The Estuary with Kelley Mathews Podcast

Welcome my friend and colleague Hannah McGinnis, a thoughtful, brilliant young scholar and former English literature teacher. She also traversed the winding road of her Doctor of Ministry with me every step of the way.At 21, Hannah was diagnosed with cancer, and though she went on to teach, work in fundraising, and live a pretty normal life as a survivor, she senses a continuing stewardship of that experience. This has led to publishing her cancer story, starting a cancer retreat, and researching and writing on doing cancer ministry for her dissertation. Hannah loves story and is deeply convinced that our stories can encourage other believers as we navigate life's twists and turns and, ultimately, be used for God's purposes. Feeling a call to steward her cancer experience, Hannah has produced a dissertation focused on helping people more effectively minister to cancer patients and survivors: Centering the Story of God and Remembering the Story of his People for Effective and Sustained Cancer MinistryIn it, she focuses on four key themes critical to cancer ministry: mortality, embodiment, lament, and community.For more on Hannah’s life and ministry, check out her website. And check out Hannah’s memoir, What in the World Are You Doing with Cancer?The Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Beth Allison Barr joins me to talk through a fascinating book we both enjoyed: Excavating Women: The Archaeology of Leaders in Early Christianity, by Dr. Carina Prestes. What do inscriptions and art tell us about the participation of women in the earliest centuries of the church? Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Doctor of Ministry graduates minister to the church in many unconventional ways. They may preach, teach, or administrate at churches, but they also may work as counselors, writers, professors, and more. Today, I talk with my own DMin cohort-mate Susy Flory, who was already a NYT bestselling author before she began her seminary work. Unsurprisingly, Susy focused her research on writers—specifically, women authors from ancient times. For more insight into her dissertation, see my previous post (referenced in our conversation). Find Susy on her own Substack account, her website, and in the bookstores. She inspired a recent project, titled Jesus Was, as a collaboration with her master’s degree colleagues. I was delighted to endorse the book and then to talk with Susy about it. Susy provided the following list of resources related to her dissertation topic:Bruce, F. F. “Women in the Church: A Biblical Survey.” Christian Brethren Review Journal 33 (1982): 7–14. Flory, Susy. “The First Named Writer in History: Enheduanna (2334–2279 BC).” Priscilla Papers 8, no. 3 (2024): 3–7. You can read it at the link above (free).Haines-Eitzen, Kim. Guardians of Letters: Literacy, Power, and the Transmitters of Early Christian Literature. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.Moss, Candida R. God’s Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible. First edition. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2024.Schniedewind, William M. Who Really Wrote the Bible: The Story of the Scribes. 1st ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2024.The Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to my series exploring the Doctor of Ministry degree! Today I spoke with Dr. Nika Spaulding, who studied under Dr. Scot McKnight at Northern Seminary. Nika came to the program with pastoral experience, an ability to think and write well, and a solid dose of creative energy. We discussed her reasons for pursuing the DMin, why she chose Northern, and what her research entailed. Plus so much more!You can find Nika at her website, which also includes links to purchase her Theology in 10 booklets and Bible-based card decks. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

When I am introduced as Dr. Kelley Mathews, someone inevitably asks, “So what did you get your PhD in?” When I respond, “I have a DMin, a Doctor of Ministry,” I often receive a puzzled look and, “Oh, ok.”Welcome to the first in my series exploring both the Doctor of Ministry degree itself and the journeys that took students into the program. I’ll be talking with a number of graduates to learn about their research, dissertations, and overall experience. Why a DMin? Highs and lows? What next? Where can we find you now?But first, meet Dr. Lynn Cohick (PhD, UPenn), Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director, Houston Theological Seminary (part of Houston Christian University). Dr. Cohick is a world-renowned scholar focusing on the New Testament and Greco-Roman culture. She has authored several commentaries on Ephesians and Philippians as well as books and articles on women in the ancient church. In her free time (ha!) she also serves on the Bible Translation Committee for the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible.Dr. Cohick also founded the Center for Women in Leadership, which produces the Alabaster Jar podcast and houses the Visual Museum for Women in Christianity. And she served as my professor and program director.In our conversation, Dr. Cohick and I discuss the difference between a DMin and a PhD, how the structure of a DMin program uniquely fits its purpose of equipping leaders to serve the local church body, and what prospective students can expect. Most of all, we agree that the DMin can strengthen and deepen the faith and capabilities of women and men who want to pursue practical solutions to problems within their field.I hope you’ll be encouraged by our conversation and tune in to my future conversations with DMin graduates. They will release once a week during summer 2026.The Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading The Estuary with Kelley Mathews! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you)! It’s the first Monday of the month, so I have a couple of book recommendations for you, along with a little trivia about Mother Mary and the month of May. One book to read, by Jennifer Houston McNeel, another to preorder, by Kristin Du Mez, both centering mothers (and other women) who influenced the church in different ways. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

