World Christianity 2023: A Gendered Approach

Abstract

This article marks the 39th year of including statistical information on World Christianity and mission in the International Bulletin of Mission Research. This year’s focus is on women in World Christianity, highlighting results of the Women in World Christianity Project from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (2019–2021). Although women make up the majority in Christian congregations worldwide, massive data gaps still exist that hinder women’s full recognition in Christian organizations. World Christianity can be considered a women’s movement because women are more likely than men to self-identify as Christian, participate in Christian activities, and actively pass the faith to the next generation. However, a chronic lack of gender-conscious data collection makes it extremely difficult to provide a nuanced picture of women’s full participation in Christian communities worldwide.