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An Ordinary Preaching Woman in a Texas Baptist Church, c. 1930

In a 2006 interview, Wayne Grudem argued that female leaders in the church (especially pastors) are disobeying God’s word and thus open to “the withdrawal of God’s hand of protection and blessing.” As Grudem explained:“A woman who serves as a pastor, preaching to both men…

Beth Allison BarrSeptember 20, 2017

American Religion Christian Patriarchy Church History Evangelicalism Medieval History Women's History

The Medieval Counsel of Biblical Womanhood

The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood exploded my twitter feed last week. As a Texan with both friends and family in Houston, I really just wanted to see the update on Hurricane Harvey. But the Nashville Statement dominated my news feed. I confess after…

Beth Allison BarrSeptember 6, 2017

American Religion Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

Evangelical Silence and Trump: A Reformation Irony

“Trump’s religious advisers have been mostly silent.” Tom Gjelten wrote these words for NPR just days ago, in his aptly titled article “Trump’s Evangelical Advisers Stand By their Man.” In the aftermath of Trump’s shocking response to Charlottesville, the silence emanating from his Evangelical Advisory…

Beth Allison BarrAugust 23, 2017

American Religion British History Christian Patriarchy Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Women's History

Should Women Rule? Netflix’s The Crown and Complementarian Theology

Riding the London Eye is deceptively peaceful. The city that slowly unfolds below seems a different place from the noise and heat of the crowded South Bank. I always look first for Cleopatra’s Needle, the 3500 year-old Egyptian obelisk shipped to England in the nineteenth-century…

Beth Allison BarrAugust 9, 2017

American Religion Christian Patriarchy Complimentarianism Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Featured

Wonder Woman and Complementarianism

It probably doesn’t surprise you that I have always loved Wonder Woman. My mother will testify that it is one show my little sister and I refused to miss. It is also my first clear memory of watching TV. The story of Wonder Woman, however,…

Beth Allison BarrJune 28, 2017

American Religion British History Christian Patriarchy Church History Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

Lysa TerKeurst, Bible Gateway, and Fides ex Auditu: the Biblical Heart of Medieval Faith

Rochester Cathedral Several months ago I heard a catchy phrase preached in a sermon. But it wasn’t until recently, when I began to compare popular medieval Bible verses with popular modern bible verses (thanks Bible Gateway!), that I began to think about the phrase more…

Beth Allison BarrMay 21, 2017

Academia American Religion Christian Patriarchy Complimentarianism Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism

Are Women Human in Christian Academia?

Recently, Karen Swallow Prior spoke out against the “Billy Graham rule”–married men distancing themselves from women to avoid temptation and the appearance of evil. For those of you who missed Prior’s article, she eloquently argued that good moral character is better than rigid behavioral rules.…

Beth Allison BarrApril 19, 2017

American Religion Baptist History Christian Patriarchy Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Women's History

Gone Girl: Disappearing Women from “The Easter Hymn”

I bet that, for those of you attending church on Easter Sunday, at least half of you will sing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high,…

Beth Allison BarrApril 5, 2017

Activism American Religion Articles & Essays Featured Papers & Presentations Women's History

Margaret Mead: Christian, Pro-life Feminist

Today we are pleased to welcome Elesha Coffman to the Anxious Bench. Elesha is an Assistant Professor of History at Baylor University. Her first book, The Christian Century and the Rise of the Protestant Mainline, was published by Oxford UP in 2013 and her current…

Beth Allison BarrMarch 1, 2017

American Religion British History Church History Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

Did Medieval Christians Know Jesus?

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome Recently I was made aware of an online church history curriculum. At first glance, it seemed promising (at least from my perspective as a medievalist). It dedicated two weeks to the Medieval Church (five if you include the three weeks of…

Beth Allison BarrFebruary 22, 2017

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