Jen Hatmaker

Hatmaker and her then-husband, Brandon, founded Austin New Church in 2008{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.austinnewchurch.com/about |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Austin New Church |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Stephanie |date=May 12, 2022 |title='Good, Good Mother'—On Mother's Day, Texas Church Worships God As Female |url=https://churchleaders.com/news/424125-good-good-mother-texas-church-god-female.html |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=ChurchLeaders |language=en-US}} located in Austin, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/new-hgtv-reality-show-tattooed-harley-riding-pastor-and-wife-remodel-century-old-home.html|title=New HGTV Reality Show: 'Tattooed, Harley-Riding Pastor' and Wife Remodel Century-Old Home|work=www.christianpost.com|date=September 19, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2020}} She was thought to be a successor to Houston evangelist Beth Moore. She headlined at women's events, parenting and adoption conferences, and participated in a variety of social service ministries such as the Legacy Collective which has been active in Texas hurricane recovery.[https://legacycollective.org/ Legacy Collective website] Retrieved December 17, 2017.

In Jen Hatmaker's 2020 book Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire she wrote of exchanging evangelical theology for "the wild terrain of the wilderness." Hatmaker discontinued attending church services towards the end of 2020, several months after her divorce announcement. She wrote of having no further interest in religious systems or structures and was supportive of others who felt the same.

In 2022, Allie Beth Stuckey's review of a recent Hatmaker podcast noted she was espousing a form of liberation theology, exemplified by James Cone, combined with New Age ideologies.{{Citation |title=Debunking Jen Hatmaker's Liberation Theology & New Age Ideas |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7gZF_n8RyQ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |language=en}} In Hatmaker's interview with Dr. Christena Cleveland,{{Citation |title=Who Says God is a White Man? Finding Ourselves in the Divine with Dr. Christena Cleveland |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vduD1CI6ktQ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |language=en}} author of God Is a Black Woman,{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Breaking Point: A Short Review of Cleveland's God Is a Black Woman |url=https://shenviapologetics.com/breaking-point-a-short-review-of-clevelands-god-is-a-black-woman/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Neil Shenvi - Apologetics |language=en}} Hatmaker referenced "the patriarchy and racism and all the 'isms'" declaring "it would truly be the liberation of the whole earth if everyone was valued as divine." This is consistent with the current ideologies of progressive and affirming Austin New Church she had helped found, where portions of the 2022 Mother's Day service featured feminine pronouns and imagery for God.

Hatmaker's current social media interviews include 'Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond,{{Citation |title=Jen Hatmaker's All The Dish Tour with special guests Ree Drummond, Tyler Merritt, and more |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gROq4V5B6g |access-date=April 16, 2023 |language=en}} sexologist Dr. Celeste Holbrook on creating your own sexual ethic,{{Cite web |title=Sex Ed For the Rest of Us |url=https://www.mecourse.org/sex-ed101 |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=ME COURSE |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=You are Worthy of Great Sex (And so Much More): Dr. Celeste Holbrook - Jen Hatmaker |url=https://jenhatmaker.com/podcast/series-17/you-are-worthy-of-great-sex-and-so-much-more-dr-celeste-holbrook/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=What single people ask me about sex |url=https://www.drcelesteholbrook.com/blog-1/2020/6/26/what-single-people-ask-me-about-sex |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=Dr. Celeste Holbrook |date=June 26, 2020 |language=en-US}} endorsement of Cannabidiol (CBD) products,{{Cite web |title=A wellness hack I want to tell you about |date=May 21, 2022 |url=https://jenhatmaker.com/a-wellness-hack-i-want-to-tell-you-about/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Jen Hatmaker on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgC60fwAIJm/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}} and promoting sexual wellness products.{{Cite web |last=Lea |first=Jessica |date=2023-10-11 |title=Progressive Christian Jen Hatmaker Promotes 'Libido Gummies,' 'Arousal Oil' to Her Audience |url=https://churchleaders.com/news/460508-progressive-christian-jen-hatmaker-libido-arousal-audience.html |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=ChurchLeaders |language=en-US}}