It’s the beginning of the month, so it must be book recommendation time! I have two topical books relevant to Good Friday. One is short and devotional, the other long and theological—but both are readable and engaging. I love them both.The Wood Between the Worlds, by Brian ZahndThe Crucifixion, by Fleming RutledgeThe Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Bill Blaydes, my late birthday buddy and surrogate father figure for 30 years, introduced me to a phrase when I lived in his home during my twenties while I attended Dallas Seminary: “the love bucket.” We each have a love bucket that can leak or be filled up. For me, it’s most full when I am with the people I love. So after this past (long) weekend of visiting Dallas and seeing a lineup of friends and family, I returned home yesterday with my bucket full. It’s all about people, right?In today’s video, I introduced you to three books I’ve read or am currently reading:Seeing the Gospel, by Eve Tibbs TheVision of Ephesians, by N.T. WrightFrom Genesis to Junia, by Preston SprinkleSpeaking This MonthI also highlight the upcoming symposium for the Visual Museum for Women in Christianity. I will be speaking on Mary, the mother of God (who else??), but the real highlight will be Dr. Jennifer McNutt, theology prof and author of The Mary We Forgot, a historical and biblical exploration of Mary Magdalene. The event is hosted at the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, TX, on February 19–20. Click the image to get tickets!Thanks for reading! If you do plan to attend the symposium, please let me know so I can look for you. *Book links send you to bookshop.org, which sends me a small “tip” and supports brick-and-mortar bookstores at no additional cost to you.The Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s short video, I recommend two new women’s study Bibles, in which all devotional and technical contributions come from women Bible scholars.NLT Every Woman’s Bible: Published in 2025CSB Women’s Study Bible: Brand new, out today!Both contain word studies, devotional “call out” sections, thousands of study notes, biographies of leading women in church history, articles on theological topics and doctrines, color maps, and more. The NLT Every Woman’s Bible also includes online extras:* downloadable study worksheets* downloadable scripture prayer cards* downloadable prayer journal* The Filament Bible app, which allows you to scan the page you are reading to access special content curated to that page, including maps, infographics, more devotionals, hundreds of videos, music, audio Bibles, and more.I also mentioned Mary DeMuth’s book 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge, which I am using to kick off 2026. It’s not too late to join in if you are looking for something different to invigorate your Bible study.Above all, I encourage you to read or listen to your Bible. It’s where God has revealed himself to us. And he is everything we need.Happy New Year!The Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

