Do you want to learn more? Stop by our office or email us for more information.

Office location
Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building – Room 230

Office hours:
Monday 8-10 a.m.
Wednesday 8-10 a.m.
Friday 9-10 a.m.

Send us an email

Meet the Director

Dr. Jennifer Schroeder

Dr. Jennifer Schroeder has more than 17 years of ministry experience working as an executive minister and children’s minister. In addition to directing the CWCM, she serves as Summit director for the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry and teaches in the ACU Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry.

Inspiration from the Founder

“The road is not as smooth as we wish it was, the road will be rocky, but you have the strength through God—
through the Spirit—to not give up or abandon the calling.”

Dr. Jeanene Reese, Founder

“People talk about developing a thick skin, don’t. Keep your heart tender. Keep yourself open to both joy and sorrow.”

“Nothing that you learn will be wasted.”

“Recognize that the calling may take different avenues than you expected, don’t be afraid of that.”

Our Story

The Center for Women in Christian Ministry, formerly known as the Center for Women in Christian Service, was founded in the early 90s by Dr. Jeanene Reese.

Dr. Reese has taught at ACU for over 32 years. Within this time she has held many positions such as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Associate Chair for the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry. She also participated in a number of committees throughout her tenure at ACU and was a founding member of the Board for the Community of Women Ministers in Churches of Christ. Dr. Reese now teaches as an adjunct professor at ACU and serves on the Leadership Team and as a Lead Equipper for Come before Winter, an organization that exists to renew, equip, honor and unite men and women in ministry around the world.

What began as a proposal to ACU’s College of Biblical Studies to create a Minister-in-Residence position for women soon morphed into the creation of the CWCM. For over 30 years, the center has aimed to support, equip and guide women going into ministry and ministry-related fields both while at ACU and after they have graduated. Under Dr. Reese’s leadership the CWCM provided a wide array of services for women at ACU, in Abilene and even beyond that. Services provided by the center in the past included formal and practical training in public speaking and teaching, assistance for women in all areas of ministry including the wives of ministers and elders, and retreats and conferences for women ministers. The center has also provided partnership and consultations to churches discussing how to set up a women’s ministry, how to incorporate women in ministry staff, and how to address the issue of women’s roles in the church.

Today, the CWCM continues to support women pursuing careers in or currently serving in ministry by providing opportunities for building community and relationships through small and large group gatherings, vocational support to help with an interview, resumé and contract processes, connections with job and leadership development opportunities, and an environment in which women called to ministry are able to lean into their giftedness.

Since 1906, Abilene Christian University faculty and staff have been living out our mission to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. We believe Christian ministry more important now than ever, and we want to support your efforts as you pursue your calling.

Connecting Our Women of God