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Feb. 26, 2025

Dr. Beth Allison Barr on The Pastor's Wife and The High Cost of the Two-for-One Bargain

Dr. Beth Allison Barr on The Pastor's Wife and The High Cost of the Two-for-One Bargain

In this episode of "A World of Difference," Dr. Beth Allison Barr shares her expertise as a historian, author, and pastor's wife, offering a unique perspective on the historical and contemporary experiences of women in ministry, particularly as pastor's wives with her new book "Becoming the Pastor's Wife."

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A World of Difference

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.

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Keep making a difference wherever you are!

Lori Adams-Brown, Host & Executive Producer

A World of Difference Podcast

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goodpods top 100 places & travel indie podcasts Goodpods Top 100 Places & Travel Indie Podcasts Listen now to A World of Difference podcast
A World of Difference | Listen Notes