Beth Moore

Last updated
Beth Moore
BethMoore2023.jpg
Born
Wanda Elizabeth Green

(1957-06-16) June 16, 1957 (age 66)
EducationB.A. Southwest Texas State University (political science)
Occupation(s) Evangelist, author, bible teacher
Years active1978–present
Title Founder, Living Proof Ministries
SpouseKeith Moore (m. 1978–present)
Children2

Wanda Elizabeth "Beth" Moore (born Wanda Elizabeth Green, June 16, 1957) is an American Anglican evangelist, author, and Bible teacher. She is president of Living Proof Ministries, a Christian organization she founded in 1994 to teach women to know and love Jesus through the study of Scripture. Living Proof Ministries is based in Houston, Texas. [1] Moore, who is "arguably the most prominent white evangelical woman in America," speaks at arena events and has sold millions of books. [2]

Contents

In conjunction with Lifeway Christian Resources, Living Proof Ministries conducted more than a dozen "Living Proof Live" conferences around the United States annually, with Travis Cottrell leading worship. From 2007 to 2011, Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer collaborated on a LifeWay weekend conference known as "Deeper Still: The Event." [3] While Living Proof Ministries no longer works in conjunction with Lifeway, Beth Moore continues to teach through live events and a podcast/radio show called Living Proof with Beth Moore, as well as on her YouTube channel of the same name.

Moore also continues to write books and produces video resources based on the Bible studies that she conducts at the Living Proof Live conferences, although today they are published through Living Proof Ministries rather than Lifeway Christian Resources. She has taught at conferences for women in Ireland, England, Singapore, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and India. [4]

Moore and her husband, Keith, joined the Anglican Church in North America in 2021. [5]

Early life and education

Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin and raised in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where her father owned a cinema house, Beth Moore is the fourth of five children, all of whom worked at the cinema from a young age. [6]

Moore was raised in the Southern Baptist Church and regularly attended as a child three times each week. [7] She has often referenced that church was a safe place for her as she was growing up and was the place where she could escape the sexual abuse she experienced at home. [8]

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Texas State University, where she pledged and was initiated into Chi Omega. [9]

Personal life

Moore and her husband, Keith, married in 1978. [1] Keith, who was raised in a Catholic family, continued his father's plumbing business. [10] [11] They have two daughters, Amanda and Melissa. [12] Both daughters, along with son-in-law Curtis Jones, work with their mother at Living Proof Ministries. [13]

Moore and her husband attend an Anglican Church in Spring, Texas. [14]

Ministry

Moore committed her life to vocational Christian ministry at the age of 18. When she was volunteering as a Sunday school teacher, Moore realized she needed to learn more about the Bible. [15] She went to a biblical doctrine class that gave her a deep yearning to know the Bible, and she began teaching a weekly Bible study class. By the mid-1990s that class had grown to 2,000 women, and she was speaking at churches throughout South Texas. Although still without any formal theological education, LifeWay Christian Resources' publishing arm Broadman & Holman (later B&H) began publishing her Bible studies in 1994, leading to a national speaking ministry for Moore. [16] With the help of a worship band she assembled, she began holding weekend conferences around the country. As a base for her national speaking ministry, she founded Living Proof Ministries. [17]

In 2008, she held a simulcast of her "Living Proof Live" that is estimated to have been watched by 70,000 people at 715 locations. [18] The sales of her book about Esther were credited as part of what made a "strong" quarter for Lifeway Christian Stores during the height of the Great Recession. [19]

Moore then supported the Southern Baptist Convention’s complementarian theology which teaches that males and females have complementary roles and does not allow women to be pastors. [20] [21] Male SBC church leaders criticized her for speaking repeatedly on Sundays, which was in contradiction to their understanding of the Bible's position on the role of women in regards to teaching. [22]

