Film Summary

Baptizing Feminism is a documentary and awareness project about Christian feminists today challenging a concerning rise of evangelical patriarchy networks in America, their impact on Christianity, in US and global politics, and on women and girls. Holding the blazing torch of faithful feminists before them too often silenced, they take a bold stand for God's plan for the equality and dignity of women and girls, at risk within Christianity today.

In the 1970s, a subversive group of evangelical feminists emerged in the shadow of the secular feminist movement. With the Bible in hand, theological training, and a fiery, faith-fueled feminism, they carried the blazing torch of first-wave Christian feminists who fought for social justice and women's biblical equality and agency. Their rising influence in church networks challenged patriarchal interpretations of Bible scriptures and soon became a grave threat to the gospel truths held by evangelical leaders and their powerful networks.

In a dramatic, sweeping backlash, patriarchal leaders joined forces against these feminist foes, and launched modern-day patriarchy movements that claim the Bible calls for a masculine Christianity, and a return to 1950's style traditional gender roles -- men as leaders, providers and protectors, and women as submissive helpers whose femininity and motherhood fulfill God's design for the well-being of families and communities. Fueled by collaborative partnerships with influential evangelical organizations, who launched strategic marketing, networking with political leaders and networks, church planting enterprises, Christian conferences, and publishing and media networks, these gender role teachings soon dominated the very core of American evangelicalism.

But the story doesn't end there. With the call of God and the Internet—where evangelical gatekeepers can no longer silence them — bold, feisty, and fearless, a new generation of devout Christian feminists, many of whom today are theologians, preachers, historians and scholars, have emerged as a very real threat to evangelical patriarchal networks as they demand their God-given equality and dignity for women and girls. While some challenge patriarchal interpretations of biblical texts they say subjugate women, others spotlight a concerning influence evangelical patriarchal networks and their gender role beliefs have on U.S. Christianity, politics, and a growing Christian nationalism. 

Others, activists and advocates who emerged in light of the #Metoo movement, take a bold stand against evangelical leaders and networks implicated in the devastating epidemics of sexual abuse and cover-ups, a toxic masculinity and sexist culture that have thrived under such evangelical patriarchal leadership – and reveal its impact on women and girls across the globe.

Baptizing Feminism spotlights a heated and timely debate in American evangelicalism about what the Bible says or doesn't say about traditional gender roles and masculinity and femininity. Baptizing Feminism reveals how patriarchal Christian beliefs and practices in the United States shape our churches and wider culture, and affect the lives of women and girls.

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Baptizing Feminism is an independent documentary being produced by Big Voice Pictures, a production and distribution company focusing on meaningful films that transform, enlighten, and engage audiences worldwide. The team at Big Voice Pictures produce quality productions that have been screened in leading film festivals, endorsed by leaders such as Dr. Maya Angelou, broadcast on PBS stations, and distributed across the globe. Their team is also passionate about creating strategic audience engagement and outreach campaigns for raising awareness and motivating community dialog and social change regarding controversial and social issues. Their previous films have been screened with panel discussion in hundreds of communities, universities, political venues and organizations globally.

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Your donation is tax-deductible! Baptizing Feminism is a fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions in support of Baptizing Feminism are payable to IDA and are tax-deductible! IDA is a leading organization whose mission supports talented documentary filmmakers and furthers the art of the documentary. IDA has helped hundreds of independent documentaries get funding and needed support.