United Methodist Clergywomen Retention Study
Anna Howard Shaw Center, Boston University School of Theology

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Methods Tables

Table B1. Distribution of Study Participants by Jurisdiction

	All clergywomen		1994 Questionnaire		1995 Interview
	Number of Women	Percent of Total	Number of Women	Percent of Total	Number of Women	Percent of Total
North Central	1496	28%	429	31%	40	33%
Northeastern	1402	26%	338	24%	28	23%
Western	603	11%	169	12%	15	12%
South Central	905	17%	195	14%	14	11%
Southeastern	986	18%	257	19%	26	21%
TOTAL	5392		1388		123

NOTE: The statistics for all clergywomen in Tables A1 and A2 include women in all categories: Elders in full connection, probationary members, associate members, local pastors, and others (Division of Ordained Ministry of The United Methodist Church, "1994 Statistics United Methodist Clergywomen," Wellsprings 8 [Spring 1995]: 24-25.) The questionnaire and interview statistics include only current and former probationary members and elders in full connection.

Table B2. Distribution of Study Participants by Attrition Rate Conference Groups

	All clergywomen		1994 Questionnaire		1995 Interview
	Number of Women	Percent of Total	Number of Women	Percent of All Clergy-women	Number of Women	Percent of Question-naire
Low Attrition Rate Conferences	297	5.5%	46	15%	14	30%
Middle Attrition Rate Conferences	4962	92%	1251	25%	91	7%
High Attrition Rate Conferences	133	2.5%	91	68%	18	20%
TOTAL	5392	100%	1388	26%	123	9%

NOTE: The percentage reported in the questionnaire column is the ratio of the number of questionnaire respondents in the specified attrition rate group to the number of clergywomen in the same attrition rate group. The percentage reported in the interview column is the ratio of the number of interview participants in the specified attrition rate group to the number of questionnaire respondents in the same attrition rate group.

Table B3. Distribution of Study Participants by Appointment Types

	Questionnaire		Interview
	Number of Women	Percent of Total	Number of Women	Percent of Total Interviewed
Local Church Pastor, Associate, Co-Pastor	986	73%	47	38%
School, Extension Ministries	247	18%	42	34%
Leaves, Location	81	6%	19	15%
Retired	25	2%	8	7%
Withdrawn, Surrendered Credentials	43	1%	7	6%
TOTAL	1382		123

Table B4. Study Participants by Age and Years as Elder

	Questionnaire	Interview
Age: Range	60 years, ages 25-85, mean is 45+ years	59 years, ages 26-85, mean is 45+ years
Years as Elder: Range	Just ordained elder-48 years, 109 deacons, mean is 8 years	Just ordained elder-48 years, 16 deacons, mean is 9+ years

Table B5. Age Distribution of Study Participants

	Questionnaire		Interview
Range	Frequency	Percent	Frequency	Percent
25-29 years	30	2.2%	2	1.6%
30-39 years	394	28.4%	45	36.6%
40-49 years	534	38.5%	42	34.1%
50-59 years	307	22.1%	20	16.3%
60-69 years	84	6.1%	6	4.9%
70-79 years	22	1.6%	5	4.1%
80-89 years	4	0.3%	3	2.4%

Table B6. Distribution of Study Participants by Ethnicity

Ethnicity	Questionnaire	Interview
Asian	1.5%	3.3%
Black	4.4%	< 1%
White	90.7%	94.3%
Multiracial	1.5%	< 1%

Table B7. Distribution of Study Participants by Marital Status and Clergy Partner

Marital Status	Questionnaire	Interview
Married/Committed Relationship	54%	58%
Divorced	16%	12%
Never Married	16%	13%
Married to Clergy	28%	32.5%

Table B8. Items for Interview Coding

INSTITUTIONAL	CONGREGATIONAL
access to resources appointment system bishop feminism relationship with district superintendent salary sexism support theology other (list)	authority expectations of congregation expectations of pastor feminism relations with men relations with women support theology other (list)
PERSONAL	COMMUNITY
access to resources children clergy couple crisis: health crisis: marriage marriage theology workload other (list)	acceptance culture shock isolation respect of community support theology other (list)

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