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In most church congregations across Wales, women significantly outnumber men. In most pulpits, at most altars and in those bodies which make the key decisions, the proportions are reversed, which is one reason why the Church in Wales vote last autumn in favour of the ordination of women as bishops had significance beyond the Anglican Communion.聽聽 It was the climax of a long and often painful struggle for the recognition of women鈥檚 ministry, a struggle celebrated this month with the publication of a book by some of the key participants.

The decision also raises the question of what it is that women bring distinctively to the practice of the Christian faith.聽聽 Is their spirituality different to that of men? And how might the increasing involvement of women in positions of leadership change what the churches do and how they relate to the wider community?

To explore some of these issues Roy Jenkins is joined by:

Canon Jenny Wigley, Rector of Radyr, near Cardiff, who was at the forefront of the battle for the ordination of women priests in Wales: she鈥檚 a contributor to the new book 鈥淐rossing Thresholds鈥�; Miriam Duignan, Communications Director of the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research and as leader of Women鈥檚 Ordination Worldwide; Linda Woodhead, Professor of the sociology of religion at Lancaster University (pictured); and Dr. Natalie Brand, who lectures in Female Spirituality at the Wales Evangelical School of Theology at Bridgend.

First broadcast in March 2015.