Leaving the Southern Baptist Convention

In March 2021, Moore announced that, though still a Baptist, she was no longer identified as a Southern Baptist and had ended her publishing relationship with LifeWay Christian. [23] It was subsequently reported that Moore had joined the Anglican Church in North America. [24] [25] The news, along with photos of Moore vested as an acolyte and lector during an Anglican Eucharistic service, triggered criticism from some Baptist ministers. [5] In response, Bishop Clark Lowenfield of the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast posted on Twitter: "As her Bishop, [i]t is an honor to serve God as Beth Moore’s spiritual oversight and covering. She is humble and grace-filled. And we pray for those who have been treating her in unChristianly ways over this past week." [26]

Political and social views

Moore does not identify as liberal or feminist. [15] She is opposed to abortion. [23]

In August 2020, Moore said, "White supremacy has held tight in much of the church for so long because the racists outlasted the anti racists." [2]

Moore criticized portions of the Evangelical movement that dismissed the moral flaws of politicians accused of sexual abuse, most prominently Donald Trump and Roy Moore (no relation). [27] [28] Moore said in a March 2021 interview that after the October 2016 release of the Access Hollywood tape, in which Donald Trump was heard making offensive comments about women, she was shocked that fellow evangelicals rallied around Trump and could not understand how he had become "the banner, the poster child for the great white hope of evangelicalism, the salvation of the church in America." In December 2020 she tweeted, "I'm 63 1/2 years old & I have never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism. This Christian nationalism is not of God. Move back from it." [29]

Sexual abuse

Moore has said she was a victim of childhood sexual abuse within her home. [30] After the #MeToo movement and a report in her local newspaper which described 700 cases of sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention, she became an advocate for sexual abuse survivors: sharing her story, listening to other survivors, and urging the church to examine crimes and coverups. [31] [8] She called out male church leaders for objectifying women and dismissing sexual abuse claims. [32]

Criticism

In 2019, at a conference, when John F. MacArthur was asked what he thought of evangelist Beth Moore, he responded, “Go home.” [33] He supported his comment by saying that the Bible would not show an example of a woman preaching. In response, Pastor Wade Burleson stated "Mr. MacArthur, I’ve lost respect for your ministry. Your smug response of ‘Go home’ when asked to comment on Beth Moore is not only misogynist, it’s unscriptural, and contrary to the character of Christ.” [33]

Works

Bible studies

Related Research Articles

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on sexual orientation and homosexuality. The view that various Bible passages speak of homosexuality as immoral or sinful emerged in the first millennium AD, and has since become entrenched in many Christian denominations through church doctrine and the wording of various translations of the Bible.

Evangelicalism, also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the centrality of sharing the "good news" of Christianity, being "born again" in which an individual experiences personal conversion, as authoritatively guided by the Bible, God's revelation to humanity. The word evangelical comes from the Greek word for "good news" (euangelion).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Baptist Convention</span> Christian denomination

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), alternatively the Great Commission Baptists (GCB), is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. In 1845 the Southern Baptists separated from the Triennial Convention in order to support slavery, which the southern churches regarded as "an institution of heaven". During the 19th and most of the 20th century, it played a central role in Southern racial attitudes, supporting racial segregation and the Lost Cause of the Confederacy while opposing interracial marriage. In 1995, the organization apologized for its history. Since the 1940s, it has spread across the United States, having member churches across the country and 41 affiliated state conventions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglican Diocese of Sydney</span> Diocese in the Anglican Church of Australia

The Diocese of Sydney is a diocese in Sydney, within the Province of New South Wales of the Anglican Church of Australia. The majority of the diocese is evangelical and low church in tradition.

<i>Christianity Today</i> Evangelical Christian magazine

Christianity Today is an evangelical Christian media magazine founded in 1956 by Billy Graham. It is published by Christianity Today International based in Carol Stream, Illinois. The Washington Post calls Christianity Today "evangelicalism's flagship magazine". The New York Times describes it as a "mainstream evangelical magazine". On August 4, 2022, Russell D. Moore—notable for denouncing and leaving the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention—was named the incoming Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Stanley</span> American pastor and televangelist (1932–2023)

Charles Frazier Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor and writer. He was senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years and took on emeritus status in 2020. He founded and was president of In Touch Ministries, which widely broadcasts his sermons through television and radio. He also served two one-year terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1984 to 1986.

