Becoming the Pastor's Wife: Dr. Beth Allison Barr

Mar 24, 2025

Dr. Beth Allison Barr, a history professor at Baylor University and author of 'Becoming the Pastor's Wife,' discusses the shifting role of pastor's wives in the church. She explores historical and cultural influences on women's ministry, highlighting key biblical figures like Priscilla and Aquila. The conversation touches on the evolving expectations for pastor's wives and the emotional toll from societal pressures. Barr emphasizes the need for recognition of women's contributions in church leadership, blending personal anecdotes with scholarly insights.

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ANECDOTE

Initial Reactions to Book Cover

Preston Sprinkle's wife had a negative reaction to the book cover, assuming it advocated traditional views.
Sprinkle had to explain that Beth Allison Barr, the author, was challenging those views, leading to a humorous discussion.

INSIGHT

Genesis of the Book

Barr's book explores how the pastor's wife role replaced ordination for women in ministry.
This realization stemmed from a conversation with Scott McKnight and observations about women opposing ordination during the conservative resurgence.

INSIGHT

Unpaid Labor Expectations

Churches often operate on an unspoken assumption that the pastor's wife will perform unpaid labor.
This has become a widespread expectation, particularly in evangelical and evangelical-adjacent spaces.

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Tell Her Story

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Nijay Gupta

Becoming a Pastor's Wife

Beth Ellison Barr

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Heide Luthers

Making of Biblical Womanhood

Beth Allison Barr

The Concept of Woman

A comprehensive account of the concept of woman in Western thought, from ancient Greece, through the Middle Ages, to today.

Sister Mary Prudence Allen RSM

This book is part of a multi-volume work that explores the philosophical concept of woman from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages to modern times. Sister Prudence Allen examines the contributions of numerous philosophers, providing a detailed and insightful analysis of how the concept of woman has evolved in Western thought. The work is divided into several volumes, each covering a specific historical period and philosophical tradition[2][4][5].

Icons of Christ

A biblical and systematic theology for women's ordination

William Witt

When Narcissism Comes to Church

Chuck DeGroat

High Calling, High Privilege

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Gail McDonald

Into the Pulpit, Women in Power, Southern Baptist Women in Power in the post-World War II era

Women in Power, Southern Baptist Women in Power in the post-World War II era

Elizabeth Flowers

Handbook for Ministers' Wives

Dorothy Patterson

The Hidden History of Women's Ordination

Gary Macy

Gary Macy's "The Hidden History of Women's Ordination" offers a compelling counter-narrative to traditional interpretations of women's roles in the early church. Macy meticulously examines historical evidence, challenging the long-held assumption that women were systematically excluded from ordained ministry. He presents a nuanced picture of the evolving understanding of ordination and its relationship to sacramental theology, demonstrating that women served in leadership positions for centuries. The book highlights the complexities of historical interpretation and the importance of considering diverse sources to gain a more accurate understanding of the past. Macy's work is a significant contribution to the ongoing conversation about women's roles in the church and the historical context of gender roles.