In 2016 both Jen and Brandon Hatmaker came out in support of gay marriage.{{Cite web |title=A Few Thoughts on the Hatmaker Position on LGBTQ |url=https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/a-few-thoughts-on-the-hatmaker-position-on-lgbtq |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=Sean McDowell |language=en}} In April 2016 Jen Hatmaker called for the full inclusion of LGBT people into the Christian community.{{cite web|url=http://religionnews.com/2016/04/25/christian-author-jen-hatmaker-takes-stand-for-lgbt-inclusion/|title=Christian author Jen Hatmaker takes stand for LGBT inclusion|first=Jonathan|last=Merritt|date=April 25, 2016 }} Hatmaker's views came through reasoning about the "fruit" of LGBT+ prohibitions (Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:19-26; James 3:17), which critics have described as consequentialism; she stated that "the fruit of the non-affirming Christian tree...is rotten," a point also made by other affirming evangelicals.{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Episode 34: Jen Hatmaker - Changing Your Mind About the Bible: A Survivor's Guide {{!}} The Bible For Normal People |url=https://thebiblefornormalpeople.podbean.com/e/episode-34-jen-hatmaker/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=thebiblefornormalpeople.podbean.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2018 |title=Hatmaker explains why she rejected the "bad fruit" of the Bible's teaching about sexuality |url=https://www.dennyburk.com/hatmaker-explains-why-she-rejected-the-bad-fruit-of-the-bibles-teaching-about-sexuality/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=Denny Burk |language=en-US}} She reiterated her position in October 2016, and as a result, LifeWay Christian Resources decided to discontinue selling her publications.{{cite news|last1=Beaty|first1=Katelyn|title=The high cost of popular evangelical Jen Hatmaker's gay marriage comments|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/31/the-high-cost-of-popular-evangelical-jen-hatmakers-gay-marriage-comments/|access-date=November 3, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 30, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Shellnut|first1=Kate|title=LifeWay Stops Selling Jen Hatmaker Books over LGBT Beliefs|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/october/lifeway-stops-selling-jen-hatmaker-books-lgbt-beliefs-chris.html|access-date=November 3, 2016|work=Christianity Today|date=October 27, 2016}}

Amongst the multiple responses to her announcement was that of retired Syracuse University professor, pastor's wife and former lesbian Rosaria Butterfield in the Gospel Coalition article Love Your Neighbor Enough to Speak Truth - A Response to Jen Hatmaker.{{Cite web |last=Butterfield |first=Rosaria |title=Love Your Neighbor Enough to Speak Truth |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/love-your-neighbor-enough-to-speak-truth/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=The Gospel Coalition |date=June 15, 2017 |language=en-US}} Butterfield stated that Jen Hatmaker's well meaning "words would have put a millstone around my neck" and, "how I feel does not tell me who I am. Only God can tell me who I am, because he made me and [cares for] me."

During 2020 June pride month, Hatmaker featured her 18-year-old lesbian daughter, who had been out for some time, in a celebratory podcast. The episode concluded with, "I'm so glad you're gay...I'm thrilled about your future." The podcast came on the heels of the release of Hatmaker's new book, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You. In the book, she wrote that she traded evangelical theology for "the wild terrain of the wilderness."{{Cite web |title=A Moment of Pride: Jen and Sydney Hatmaker On Being Gay and Loved - Jen Hatmaker |url=https://jenhatmaker.com/podcast/special-edition-series/a-moment-of-pride-jen-and-sydney-hatmaker-on-being-gay-christian-and-loved/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Law |first1=Jeannie Ortega |last2=Reporter |first2=Christian Post |date=July 3, 2020 |title=Jen Hatmaker celebrates daughter's lesbian identity: 'I'm so glad you're gay' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/jen-hatmaker-celebrates-her-daughters-lesbian-identity-im-so-glad-youre-gay.html |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wakefield |first=Lily |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Bestselling Christian author reveals her daughter is gay and she's a proud ally. Evangelicals aren't happy about it |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/07/09/jen-hatmaker-lesbian-daughter-author-evangelical-for-the-love-podcast/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}

