There was some discussion at the GodBlogCon about the lack of women on the panels (see here, here, and here).  As a woman, this didn't bother me.  The men were up there because they're successful, and there are more successful male bloggers because men are more likely to write about macro subjects (rather than personal) than are women.  They're more likely to engage in debate, discuss politics, and be driven to spread their ideas.  These are the types of blogs that attract the most readers.  This is not to say there aren't any women bloggers who do this--of course there are (e.g., La Shawn Barber would have been a great addition to the panel).  But in terms of numbers, it does seem to be generally true that most of the high-traffic blogs are written by men.  Therefore, we're more likely to have men on the panels.  I certainly wouldn't want women to be invited onto a panel just because they're women and not because they earned their positions there.

Personally, I'm happy to see an area of Christianity where men are stepping up, taking the initiative, and contributing to the Body of Christ.  In the American Church today, while men tend to dominate in academic settings and in the top levels of leadership in local churches, there aren't nearly as many participating in the congregations.  Where I live (Los Angeles), I know of many churches struggling to keep any sort of men's ministry alive--the men are simply not motivated to get involved.  In terms of church attendance, men will come with their families but are less likely to come on their own.  This results in many more women than men in both attendance and service.  (Trust me.  As a single woman, I notice these things.)

Why is this?  Let's look at the state of the American local churches.  In general, there's an emphasis on qualities and pursuits that appeal more to women than to men.  For example, emotions and experiences are sought after and encouraged while serious theological study is almost completely ignored.  Let's face it--our churches have become places where women are more comfortable than men. 

When did this happen?  How did this happen?  Did the men leave because the church became feminized?  Or did the church become feminized because the men began to leave?  I'm not sure I know the answer to this question (although I'll bet John Mark Reynolds has a theory).  Either way, the lack of men is definitely an issue, hindering the proper function of the Body.

Now let's look at the God blogs.  In contrast to the local church, what qualities do these blogs encourage?  They foster strength, intellectual rigor, analytical abilities, and debate--all masculine-type characteristics that attract men.  What will happen as these blogs become more and more popular and the men in our culture begin to see that being a Christian can be a manly enterprise?  That Christianity envelops and enriches even the qualities and pursuits in life that are important to them as men?  That when Jesus calls them, he calls them to "act like men, be strong"?  They will come back, my friends.

Men, keep blogging.