What the Church Needs to Know About the Burdens of Women in Leadership | Tammy Dunahoo

What roadblocks—and outright opposition—do women face when they pursue their call to leadership?

In this episode of Hear Women, host Tara Beth Leach sits down with seasoned leader Tammy Dunahoo to talk about the wisdom she’s gleaned from her four decades of ministry, the unique burden of being “the first,” and the identity struggles women face in male-shaped systems. By sharing both the joys and pains of her leadership journey, Dunahoo explores the tension between capability and calling, the wounds and weariness that come with tempered resistance, and the healing found in befriending both grief and gratitude. Through it all, Dunahoo’s deep-rooted confidence, resilience, and wisdom shine as she describes what it means to stand firm in her identity as called by God, to invest in the next generation of women leaders through mentorship, and to prioritize family amid significant leadership responsibilities.

With precision and a pastoral approach, Leach and Dunahoo name cultural and theological roadblocks that are still present for women in the church and call us all to come to the table together with honesty, rich scholarship, and true mutuality.

Listen in for hard-won wisdom, practical encouragement, and a vision for the church where women serve, lead, and heal—and where we can all flourish together.

This episode highlights the following themes:
✅ The subtle and overt roadblocks women encounter while exploring their calling to leadership
✅ The transformative power of mentorship and encouragement for women discerning vocation
✅ The tension between capability, calling, and the struggle to claim the title “leader”

Links from this episode:
✅ Learn more about Tammy Dunahoo (www.linkedin.com/in/tdunahoo/)
✅ Read Penny Preaches (www.ivpress.com/penny-preaches) by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon
✅ Learn more about Rev. Ashley Matthews (c4so.org/a-new-role-for-the-rev-ashley-mathews/)
✅ Read the transcript here (drive.google.com/file/d/1k0wl6AirEb8uUuLuXdu-AC7ebLv6Q9S5/view)
✅ Learn more about Hear Women (www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast)
✅ Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young (www.ivpress.com/dorina-lazo-gilmore-young), Nijay Gupta (www.ivpress.com/nijay-k-gupta), and Tara Beth Leach (www.ivpress.com/tara-beth-leach)
✅ Read Redeemer (www.ivpress.com/redeemer) by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
✅ Read Tell Her Story (www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story) by Nijay Gupta
✅ Read Emboldened (www.ivpress.com/emboldened) by Tara Beth Leach

SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com (ivpress.com) and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu (www.seminary.edu/) to learn more.

Credits:
✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton
✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose
✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts (honestpodcasts.com/)
✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne
✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard
✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax

==== Time Stamps ====

00:00 – Introduction
02:23 – Capable vs. Called
07:27 – Resistance and Roadblocks in Ministry
13:13 – Healing and the Burden of Perfection
18:35 – Grief, Gratitude, and Mentorship
24:23 – Why the Church Still Struggles
28:25 – Leading Without a Title
31:19 – Honesty and Hope for the Church

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.