Hatmaker is supportive of gender transition of minors. In 2022 Texas Governor Greg Abbott upheld his attorney general statement, "There is no doubt"{{Cite web |title=Texas Attorney General {{!}} Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1496114209238794247?s=20 |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=Twitter |language=en}} that gender transition of minor is 'child abuse' under Texas law." Hatmaker pushed back by promoting Tyler Merritt's response which asserted Governor Abbott's position was "heartless, outdated" and declared we "are coming after you."{{Cite web |title=Jen Hatmaker {{!}} Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/JenHatmaker/status/1497290291266605057?s=20 |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=Twitter |language=en}}

After the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, Hatmaker wrote about her pro-choice position. She declared a woman's body is "their's alone", so abortion should be a choice women make for their own reasons.{{Cite web |title=My thoughts on the Roe v. Wade reversal |date=May 4, 2022 |url=https://jenhatmaker.com/my-thoughts-on-the-roe-v-wade-reversal/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |language=en-US}}

In 1993, Hatmaker married Brandon Hatmaker.{{Cite web |title=Jen Hatmaker {{!}} 25th wedding anniversary {{!}} Dec 30, 2018 |url=https://www.facebook.com/203920953040241/posts/1947650288667290/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}} They have five children, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia.{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2018 |title=A Letter to My 2011 Adopting Self |url=http://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/a-letter-to-my-2011-adopting-self |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}} In September 2020, Hatmaker announced their divorce. She said on her social media streams that after 26 years of marriage she and Brandon were getting divorced, and described it as "completely unexpected".{{cite news |last1=Klett |first1=Leah MarieAnn |title=Jen Hatmaker says divorce was 'completely unexpected,' asks for prayers: 'I am shocked' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/jen-hatmaker-says-divorce-was-completely-unexpected-asks-for-prayers-i-am-shocked.html |access-date=September 8, 2020 |work=Christian Post |date=September 8, 2020}}

Hatmaker is now in a long distance relationship with author and activist Tyler Merritt. Her social media platforms include aspects of navigating the nuances of being a bi-racial couple, and an ongoing series on adult sex education.{{Cite web |title=Surprised by Love: Jen & Tyler On Where They Started and How It's Going |url=https://jenhatmaker.com/podcast/series-45/surprised-by-love-jen-tyler-on-where-they-started-and-how-its-going/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Glennon |title=We Can Do Hard Things Ep 87 {{!}} Momastery |url=https://momastery.com/blog/we-can-do-hard-things-ep-87/ |access-date=April 12, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=Surprised by Love: Jen & Tyler On Where They Started and How It's Going |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ydFaeO8 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |language=en}}

In May 2021, Hatmaker stopped attending church services, but said she would "never get over Jesus."{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2021 |title=Jen Hatmaker quits "church" and invites you to join her |url=https://joshuarogers.com/2021/06/15/jen-hatmaker-quits-church-and-invites-you-to-join-her/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Joshua Rogers |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jen Hatmaker on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CcdHhmVO980/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Facebook - Jen Hatmaker 5-30-2021 |url=https://www.facebook.com/100044506716546/posts/337244061102482/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Facebook |language=en}}

• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2008 |title=Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation |publisher=NavPress |date= |isbn=978-1600062162 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2010 |title=Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load |publisher=Revell |date= |isbn=978-0800734480 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2012 |title=7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess |publisher=Yates and Yates |date= |isbn=978-1433672965 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2014 |title=Make Over: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill |publisher=NavPress |date= |isbn=978-1576838945 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2014 |title=Tune In: Hearing God's Voice Through the Static |publisher=Tyndale House Publishers |series=A Modern Girl's Bible Study |isbn=978-1-61747-226-8 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2014 |title=Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity |publisher=NavPress |date= |isbn=978-1631463532 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2015 |title=For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards |publisher=Thomas Nelson |date= |isbn=978-0718031824 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2017 |title=Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life |publisher=Thomas Nelson |isbn=978-0-7180-3186-2 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2020 |title=Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You |publisher=Thomas Nelson |isbn=978-0718088149 |author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |last=Hatmaker |first=Jen |year=2020 |title=7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess Updated and Revised Edition |publisher=Convergent Books |date= |isbn=978-0593237441 |author-mask=1}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://jenhatmaker.com Official website]

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