Beth Moore
Born
Wanda Elizabeth Green

(1957-06-16) June 16, 1957
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
EducationB.A. Southwest Texas State University (political science)
Occupation(s)Evangelist, author, bible teacher
Years active1978–present
TitleFounder, 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]

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

Moore’s adoption of an egalitarian theological position led to her leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, which takes a complementarian approach. 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

  • When Godly People Do Ungodly Things – book (2002), ISBN 978-0-8054-2465-2
  • Believing God – book (2004), ISBN 978-0-80543189-6
  • Who Will You Trust? – audio/video series (2007)
  • Get Out Of That Pit – book (2007), ISBN 978-1-59145-552-3
  • Songs of Deliverance – CD (2006)
  • Fully Alive: Audio/video series with Beth Moore, James and Betty Robison (2006)
  • So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us – book (2010), ISBN 978-1-4143-3472-1
  • Get Out of That Pit: Straight Talk about God's Deliverance book (2017) ISBN 978-0-71809582-6
  • The Undoing of Saint Silvanus book (2017) ISBN 978-1-49641648-3
  • Chasing Vines: Finding Your Way to an Immensely Fruitful Life Bible study companion book (2020) ISBN 978-1496440822
  • All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir book (2023) ISBN 978-1-49647267-0

Bible studies

  • To Live is Christ: The Life & Ministry of Paul (1997), ISBN 978-0767334129
  • Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit (1998), ISBN 978-0-767392754
  • Breaking Free (1999)
  • Jesus: The One and Only (2002), ISBN 0-8054-2489-X
  • When Godly People Do Ungodly Things: Arming Yourself in the Age of Seduction (2002), ISBN 0-8054-2465-2
  • The Beloved Disciple: Following John to the Heart of Jesus (2003), ISBN 0-8054-2753-8
  • Believing God (2004), ISBN 0-8054-3189-6
  • The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (2005), ISBN 0-633-09906-6
  • Daniel: Lives of Integrity, words of prophecy (2006), ISBN 978-1-4158-2588-4
  • A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place (2007)
  • Stepping Up: Psalms of Ascent (2007), ISBN 978-1415857434
  • Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman (2008), ISBN 1-4158-5289-8
  • Here and Now – There and Then: A Lecture Series on Revelation (2009)
  • David: Seeking a Heart Like His (2010), ISBN 978-1-4158-6948-2
  • James: Mercy Triumphs (2011), ISBN 978-1-4158-7171-3
  • Children of the Day: 1 & 2 Thessalonians (2014), ISBN 978-1-43002860-4
  • Living Free: Learning to Pray God's Word (2015), ISBN 978-1-43004330-0
  • Entrusted - Bible Study Book: A Study of 2 Timothy (2016), ISBN 978-1-430055006
  • The Quest: An Excursion Toward Intimacy with God (2017),ISBN 978-1462766611
  • Delivered: Experiencing God's Power in Your Pain (2019) ISBN 978-1-40410924-7
  • Chasing Vines: Finding Your Way to an Immensely Fruitful Life (2020) ISBN 9781496440884
  • The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ: A Study of Philippians (2022)

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

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