Help[H]er: A Churchwide Response for Women in Crisis

By Bernie Lawrence and Ann Maree Goudzwaard (PCA)

What does complementarianism look like in church ministry?

How best can the local church serve women in crisis in this age of scandals and accusations?
With years of experience and a plethora of stories, Bernie Lawrence and Ann Maree Goudzwaard have written Help[H]er: A Churchwide Response for Women in Crisis as a guide for churches looking for ways to serve women in crisis while maintaining the integrity of leaders and being sensitive to the needs of those helped. The stories shared include those of the women served, of church officers and pastors, as well as those of the women who have served as advocates for the women and helpers to the leaders in the Shepherdess Ministry of Christ Covenant Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bernie, a pastor, and Ann Maree, a trained counsellor, interweave their perspectives and advice to encourage those undertaking the call to help women in crisis within the local church. Then, generously, they provide tools they have developed to assist in starting such a ministry in any church.

Bernie Lawrence is a Teaching Elder in the PCA and the Senior Associate Pastor of Christ Covenant Church near Charlotte, North Carolina. He has served on the pastoral staff of Christ Covenant Church since 1991. Bernie also serves on the PCA’s Committee for Discipleship Ministries. Bernie has been married to Pat for 40 years. They have five adult children and four grandchildren.

Ann Maree Goudzwaard is Director of Communications for the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. She serves at her home church, Christ Covenant in Matthews, NC, counseling those in need and training in one-another care. Ann Maree has an MDiv with a counseling emphasis from RTS Charlotte and is a DMin candidate.