I may be a little scattered this morning, but you still get three excellent books to check out. All are on the devotional side, for personal reflection and growth, rather than academic learning. The Freedom of Surrender, by Mary DeMuth. Journey through forty days of entrusting specific areas of your life to God your inner struggles, your family, your expectations, your regrets, your ministry, your grief, your relationships, your job, your health, your finances, your future, and more. Every daily devotion includes Scripture, prayer, and Mary’s original art.Missing the Kingdom, by Wayne GordonIn this personal and biblical book, Gordon explores:* How Jesus’s main message was the Kingdom, not just salvation* Why the Sermon on the Mount is the blueprint for Kingdom living* The deep connection between the Kingdom, righteousness, and justice* How the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor fuels Kingdom work* The tragedy of reducing the gospel to a ticket to heaven* What it looks like when churches become outposts of the Kingdom on earthWe Follow Christ, edited by Tara Beth Leach, Patricia M. Batten, and Matthew D. KimThe unique and gifted contributors to this volume are leaders in their respective fields in the church, theological education, and society. Through their personal accounts of vocational identity, they share collective wisdom and experiences in being called by God and exercising that call. Reflecting on their journeys, these extraordinary women disclose transparent stories of heartache and yet offer hope in the one whom they have chosen to follow, the Lord Jesus Christ.More Than a Mother: Lessons from the Life of the First DiscipleThis one isn’t a book, but a small paperback booklet published by Our Daily Bread Ministries as part of their Discovery Series. I used my dissertation resources to explore the life and calling of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his first disciple. ODB offers each essay separately as well as the pdf of the whole booklet for free download. If you’ve followed my writing over the last eighteen months, this booklet will give you the best summary of my dissertation work beyond reading the actual academic-level project itself. Happy reading!Some hyperlinks are affiliate, earning pennies for brick-and-mortar book stores at no cost to you. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Sharing good books is one of my favorite occupations. Congratulations to all the authors whose books are dropping this fall! Some of these I’ve already read, while others are in process or awaiting my attention. Most have already dropped—so you can grab a copy today. All hyperlinks connect to bookshop.org, which supports local book stores.Why I Am Protestant, by Beth Felker Jones.What does it mean to be Protestant? How can its strengths shape faith in the modern world, and how should its challenges be addressed? This book offers a positive, theologically grounded reflection on both the beauty and complexity of the Protestant tradition, inviting readers into a deeper understanding of the Protestant faith and its place within the broader Christian community.You Have a Calling, by Karen Swallow Prior.What if your vocation doesn’t align with your passion? Some people are lucky enough to get paid to do what they love. But many are not. Award-winning author Karen Swallow Prior has encouraging news: If you pursue the good, true, and beautiful in all your work, you will find your greatest fulfillment. In this book, you’ll discover:* how knowing the crucial difference between passion and calling transforms how you view work;* how to find meaning in every role, regardless of your career; and* how everyday work reflects the image of God through truth, goodness, and beauty.Ask of Old Paths, by Grace HammanHamman meditates upon the strange and wonderful word pictures and explanations of virtues and vices found in medieval traditions of poetry, sermons, and treatises long confined to dusty corners of the library. She focuses on the ancient tradition of virtue language called the Seven Capital Virtue Remedies: pride and humility, envy and love, wrath and meekness, avarice and mercy, sloth and fortitude, gluttony and abstinence, lust and chastity.In accessible and thoughtful chapters, Hamman shows how learning about these pairs of medieval virtues and vices can help us reevaluate our own washed-out and insipid moral vocabulary in modernity.For the Love of Women, by Dorothy Littell Greco (Preorder: Releases Oct 28)Greco draws on in-depth research, interviews, biblical concepts, and vulnerable personal experience to explore how misogyny continues to impact six spheres of contemporary culture:* Healthcare* Government* The workplace* Media and entertainment* The church* Intimate relationshipsWhile recent movements succeeded in raising consciousness and initiating important changes connected to misogynistic practices, alarming trends and rhetoric are on the rise in America today. We still have a lot of work to do--and the battle is more urgent than ever.Becoming God’s Family, by Carmen Joy Imes (Preorder: coming October 28)Exploring the familial and communal identity of the church, Imes traces the thread of God’s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible. She invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture and speaks directly to the challenges we face today. Imes reminds us of a powerful truth—God delights in the global, intergenerational family He has created.Preaching Ephesians, by Lynn CohickPart of the “Proclamation: Preaching the New Testament” series, Cohick’s contribution offers teachers and preachers a way through the rich Christology and ecclesiology of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. She offers an accessible guide through the exegetical and historical issues, explaining the text succinctly and adding homiletical insights. Anyone teaching this popular biblical book should include Cohick’s supplemental work as they prepare their lessons. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Happy September! May the promise of cooler weather fuel your dreams to snuggle up on the porch under a blanket, with a mug of java and a good book. It’s too early for the porch and blanket where I live, but I’m always down for reading with a side of yumminess. This month, I introduce three options to you:From Dropout to DoctorateWith a foreword by the inimitable Jemar Tisby, this moving personal account from Terence Lester unveils the realities of educational injustice and the profound impact of unjust policies and systems on Black communities. He shows how poverty disrupts the lives of Black families, leading to homelessness and perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline. It’s a call to imagine a better system, healthier communities, and a vision for what can be rather than settling for what is.Jesus WasDon’t miss my earlier interview with co-editor Susy Flory, as we discuss this book’s unique origin story and why the team of contributors focused on describing Jesus as he was during his earthly ministry. An excellent book to read and meditate on, one chapter at a time, taking your time with each. Discover Jesus on a deeper level.Why the Gospel?Christianity Today Book Award Winner in Popular Theology (2024)In his earlier works such as Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Matthew W. Bates demonstrated that the "good news" of the gospel is that Jesus is King. Here he explores why God issued this royal proclamation and what role it can play in our everyday lives.   As Bates observes, we find the answer in a simple but challenging realization: "I am a horrible king of my own life." With examples from Scripture, literature, and personal experience, Bates explains what pledging allegiance to Jesus as ruler of our lives looks like. Living authentically according to God's reign conforms humanity to the image of Jesus and extends his glory and honor to all creation. All cover images are linked to bookshop.org, which sends affiliates a small portion of the proceeds. Help support local book stores! Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Susy Flory needed to say something, but she didn’t want to join the rabblerousers online by just venting. So she typed out three words:“Jesus was nonviolent.”The response was so positive and refreshing, she typed out another “Jesus was …” post the next day. And the next. And the next. For thirty days, she invited friends and strangers into a conversation about the person of Jesus. Eventually, it became the book Jesus Was: Not what we expected but better than we imagined. As I spoke with Susy in our video interview, she described the process of discovering the broad appeal of her Facebook posts, gathering contributors to write essays on each one, finding a publisher, and now releasing it into the world. She also addresses the question of why they used “was” instead of “is” to describe Jesus.She and her co-editor created their own Substack page and a podcast in which they interview each contributor.Jesus Was releases September 23, 2025. While you wait for your preordered copy to arrive, watch this interview, then go listen to the contributors discuss their chapters. You’ll get to know Jesus in a whole new way.The Estuary with Kelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

