This study examined stress, strain, and coping mechanisms in women religious leaders. Subjects were nuns (N=51), Reform women rabbis (N=45), Episcopal women priests (N=32), United Methodist clergywomen (N=45) and Presbyterian clergywomen (N=45), matched for age and years on the job and pulpit assignments. All subjects were given the Osipow and Spokane Occupational Environment Scales, Personal Strain Questionnaire, and Personal Resources Questionnaire, and the specially devised Religion and Stress Questionnaire. The results showed that female rabbis had the most stress and strain and the least number of coping devices, followed by the ministers, and then the seminarians. The nuns, the historically oldest and most traditional group, had the least stress and strain and the greatest number of coping mechanisms. While all clergywomen thought women were blamed for being in nontraditional work settings, rabbis realized this more than did Methodists or Presbyterian clergywomen. Clergywomen preferred to use their birthnames and more gender-fair language, with rabbis leading in this. Understanding these results may give greater insight into how to lower stress and strain and to increase personal coping resources among women religious leaders. (Author/ABL)