Beth Allison Barr

The Southern Baptist Convention just passed a constitutional amendment restricting women in ministry — and the implications reach far beyond the SBC. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and co-host Ashish Varma sit down with Dr. Beth Allison Barr, historian, Baylor professor, and author of The Making of Biblical Womanhoodand Becoming the Pastor's Wife, to break down what happened, why it matters, and where evangelical Christianity may be heading. Beth traces the amendment's path from 2022 to its overwhelming passage in 2025, explains why Al Mohler's role was decisive, and unpacks the striking inconsistency at the heart of...

The Southern Baptist Convention just passed a constitutional amendment restricting women in ministry — and the implications reach far beyond the SBC. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and co-host Ashish Varma sit down with Dr. Beth Allison Barr, historian, Baylor professor, and author of The Making of Biblical Womanhoodand Becoming the Pastor's Wife, to break down what happened, why it matters, and where evangelical Christianity may be heading. Beth traces the amendment's path from 2022 to its overwhelming passage in 2025, explains why Al Mohler's role was decisive, and unpacks the striking inconsistency at the heart of...

Watch this full video episode on The Subtext Spotify or YouTube . Savannah has a new podcast, The Subtext , and today we’re delighted to share an episode with you. In this conversation, Savannah Locke invites All the Buried Women co-host, Beth Allison Barr to discuss Yesteryear and the trad wife movement. The trad wife dream might look beautiful on camera, but what if you actually have to live it? What happens when a woman who sells the fantasy of "traditional" womanhood wakes up and has to actually live it? Savannah and Beth sit down to dissect the trad wife movement, what it promises, what it erases, and what women actually lost before they had the legal right to say no. If you liked this episode, listen to these episodes of The Subtext next: America Reads the Bible America's Sweethearts Is Social Media a Calling? Things we mentioned in this episode: For All Mankind on Apple TV A Rome of One's Own by Emma Southon Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman The Five by Hallie Rubenhold Follow The Subtext: Instagram | Threads | X | YouTube | TikTok Follow Lee: Instagram | Twitter | Lee's Newsletter Follow Savannah: Instagram | Substack Join our Email List: nosmallendeavor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the church has been telling women the wrong story about their spiritual gifts for centuries? Historian and author Beth Allison Barr and I dive deep into the forgotten narratives of women's ministry, uncovering a rich and powerful history that challenges everything we've been taught. From the abbesses who wielded more authority than most modern pastors to the prophetic voices systematically silenced throughout church history, this episode explores how women have always been central to spreading the gospel. We'll journey through medieval monasteries, examine biblical texts with fresh eyes, and confront the power structures that have limited women's spiritual leadership. Discover how women supervised crucial church councils, how early Christian communities celebrated diverse spiritual gifts, and why the current restrictions on women's ministry say more about maintaining control than following calling. Get the full show notes and links here . 📄 Guest Spotlight ✨ Beth Allison Barr is James Vardaman Endowed Chair of History at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she specializes in medieval history, women’s history, and church history. She is the author of the USA Today bestseller The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth . Barr lives in Texas with her husband, a Baptist pastor, and their two children. Website | Instagram | Substack Becoming the Pastor's Wife on Amazon | Bookshop Links & Resources 🔗 get your "extraordinary" shirt here 👚 Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta on Amazon | Bookshop The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination by Gary Macy on Amazon ————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today . ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify . This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. ————— As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.