Welcome to People Watching!
My guest is Dr. Sandra Glahn, journalist and author, coauthor, or editor of more than twenty books. Dr. Glahn is also a Professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, and the co-founder of Visual Museum of Women in Christianity.
I first met Dr. Glahn when I took her course Writing for Publication while a student at DTS. She both terrified and encouraged me in equal measure. I’d thought I was a good writer before going in to her class, and quickly found out how much more I had to learn!
Since leaving DTS, I've followed Dr. Glahn's work with deep interest, especially as she's recently published Nobody's Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament, which connects ancient Ephesus and early church history to questions of gender in society and faith communities today.
In the first part of our conversation, we explore the themes of representation, leadership, and the historical context of women in Christianity. We also discuss cultural influences on gender expectations, the importance of having female role models, and the impact of historical female leaders on contemporary views of leadership.
We also explore the dynamics of connection in a digital age, the complexities of authenticity and vulnerability, and the pressing need for integrity in leadership within faith communities. I especially appreciated hearing Dr. Glahn speak on the challenges of power dynamics in leadership roles, and her emphasis the importance of discernment, humility, and integrity in fostering genuine connections.
I loved learning about Dr. Glahn's educational journey that took her through a ThM in Media & Communications to a PhD in Humanities—Aesthetic Studies. She's been married to Gary Glahn for 35 years, and loves spending time with their daughter and grandchild. Dr. Glahn combines her love of teaching and travel by taking students on learning trips to Italy, the UK, Mexico, and across the U.S.
This was such a fun and fascinating conversation - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.
Shalom,
Chapters
00:00 Show Intro
00:56 Guest Intro
02:48 Welcome & Touchstones
05:06 Sandra Glahn's Early Life
08:29 Faith Journey and Family Dynamics
14:09 Pursuing a PhD and Writing Journey
20:00 Exploring Gender and Historical Contexts
25:27 Role Models and Representation in the Church
32:46 The Importance of Representation in Leadership
34:27 Discovering Historical Female Leaders
37:24 Creating a Visual Gallery of Women in Christianity
41:00 Outro
Watch on YouTube!
Links Mentioned
Nobody's Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament
Dallas Theological Seminary
Visual Museum of Women in Christianity
Other Places to Find Guest
Sandra Glahn - https://sandraglahn.com/
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