041: Ordinary Women of Faith and Ministry with Beth Allison Barr
Mar 11, 2025
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.
This isn't just a historical exploration—it's a radical invitation to see spiritual leadership through a lens of equality, mutual respect, and genuine biblical understanding. Get ready to have your perspective transformed and your hope restored.
download Episode Transcript 📄
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. Her work has been featured by NPR and the New Yorker, and she has written for Christianity Today, the Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, Sojourners, and Baptist News Global. Barr lives in Texas with her husband, a Baptist pastor, and their two children.
Website | Instagram | Substack
Links & Resources 🔗
- get your "extraordinary" shirt here 👚
- Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta on Amazon | Bookshop
- Strange Religion by Nijay Gupta on Amazon | Bookshop
- The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination by Gary Macy on Amazon
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