With my doctoral studies winding down, though not completely finished, I am looking ahead to books I can read for fun. As you can see from the list and hear me discuss in the video, my interests remain consistent—history, theology, and the combination of both. Below you will find links to each copy in my Bookshop.org “store.” Each link does send a small percentage to me as an affiliate (much like the Amazon affiliate program works…no extra cost to you).Let me know if you pick any of these up for yourself. I’d love to share thoughts about them!The Oxford Handbook of Women and Gender in Medieval EuropeAncient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years by Paula FredriksenWhat's a Christian, Anyway? by Glenn PackiamWhy I Am Protestant, by Beth Felker JonesJesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by N.T. Wright and Michael F. BirdA Different Kind of Power, by Jacinda Ardern Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends,No time to write for Substack over the weekend, so I am sending a short video instead. I’ve got four books to recommend, and they are all wildly different.A book of prayers and poems from Sharifa. A theology book for regular people from Jared Ortiz and Daniel Keating.A controversial history about (shocker!) women in the church from Beth Allison BarrA counseling resource from Michelle Keener.Some of these are already in your public libraries or available digitally through Libby. If you find any of them worth purchasing, consider using Bookshop.org for print or digital copies. Each purchase through my store supports Blue Apple Books, “a woman-owned independent bookstore in historic downtown Madison, Alabama, focused on community, creativity, and curiosity.” I have been FB friends with the owner, Robin Dauma, since we met as part of Jen Hatmaker’s long-ago book launch team. Happy reading! Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

No, it’s not a typo. I don’t mean “40” this time, though we are discussing concepts found within Sue Edwards’ and my book, 40 Questions About Women in Ministry. In this video interview, StacieNicole Simmons and I dialogue over questions gleaned from a course she taught at the Evangelical Theological College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The video, shot in 2023, was originally used as a supplement to a class of Ethiopian pastors studying the issue of women in the church. Kregel Academic kindly sent each student a copy of the book afterward.Topics addressed: What does “head” (kephalé) mean?What about submission?How does the Creation account inform the relationship between men and women today?In what ways can women be equipped and enabled to use their gifts for the kingdom? Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

The video says it all. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!I’ll catch you on the other side of this move…when I have wi-fi again. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

I thought I would try something a little different and offer an old-fashioned show-and-tell about what I am reading this fall, now that school is back in session. My list is incomplete, but it is the best I’ve got right now. Links below, by author!Richard BauckhamJeannine BrownDavid CapesMichael GormanJoshua JippJennifer Powell McNuttSandra RichterKelley Mathews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Links are affiliate, which means if you purchase anything through one of them, I receive a small commission from Amazon. By small, I mean tiny, but they can add up. Thanks for supporting my Substack this way! Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe

Last Saturday 2/3 of my immediate family flew to Sacramento, CA, for a few days of exploration on the Northern California coast. We hugged enormous redwood trees, hiked through a national forest of epic proportions, and drove down the wild and tumultuous coastline for hours. Holy moly, the redwoods are breathtaking. After a few days of smelling salty sea air and piney woods, we trekked inland to meet up with our oldest son to meet his prospective in-laws, bake his wedding cake, and get him married. (The actual reason for our trip.)But the wedding is a story for another day. In the meantime, the video offers a virtual beauty fix, a few moments from our adventures. Try to find a moment over your weekend to touch grass, smell a flower, sit under the stars, listen for your favorite bird call, or savor the flavor of your favorite snack. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭31‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe