Join Dr. Beth Allison Barr for a little history lesson where we see that the role of the pastor's wife hasn't always been this way. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the empowering impact of women in church leadership roles. Uncover the influence of patriarchal systems on women in ministry today. Explore the fascinating historical evolution of the pastor's wife role. Navigate the unique challenges faced by pastors' wives in evangelical churches. Embrace the benefits of inclusive leadership for a more diverse and welcoming church community. My special guest is Dr. Beth Allison Barr Dr. Beth Allison Barr, (PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) 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. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:02 - Introducing Dr. Beth Allison Barr 00:01:07 - Unpacking the Role of the Pastor's Wife 00:02:03 - The Personal Impact 00:02:55 - The Intersection of History and Personal Experience 00:13:49 - Women in Ministry and The Southern Baptist Convention 00:14:41 - Historical Context of Women in Ministry 00:21:02 - Expectations and Unpaid Labor 00:22:12 - Gendered Giftedness and Leadership 00:26:20 - Dorothy Patterson's Symbolic Submission 00:28:08 - The Cost of Patriarchy 00:30:59 - The Patriarchal Bargain 00:33:14 - Burden of the Ideal Pastor's Wife 00:36:25 - Stress and Expectations 00:38:08 - Embracing Inclusive Leadership 00:42:00 - The impact of patriarchal systems on women in the church 00:43:27 - Righteous anger and calls to action 00:44:31 - Recognizing the unseen labor of women in the church 00:46:11 - Embracing women's God-given gifts and dreams 00:47:35 - Encouragement to make a difference Pre-order Dr. Beth Allison Barr's book Becoming the Pastor's Wife to gain deeper insights into the challenges and expectations placed on women in ministry. Follow Dr. Beth Allison Barr on her website and social media platforms to stay updated on her writing and research. Share this podcast episode with a friend who needs to hear the empowering message about women's roles in the church and the importance of embracing their own God-given gifts and callings. Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to support the community and help spread the message of making a difference in the world. Take the time to reflect on your own role and calling, and give yourself permission to take up space and embrace your full, unapologetic presence in the church and the world. Connect with us: https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com Linkedin YouTube Substack FaceBook Instagram Threads Patreon (for exclusive episodes just for Difference Makers) Bluesky TikTok Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Your support helps the community grow and keeps these important conversations going. If you need professional help, such as therapy, try out https://www.betterhelp.com/difference for 10% off your first month today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices