This article examines the gap between formal permission and the actual practice of women’s participation in evangelical free churches in Europe. Combining insights from gender studies and the sociology of religion, it draws on two complementary datasets: a survey of congregational leaders in Portugal and a European focus group with women involved in church ministry. The study explores how theological, institutional and cultural factors interact to shape women’s access to leadership and ministerial roles. While many leaders affirm that women are allowed to serve in all roles, empirical evidence reveals persistent discrepancies between discourse and practice. These inconsistencies reflect not only theological convictions but also broader structural and cultural constraints, including gendered divisions of labour and enduring symbolic hierarchies. The findings highlight the need for continued theological reflection on vocation and spaces of service and ministry, and suggest that bridging the gap between permission and practice remains both a sociological and an ecclesiological challenge for contemporary free evangelical communities.
Elsa Correia Pereira (Sun,) studied this question.