SHOULD LOCAL CHURCHES HAVE MINISTRIES FOR THEIR WOMEN ON MANAGING MENOPAUSE?
Why Churches Must Embrace Menopause Ministry as Essential Spiritual Care
SHOULD LOCAL CHURCHES HAVE MINISTRIES FOR THEIR WOMEN ON MANAGING MENOPAUSE?
By Rev. Dr. Deborah G. McBride Lewis
Educator, Biblical Scholar, and Womanist Leader
Local churches of all denominations must take immediate steps to establish ministries that support female members through menopause. Church leaders should collaborate with health professionals and women in their congregations to create and promote education, resources, and compassionate support for those experiencing menopause. This intentional action will demonstrate a true commitment to holistic care, fulfilling Jesus’ call to abundant life referenced in John 10:10.
Actively supporting women ensures they can fully participate in church life and prioritize their well-being. Churches must treat menopause support as an essential part of their ministry, placing it on par with all other areas of holistic care.
By initiating support groups, hosting workshops, and launching mentorship programs, churches can foster healing, wisdom-sharing, and spiritual growth. These targeted efforts equip women to navigate change, deepen relationships, improve communication, renew intimacy, and address specific health challenges.
Deborah reports night sweats disrupting her sleep. Dianne describes how discomfort has reduced intimacy with her husband and led her to seek solutions with healthcare providers. Extending from these accounts, consider whether conditions such as osteoporosis and low bone density—risk factors for hip fractures—are affecting women such as 80-year-old Mother Douglas. These cases underscore the need for open, church-level dialogue about menopause.
Spiritually, Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made whole?” (John 5:6). Though He addresses a man seeking physical healing, His redemptive work extends to all humanity—body, mind, and spirit.
In another passage of Scripture, Jesus responds to a Canaanite woman seeking healing for her daughter: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26, NKJV). Here, “children” refers to God’s people, and the “bread” symbolizes blessings, including healing. The woman’s unwavering faith and persistence moved Jesus to grant her request, illustrating that healing is available to all who place their trust in God’s provision.
In the same way, menopause marks a normal and meaningful transition for every woman of God, often celebrated as a “second spring” of life. During this season, churches can be a source of encouragement, helping women embrace new purpose, reflect on their journey, and pursue opportunities for growth and renewal.
A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I am writing this article for two main reasons: my personal experience with post-menopausal symptoms and my involvement with the senior pastor of my former church, where this issue was brought before the elders for approval to be included in women’s ministry teaching.
Building on these experiences, I learned that effective women leaders connect personally by demonstrating humility, integrity, and vulnerability in professional settings outside their areas of expertise.
As an example, my husband remains in Jamaica due to a pause in immigration processing of spousal petitions. During our separation, I visit him twice a year, and recently I noticed changes in our intimacy. Rather than making assumptions, I approached the situation with humility and vulnerability and consulted my U.S. doctor, who provided the medical and professional insight I needed. She thoroughly explained menopause and its effects on aging women.
THE MAIN STAGES OF MENOPAUSE
According to my physician, to better understand my experience, it is important to know that menopause is a defining stage in every woman’s life—unless the ovaries are removed—marked by significant hormonal changes. The main stages include:
- Perimenopause: Irregular periods and hormonal changes typically begin between ages 40 and 50, leading up to menopause.
- Menopause: Twelve months without a period, usually around age 50, signaling the end of reproductive years and the beginning of new bodily changes.
- Postmenopause: The years following menopause, generally from age 51 onward, marked by distinct health changes.
The unique nature of being a woman is both mysterious and marvelous. I felt relieved to learn that these changes were due to post-menopausal adjustments, not infidelity. Do you see how a lack of understanding could have affected my marriage? If I had accused my husband when the issue was a natural biological process, it could have caused serious harm to our relationship.
Thankfully, my physician’s guidance provided clarity and prevented misunderstanding. I now urge spiritual leaders to educate themselves and intentionally address the spiritual, emotional, and self-care needs of women to protect and strengthen relationships within their congregations, families, and communities.
MOVING WOMEN THROUGH MENOPAUSE
I submitted a proposal titled “Moving Women Through Menopause” to the senior pastor of my former church. I followed proper ministerial procedures to honor women through research and support.
The proposal was declined because the pastor preferred to keep the topic strictly spiritual. After resigning from the ministry to pursue other opportunities for women, I later learned that the program was implemented during women’s ministry week as an educational activity.
Although it was initially misunderstood and rejected, I am grateful it was eventually adopted. I hope it inspires transformation, wisdom, and comfort for the women who attend and who seek intimacy with God and their spouses, as well as improvement in their overall quality of life during this season.
A CALL TO HOLISTIC SELF-CARE
Self-care is essential for growth during menopause. Honoring body, mind, and spirit supports spiritual development. Rest, nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction strengthen emotional health. Neglecting self-care can hinder a healthy transition.
As a certified clergywoman and doctoral-level professional, I emphasize the importance of holistic self-care as key to thriving through menopause. I urge all church leaders to act now: educate women, engage the community, and invite qualified experts to lead supportive menopause discussions.
Let us work together to form ministries, build strong support systems, and create safe spaces where women can share and seek guidance. Stand with us so that no woman faces this transition alone. Together, our churches can become beacons of holistic healing and growth.
In a future article on menopause, we will explore the spiritual, mental, and natural blessings that come with life’s progression, including the transition from physical motherhood to spiritual nurturing and mentorship within faith communities.
Our Lord has favored us as maturing women to move from the “death” of biological childbearing into the “life” of bringing others into fellowship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
I close with these words of Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24, NKJV).
By empowering women, educating sisters, and supporting mothers, our approach to menopause becomes more than hope—it becomes a movement toward health, wholeness, and purpose.
Are you ready to join us on this journey?
Thank you.
