Growing up in a Catholic family in California’s Bay Area, Kelsey Hanson Woodruff’s journey toward becoming a scholar of American religion seems almost destined.
From her time as an altar girl to her career as a Presbyterian minister and, now, as a Ph.D. candidate, Hanson Woodruff has always been deeply interested in how religion shapes individuals and society.
This article explores her path and groundbreaking work in studying progressive religion in the United States.
A Childhood Rooted in Faith and Education
Kelsey Hanson Woodruff’s Catholic upbringing laid the foundation for her career in religious studies. Raised in a family with many educators, she was exposed to the idea of blending religion and education from a young age.
Her godparents, who were once deeply involved in religious life as a Jesuit priest and a Maryknoll nun before transitioning to college professors, had a significant influence on her.
“They set an example for me, that your ministry can be lived out in your personal life as well as in the classroom,” she shared.
Hanson Woodruff always had a keen interest in the bigger questions of life—why humans are here and how they find meaning in their existence. She was drawn to how religion influences society and guides people in shaping their communities.
This curiosity led her to study religion more deeply, eventually pursuing a career that combined her passion for faith and education.
The Shift to Religious Studies and Ministry
Hanson Woodruff’s formal love for religious studies began during her time at Stanford University when she took a course on Buddhism. Though she grew up Catholic, her interest in religious studies grew further when she discovered Protestant churches’ openness to ordaining women.
Inspired by this, she became a Presbyterian minister, serving in congregations across California, Arizona, and Massachusetts before returning to academia.
Her fascination with religious transformation and how faith evolves in the modern world guided her to pursue a Ph.D. in religion at Harvard University. Her work focuses on American Christianity, especially the intersection of faith and societal changes.
Exploring Progressive Christianity and Digital Communities
A central theme in Hanson Woodruff’s academic work is the transformation of American Christianity, particularly the progressive movements within it.
Through her dissertation, she studies post-evangelical feminists and how digital technologies are shaping faith.
She is especially interested in progressive Christian voices, which are often overshadowed by the media’s focus on conservative religious communities.
In her fieldwork, much of which was conducted during the pandemic, Hanson Woodruff explored digital religious communities led by women who challenge traditional conservative evangelical teachings.
These women, through blogs, social media, and digital forums, have created spaces where they can discuss their faith and challenge long-standing evangelical beliefs on issues like feminism, politics, anti-racism, and LGBTQ rights.
Among the prominent figures she researched were authors Rachel Held Evans, Sarah Bessey, and Austin Channing Brown.
Each of these women has used their platform to challenge traditional evangelical views on women’s roles, the compatibility of feminism with Christianity, and the experiences of Black Christians in predominantly white evangelical spaces.
The Impact of Hanson Woodruff’s Work
Hanson Woodruff’s research provides a fresh perspective on the landscape of American religion. As Harvard Divinity School’s David Holland explains, her ability to show how technology and culture have opened new paths for women’s leadership in religious spaces traditionally dominated by men is a crucial breakthrough.
Her work helps reshape our understanding of how faith communities are evolving in the modern world.
After finishing her Ph.D., Hanson Woodruff plans to continue her research by publishing a biography of Rachel Held Evans, a project she’s been working on for years.
Her work promises to significantly impact both religious scholarship and the broader cultural conversation on faith and gender.
Words of Advice for Aspiring Scholars
Hanson Woodruff encourages young people, especially those in young adulthood, to explore the deeper questions of life. “What makes us human?
What is our purpose? And how have other people, in other times and other places, understood the answers to these questions?” she asks.
Religious studies, along with other humanities, can help individuals grapple with these profound issues and provide a greater understanding of the world.
Through her unique perspective as both a religious leader and academic, Kelsey Hanson Woodruff is carving out a space for progressive religious voices in the academic world and beyond.
