Jen Hatmaker

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] and an endorsement of Cannabidiol (CBD) products.[21][22]

In 1993, Hatmaker married Brandon Hatmaker.[36] They have five children, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia.[37] In September 2020, two months after her celebratory gay-pride podcast, 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".[38] In May 2021, the following year, Jen Hatmaker discontinued attending church services, but said would "never get over Jesus."[11][12][13]

Brandon Hatmaker went on to marry fellow Texan, Tina Green (born 1972) on December 3, 2022.[39][40] They are involved in developing a homestead community.[41][42] Jen Hatmaker is in a long distance relationship with actor and activist Tyler Merritt (born 1976).[43] Her social media platforms include aspects of navigating the nuances of being a bi-racial couple, and an ongoing series on adult sex education.[44][43][45][18][19]

• — (2008). Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation. NavPress. ISBN 978-1600062162.
• — (2010). Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load. Revell. ISBN 978-0800734480.
• — (2012). 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. Yates and Yates. ISBN 978-1433672965.
• — (2014). Make Over: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill. NavPress. ISBN 978-1576838945.
• — (2014). Tune In: Hearing God's Voice Through the Static. A Modern Girl's Bible Study. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61747-226-8.
• — (2014). Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity. NavPress. ISBN 978-1631463532.
• — (2015). For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0718031824.
• — (2017). Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0-7180-3186-2.
• — (2020). Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0718088149.
• — (2020). 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess Updated and Revised Edition. Convergent Books. ISBN 978-0593237441.

• Personal website