Lifeway Christian Resources, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is the Christian media publishing and distribution division of the Southern Baptist Convention and provider of church business services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John MacArthur (American pastor)</span> American Reformed Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author (born 1939)

John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. is an American pastor and author who hosts the national Christian radio and television program Grace to You. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. He is currently the chancellor emeritus of The Master's University in Santa Clarita and The Master's Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Mohler</span> American evangelical theologian (born 1959)

Richard Albert Mohler Jr. is an American evangelical theologian, the ninth president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and host of the podcast The Briefing, where he daily analyzes the news and recent events from an evangelical perspective.

L. Paige Patterson served as the fifth president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., from 1992 to 2003, as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) from 1998 to 2000, and as the eighth president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, from 2003 until his firing in 2018. He played a major role in the Southern Baptist "conservative resurgence", called "Fundamentalist Takeover" by opponents. He has been alternately described as a fundamentalist and a conservative evangelical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Complementarianism</span> Theological view on gender roles

Complementarianism is a theological view in some denominations of Christianity, Rabbinic Judaism, and Islam, that men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, and religious leadership. Complementary and its cognates are currently used to denote this view. Some Christians interpret the Bible as prescribing complementarianism, and therefore adhere to gender-specific roles that preclude women from specific functions of ministry within the community. Though women may be precluded from certain roles and ministries, they are held to be equal in moral value and of equal status. The phrase used to describe this is "ontologically equal, functionally different".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell D. Moore</span> American evangelical theologian (born 1971)

Russell D. Moore is an American theologian, ethicist, and preacher. In June 2021, he became the director of the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today, and on August 4, 2022, was announced as the magazine's incoming Editor-in-Chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian egalitarianism</span> Belief in gender equality based in Christianity

Christian egalitarianism, also known as biblical equality. Christian egalitarians believe that the Bible advocates for gender equality and often allows women to be a part of the clergy. In contrast to other views such as complementarianisim and Christian patriarchy Egalitarians believe in a form of mutual submission in which all people submit to each other in relationships and institutions as a code of conduct without a need for hierarchical authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James T. Draper Jr.</span> American pastor (born 1935)

James Thomas "Jimmy" Draper Jr. was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1982 to 1984 and as president of Lifeway Christian Resources from 1991 to 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priscilla Shirer</span> American author and motivational speaker

Priscilla Shirer is an American author, motivational speaker, actress, and Christian media personality, and evangelist. Her father is Dallas mega-church pastor Tony Evans and her brothers are motivational speaker and chaplain Jonathan Evans and musician Anthony Evans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Floyd</span> American pastor (born 1955)

Ronald Wayne Floyd is an American Baptist pastor, and a former Southern Baptist executive. Ronnie was the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch located in Northwest Arkansas, and served as the 61st president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2014-2016. He resigned his post as Senior Pastor in 2019 to become the full-time CEO of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee and run the day-to-day operations of the denomination. His resignation on October 14, 2021 coincided with mounting pressure in the wake of the SBC sexual abuse scandal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criticism of Protestantism</span> Overview of criticism of Protestantism

Criticism of Protestantism covers critiques and questions raised about Protestantism, the Christian denominations which arose out of the Protestant Reformation. While critics may praise some aspects of Protestantism which are not unique to the various forms of Protestantism, Protestantism is faced with criticism mainly from the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, although Protestant denominations have also engaged in self-critique and criticized one another. According to both the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy, many major, foundational Protestant doctrines have been officially declared heretical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity and transgender people</span> Attitude of Christians toward gender identity and transgender people

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on the issues of gender identity and transgender people. Christian denominations vary in their official position: some explicitly support gender transition, some oppose it, and others are divided or have not taken an official stance. Within any given denomination, individual members may or may not endorse the official views of their church on the topic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jen Hatmaker</span> American Christian author (born 1974)

Jennifer Lynn Hatmaker is an American author, speaker, blogger, and television presenter.

