Ep. 26: Rejecting Patriarchy, Finding Deeper Faith w/ Kelly Lamb

Show Notes

Episode Summary

Women of the Christian faith eventually have to confront one really big question: Why stay in a system that actively works to silence women and keep them from following their callings? For today’s guest, Kelly Lamb, that question led her on a quest for the essence of faith. We talk with her about what she found, how her faith is different, and how she’s making space for women.

Bio

Kelly Lamb is passionate about empowering women to lead in business,  politics, theology, and the church. This burden  was birthed through the pain of having her voice stifled as a woman and being told to stand down. Equipped with a masters in Public Policy and a masters in Theology she has built companies, traveled the world, and pastored a church. She looks for every opportunity to encourage women to exist loudly without fear. Today she’s working in the start-up space and is launching the podcast Still Unfolding with Joshua Harris, which features diverse stories and voices about spiritual growth, changing beliefs, and the beautiful mess of deconstructing faith.

More info on Still Unfolding

Launching in September 2021, Still Unfolding will create dialogue with people who are still in process, giving them permission to exist in the in-between. It’s hard to question deeply held beliefs. Changing perspectives you were raised in can be uncomfortable and isolating. Whether you call it deconstructing, reframing your faith, or simply evolving as a person, you don’t have to do this alone.

Follow Kelly on Instagram and on Twitter (@kellyroselamb) for updates on the podcast!

Quotables

• “There was a lot of fear of my sexuality. In the Church, the worst thing you can get is a single woman who wants to lead.” (tweet this)

• “The narrative is, ‘Women don’t want to be priests.’ But does anybody tell them they can be? Does anybody invite them to be?” (tweet this)

• “If this is my gifting and my calling, but I’m not wanted and, largely, women aren’t wanted in those roles, then I don’t want to be in the Church.” (tweet this)

• “The voices of those who don’t want women to lead are very loud still.” (tweet this)

• “I will give my life to create space so that women don’t have to go crazy in this Church system.” (tweet this)

• “I think the patriarchal view of God is really just humankind trying to understand God.” (tweet this)

• “I’ve found a home in who I am, rather than in my expectations of Church or in faith.” (tweet this)

• “I don’t think women need to find their voice, I think they just need to use it.” (tweet this)

Timestamps and References

• [02:26]—Kelly’s brief faith background and her experience with patriarchy

• [04:03]—What Kelly believes right now

• [07:15]—Why Kelly stopped pursuing the priesthood

• [13:14]—How being told she wasn’t qualified to lead because she’s a woman impacted Kelly’s faith

• [16:47]—Why Kelly is still committed to Jesus, despite everything she’s come up against

• [21:12]—Kelly’s thoughts on patriarchy and how it’s affected how we see God

• [31:27]—How Kelly copes with the isolation and loneliness that the Church creates

• [36:53]—The biggest reason why Kelly gets labeled a “heretic”

• [42:07]—A New Gospel for Women: Katharine Bushnell and the Challenge of Christian Feminism by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

• [44:04]—What gives Kelly hope for the future of faith

• [46:03]—Fun Rapid Fire questions

• [50:15]—The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton

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Credits

This episode was produced by The Sophia Society. Music is by Faith in Foxholes, and sound engineering is by Joshua Mudge (currently accepting new clients: josh.mudge09@gmail.com).