About
Me reading Romans 16 during our Italy trip at the first century church San Clemente in Rome, where it’s possible Phoebe first delivered Paul’s letter to the Roman Church.
Hi, I’m Katherine! I’m so close to graduating from Seminary, I can taste it.
Credentials
A Bachelor’s in History (English minor), a teaching credential, and (very soon) a Master’s in Women and Theology from Northern Seminary.
Family
One husband of 9 years and two daughters 4 and under.
Faith Journey
I didn’t grow up going to church, but came to faith through attending a Christian secondary school. When I met my future husband while in college, I was shocked by the idea that women could not be pastors. He, growing up in the faith, assumed it to be truth. Fast forward to the birth of our first daughter. I gave birth to her around the time Dr. Beth Allison Barr’s The Making of Biblical Womanhood (affiliate link) came out. As a new mom, deeply fatigued with the reality of parenthood, I realized I needed, needed to figure out what I thought about women in the church. Thus, a long, winding road led me to Seminary to study under the great Dr. Lynn Cohick, a true gem, who created an extraordinary but short-lived program called Women and Theology. The name says it all. We studied the Bible, theology, and especially women in the Bible and Christian history. We even took a trip to Italy to learn about women in Christian art history. The incredibly talented Shala Graham took pictures of this art, which is available in the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity (this is where much of the art on this website currently comes from). While in Seminary, I learned firsthand the deep heartbreak and grief of pregnancy loss. I may periodically share my theological musings about pregnancy loss on this site. I also learned the beauty of a community of women, joined in heart and cause, to share what we know to be true about our identity in Christ, as daughters of the King, confined not by gender but free in the Spirit. I consider it an honor that you’re here. Please feel free to look around and share resources you find helpful with others, always giving appropriate credit to the creator.
About The Romans 16 Woman
One day, while preparing for a Seminary presentation on Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2), I couldn’t quite figure out how to conclude my presentation. I’d covered all my bases - how Paul called Phoebe his sister, a deacon of her church, a benefactor of himself and others. How she’d carried one of Paul’s most important letters to the Roman churches. How she came from Cenchreae, a mere 5.6 miles from Corinth. Yet, I longed to find a bigger picture, something to wrap up my presentation.
It continued to bother me as I prepared for bed. I laid down still wrapped in my thoughts of Phoebe. With a jolt, I opened my eyes. I believe the Spirit spoke to me, giving me a name: the Romans 16 woman. Suddenly, I saw the bigger picture. Phoebe is the first of 10 (!!!!) women Paul mentions in Romans 16.
They are…
Phoebe - deacon, church leader, patron, sister, emissary, commended by Paul
Priscilla - Paul’s co-worker in Christ, a risk-taker, one who would die for another, a church leader, ministry partner to her husband, Aquila, and a (gasp!) teacher of a man (Apollos, Acts 18:18-28), greeted by Paul
Junia - imprisoned for the gospel, outstanding among/esteemed by the apostles, in Christ, greeted by Paul
Mary - hard worker, greeted by Paul
Tryphena and Tryphosa - work hard in the Lord, greeted by Paul
Persis - Paul’s dear friend, works very hard in the Lord, greeted by Paul
Rufus’s Mother - a mother to Paul also, greeted by Paul
Julia and Nereus’s Sister - greeted by Paul
Why did Paul know all these women? How did Paul know all these women? They had ministered alongside him, laboring for the sake of the kingdom.
One of my brilliant Seminary professors, Dr. Ingrid Faro, once mentioned in our Women in the Old Testament class, that the (sometimes infamous) Proverbs 31 woman was not meant to create a strict checklist for women to follow. Rather, everything about her represents opportunities for women.
It struck me as I lay in bed that night that Romans 16 is the same. What can a woman be? What can a woman do? The answer is obvious: anything a Romans 16 woman could be or do.
What do I believe theologically?
As a reader of my work, you have every right to know what I believe theologically.
Though I’ve historically attended and/or been a member of several non-denominational churches throughout my personal Christian history, I now attend a delightful, small Episcopal church.
Alongside the Episcopal Church and my ancestors of the faith, I affirm the tenets of the Nicene Creed.
The Nicene Creed (as read aloud communally in the Episcopal Church every Sunday):
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],*
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*Note: The Filioque - meaning “and the Son” - did not appear in the original Nicene Creed. I am aware of the complex history surrounding this later addition. At this time I do not have a strong opinion on the Filioque so I will leave it in brackets above.
Also note: my church uses feminine pronouns for the Holy Spirit. There is a Scriptural warrant for this that I won’t get into the details of here. It’s sufficient to say I am comfortable with this language, or with male pronouns, neutral pronouns, or no pronouns at all (simply referring to God by name).
Acknowledgments
I am deeply grateful to my family and friends who have encouraged me to start and complete this degree and final project. Thank you especially to my parents and parents-in-law, whose support and endless hours of babysitting have allowed me to spend time learning everything found on this website. Thank you to my two daughters, whose lives and vibrant personalities bring me endless joy and opportunities for growth. Thank you to my best friend, Erin, unwavering in loyalty, honesty, and support. Conversations with you make me smarter, more compassionate, and more understood. Thank you to my advisor, Dr. Lynn Cohick, for guiding this project and supplying endless patience as I pivoted a hundred times. You have paved the way for women like me, long before it was remotely popular, and you continue to do so today. We stand on your shoulders. Speaking of women like me, thank you to the wonderful friends I’ve made at Northern. I don’t know where I’d be without you all. And thank you to my incredible husband, Matt, a true and loving partner. I would never have started this journey without your words of encouragement and I certainly never would have finished it without your deep commitment to my education. You transformed alongside me as I shared my research and learning with you.
I love you all.