References

  1. 1 2 "About Living Proof and Beth Moore | Living Proof Ministries".
  2. 1 2 Graham, Ruth (March 12, 2021). "With Humor and Biblical Authority, Beth Moore Captivates Evangelical Women". The New York Times.
  3. "Going Beyond Ministries". Goingbeyond.com. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  4. "Official bio from Living Proof Ministries". Lproof.org. Archived from the original on 2009-08-29. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  5. 1 2 Saliong, Sarah Mae (December 24, 2021). "Ministers Share Different Opinions After Photos Of Former SBC Minister Beth Moore Serving In An Anglican Church Surface". Christianity Daily. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  6. Morgan Lee, Beth Moore Is Speaking Up, christianitytoday.com, USA, June 12, 2019
  7. Danielle Jarvis (March 3, 2020). "Beth Moore opens up on being sexually abused as a child". My Christian Daily. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Emily McFarlan Miller (December 14, 2018). "At Wheaton summit, prominent evangelicals share stories of sexual abuse". Religion News Service. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  9. Greg Garrison, Author Beth Moore finds insecurity is skin deep phenomenon, al.com, USA, February 6, 2010
  10. "My man's never been a deacon or church leader. Plumber by trade but as I live & breathe, this Bible study ministry wouldn't exist w/out him". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  11. "John Moore Obituary (1934 - 2015) Houston Chronicle". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  12. ""Beth Moore: Bible teacher and author"". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  13. "Living Proof Ministries". Lproof.org. Archived from the original on 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  14. "Beth Moore is not the first Baptist to journey to the Anglican Church". 5 January 2022.
  15. 1 2 Emma Green, The Tiny Blond Bible Teacher Taking on the Evangelical Political Machine, theatlantic.com, USA, October 2018
  16. Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Why Women Want Moore, christianitytoday.com, USA, August 13, 2010
  17. Christianity Today: "Breaking Free: How Beth Moore became America's most exciting Bible teacher" Archived March 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Beth Moore simulcast reaches 70,000". Archived from the original on June 9, 2011.
  19. Rob Phillips TRUSTEES: Christian publisher LifeWay doing 'remarkably well,' trustees told Archived February 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Baptist Press News. Feb 11, 2009
  20. Tom Strode (October 7, 2019). "Beth Moore and Kay Warren address effects of sexual abuse". Baptist Standard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  21. "Beth Moore Says She's No Longer Southern Baptist". Christianity Today. March 29, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  22. Tom Gjelten (June 10, 2019). "Southern Baptists To Confront Sexual Abuse And Role Of Women In The Church". NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  23. 1 2 Smietana, Bob (March 9, 2021). "Bible teacher Beth Moore, splitting with Lifeway, says, 'I am no longer a Southern Baptist'". Religion News Service.
  24. Moore, Beth (March 21, 2023). "When I Was a Stranger in the SBC, Anglicans Welcomed Me". christianitytoday.com. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  25. "Former Southern Baptist Preacher Beth Moore Joins the Anglican Church in North America | VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism". virtueonline.org. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  26. Lowenfield, Clark (December 24, 2021). "As her Bishop, It is an honor to serve@God as Beth Moore's spiritual oversight and covering. She is humble and grace-filled. And we pray for those who have been treating her in unChristianly ways over this past week. May your hearts be filled with His peace this Christmas". Twitter. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  27. Tom Gjelten (December 29, 2017). "2017 Has Been A Rough Year For Evangelicals". NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  28. "A Letter to My Brothers". 3 May 2018.
  29. Harmeet Kaur (10 March 2021). "Popular evangelical Beth Moore says she's no longer a Southern Baptist". CNN.
  30. London, Matt (February 28, 2020). "Living Proof Ministries' Beth Moore opens up about overcoming childhood sexual abuse". Fox News. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  31. Tom Strode (October 7, 2019). "Beth Moore and Kay Warren address effects of sexual abuse". Baptist Standard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  32. Sarah McCammon (November 1, 2016). "Trump Presents Dilemma For Evangelical Women, Once Reliable GOP Voters". NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  33. 1 2 Leonardo Blair, John MacArthur skewers Beth Moore, Paula White, evangelicals who support women preachers, christianpost.com, USA, October 21, 2019

Further reading