Hatmaker and her then-husband, Brandon, founded Austin New Church in 2008[7][8] located in Austin, Texas.[9] She was thought to be a successor to Houston evangelist Beth Moore who has been a leader in the Women of Faith tours.[1] 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.[10]
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."[11] 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.[11][12][13]
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.[14] In Hatmaker's interview with Dr. Christena Cleveland,[14][15] author of God Is a Black Woman,[16] 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."[15] 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.[8][7]
Hatmaker's current social media interviews include 'Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond,[17] sexologist Dr. Celeste Holbrook on creating your own sexual ethic,[18][19][20] endorsement of Cannabidiol (CBD) products,[21][22] and promoting sexual wellness products.[23]
Views
LGBTQ advocacy
In 2016 both Jen and Brandon Hatmaker came out in support of gay marriage.[24] In April 2016 Jen Hatmaker called for the full inclusion of LGBT people into the Christian community.[25] 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.[26][27] She reiterated her position in October 2016, and as a result, LifeWay Christian Resources decided to discontinue selling her publications.[28][29]
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.[30] 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."[30]
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."[31][32][33]
Transgender children
Hatmaker is supportive of gender transition of minors. In 2022 Texas Governor Greg Abbott upheld his attorney general statement, "There is no doubt"[34] 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."[35]
Abortion
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.[36]
Personal life
In 1993, Hatmaker married Brandon Hatmaker.[37] They have five children, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia.[38] In September 2020, Hatmaker announced their divorce. She released in her social media streams that after 26 years of marriage she and Brandon were getting divorced, and described it as "completely unexpected".[39]
Hatmaker is now in a long distance relationship with actor and activist Tyler Merritt (born 1976).[40] Her social media platforms include aspects of navigating the nuances of being a bi-racial couple, and an ongoing series on adult sex education.[41][40][42][18][19] Brandon Hatmaker went on to marry fellow Texan, Tina Green (born 1972) on December 3, 2022.[43][44] They are involved in developing a homestead community.[45][46]
In May 2021, Jen Hatmaker discontinued attending church services, but said she would "never get over Jesus."[11][12][13]
Works
— (2008). Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation. NavPress. ISBN978-1600062162.
— (2010). Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load. Revell. ISBN978-0800734480.
— (2012). 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. Yates and Yates. ISBN978-1433672965.
— (2014). Make Over: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill. NavPress. ISBN978-1576838945.
— (2014). Tune In: Hearing God's Voice Through the Static. A Modern Girl's Bible Study. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN978-1-61747-226-8.
— (2014). Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity. NavPress. ISBN978-1631463532.
— (2015). For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards. Thomas Nelson. ISBN978-0718031824.
— (2017). Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life. Thomas Nelson. ISBN978-0-7180-3186-2.
— (2020). Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You. Thomas Nelson. ISBN978-0718088149.
— (2020). 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess Updated and Revised Edition. Convergent Books. ISBN978-0593237441.
