I wish I had that book this minute. As a pastor’s wife for forty years and unable to shake my own husband out of his stance on this subject I watched in fury and sorrow as our relatively moderate church just installed three new leadership pastors after the retirement of my husband and the senior pastor. The newly installed pastors were three middle aged white males of admirable quality and the only women on the stage were their wives and the wives of the male elders called up to pray for them. Despite this being a moderate major church in New England that weathered the current crises by staying mum with no political comments and would decry any association with Christian Nationalism, it has a also has a large African American contingency that is also not represented in leadership. Since my husband retired I have refused to go to the church. I would have protested the new leadership but there is no avenue available for a woman to voice an opinion.
My daughters left the church when my youngest, asked to speak on a panel on Women’s Leadership, found the panel abruptly cancelled when it became obvious that the direction of the discussion would draw attention to the lack of women leaders in the church.
I feel devastated that in being a good wife to my husband, I failed my daughters.
If I had this book, copies would be sent to the entire pastoral staff and elders.
Sounds like I need to preorder a few more! I do feel like Beth is gonna blow it open with this one. She's someone I've really come to admire these last few yrs, staying in a Christian space and persevering despite all the crap thrown her way. And I've just loved watching this thesis develop and come to fruition.
Good to know! I'm thinking about the pre-order deals. Just today a friend that has interviewed B.A. Barr in the past, and who I seem to increasingly disagree with listed his top book recommendations. One I'd never heard of: The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us, by Carrie Gress. If anyone has read this, I'd be interested to know your thoughts, summary. I appreciated Making of Biblical Womanhood and had planned to discuss it with a young "disillusioned with church, etc." friend, but maybe we'll do this one instead.
Hi Kristen, Wow! Sounds like I will need a box of tissues with this one. I “think” I’m looking forward to reading it. Literally my “life goal” as a young girl was to marry a pastor in order to “do ministry.”And as you know, even going to seminary didn’t open doors for me to preach. And now the doors appear to become even tighter as I hear ordained female pastors looking for positions outside of conservative churches. Uggh! Yep. Tissues for sure.
I wish I had that book this minute. As a pastor’s wife for forty years and unable to shake my own husband out of his stance on this subject I watched in fury and sorrow as our relatively moderate church just installed three new leadership pastors after the retirement of my husband and the senior pastor. The newly installed pastors were three middle aged white males of admirable quality and the only women on the stage were their wives and the wives of the male elders called up to pray for them. Despite this being a moderate major church in New England that weathered the current crises by staying mum with no political comments and would decry any association with Christian Nationalism, it has a also has a large African American contingency that is also not represented in leadership. Since my husband retired I have refused to go to the church. I would have protested the new leadership but there is no avenue available for a woman to voice an opinion.
My daughters left the church when my youngest, asked to speak on a panel on Women’s Leadership, found the panel abruptly cancelled when it became obvious that the direction of the discussion would draw attention to the lack of women leaders in the church.
I feel devastated that in being a good wife to my husband, I failed my daughters.
If I had this book, copies would be sent to the entire pastoral staff and elders.
Thanks for listening.
It will be available on February! I think it will resonate with you and your daughters.
Correction: March!
Sounds like I need to preorder a few more! I do feel like Beth is gonna blow it open with this one. She's someone I've really come to admire these last few yrs, staying in a Christian space and persevering despite all the crap thrown her way. And I've just loved watching this thesis develop and come to fruition.
Few books have affected me emotionally as much as this one.
Kristen, are you interested in a book discussion?
I just love how great your fridge looks 😂
Good to know! I'm thinking about the pre-order deals. Just today a friend that has interviewed B.A. Barr in the past, and who I seem to increasingly disagree with listed his top book recommendations. One I'd never heard of: The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us, by Carrie Gress. If anyone has read this, I'd be interested to know your thoughts, summary. I appreciated Making of Biblical Womanhood and had planned to discuss it with a young "disillusioned with church, etc." friend, but maybe we'll do this one instead.
My first comment here- I'm so excited to join this community! And I'm looking forward to another helpful book from Beth.
Welcome!
Hi Kristen, Wow! Sounds like I will need a box of tissues with this one. I “think” I’m looking forward to reading it. Literally my “life goal” as a young girl was to marry a pastor in order to “do ministry.”And as you know, even going to seminary didn’t open doors for me to preach. And now the doors appear to become even tighter as I hear ordained female pastors looking for positions outside of conservative churches. Uggh! Yep. Tissues for sure.