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.
Show More
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 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdunahoo/)
✅ Read Penny Preaches (https://www.ivpress.com/penny-preaches?srsltid=AfmBOoo8NzVh7w23z61WUlkUY22GegsrPEWoPCFdWbVFe_Yzf5O5rOLH) by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon
✅ Learn more about Rev. Ashley Matthews (https://c4so.org/a-new-role-for-the-rev-ashley-mathews/)
✅ Read
