I Wish My Church Knew...

Recently Her.meneutics asked people to enter a summer writing contest addressing what they wished their church knew.

More than 150 women with ages ranging from 16 to 70+ responded from across the world. Here is the list of topics they submitted. "I wish my church knew . . .

the pain of miscarriage

the importance of female pastors as role models

that we don't have all the answersthat singles need ministry too

that we can learn something from the LGBT communitythe demands of women who work

the pervasiveness of mental illness

to teach us how to arguethe forgotten power of reciting the psalms

to stop looking for the next big thingthe needs of rural women

what it's like to be an evangelical introver

thow to talk about addictionthe ministry opportunities for adults with disabilities

how to make disciples out of senior citizens

what it's really like to be a pastor's kid

the pain of domestic violence victims

the effectiveness of intergenerational ministry

to value preschoolers for their sake, not to reach their parents

the struggles of chronic illness

the practice of healing confession

what it's like to walk into a bar

the dangers of being middle class

how many of us are dealing with depression

that Christians don't need to mourn the loss of Christian America

that worship isn't about us

that I love the church just the way it is

the place for stillness in the church

not to pretend to be perfect

how to feel like family

The editor wrote, "Some of these topics came up over and over again, especially ones related to mental illness, singleness, and introversion. The church isn't just for happy and healthy married extroverts. . . . "Here is one of the first essays, which comes from a single mom.How would you answer the question?