Jennifer Powell McNutt

Historian. Theologian. Author. Speaker.

Bringing the riches of Scripture and Christian History to the church, the academy, and the wider public.

What I Do

SPEAK

Lectures • Keynotes • Preaching • Retreats • Teaching • Podcasts

WRITE

Books • Articles • Essays • The McNuttshell

TEACH

Churches • Seminaries • Universities • Adult Education

What can you expect from an event with Jennifer Powell McNutt?

  • Scholarship that is accessible and thought-provoking.

  • History that brings the past alive.

  • Theology that connects with real life and Scripture.

  • A pastor's heart with a historian's mind.

INVITE JENNIFER TO SPEAK
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  • The University of St. Andrews, Reformation Studies Institute

  • Wheaton College, Litfin Divinity School

    Professor of Theology & History of Christianity

    Program Director, M.A. Theology and History of Christianity

  • Elected Fellow (2014)

  • John Tedeschi Prize (2025), Sixteenth Century Society

    ECPA Book of the Year Finalist (2025), The Mary We Forgot

    Midwest Book Awards Finalist (2025), The Mary We Forgot

    The Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize (2014), The American Society of Church History

    Leland Ryken Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities (2013-2014), Wheaton College

    Sidney E. Mead Prize (2005), The American Society of Church History

  • Princeton Theological Seminary

  • Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church

  • Co-Ministry with Rev. Dr. David McNutt, Christian faith in a Nutshell

  • Senior Fellow

What are people saying?

  • “With her expansive knowledge and wit Jennifer McNutt opened our parochial Lutheran minds to a host of other Reformers who joined Luther to change the church of the 16th century. ... I hope we had a fraction of the positive impact on her that she had on us.”

    Bruce Modhal, Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church near Chicago

  • “In her visit to Denver Seminary, Jennifer McNutt displayed her extraordinary range as a historian, a theologian, and a pastor—teaching a graduate-level class on Reformation hermeneutics, participating in a panel discussion about her dual-calling to the academy and the church, and delivering a scholarly lecture on the theology of John Calvin. In every context, Professor McNutt made lively contributions to the culture of our institution, always exemplifying the rare combination of intellectual rigor and principled graciousness.”

    Ryan Tafilowski, Chair of the Theology Department at Denver Seminary, Assistant Professor of Theology

  • “Jennifer opened our annual C. S. Lewis Fellows retreat with some insightful teaching on the grace of God by examining the life and faith of Mary Magdalene, and she deftly led our group into deeper consideration of the wonderful and unexpected ways that God works in the lives of those who love him and pursue him. But Jennifer wasn’t simply a great teacher, her heart for her sisters and brothers in Christ was on full display through her extensive interaction with our Fellows both during her time with the class and the extra time she gave by staying after to talk with Fellows individually. We cannot wait to have her teach for us again!"

    Karl "KJ" Johnson, Director, C. S. Lewis Institute, Chicago

  • “As one of four select speakers at our horology-and-religion conference, ‘What has Greenwich to do with Jerusalem?,’ held at Gordon College, Dr. McNutt led off the proceedings with her talk titled, ‘God’s Time in Our Hands: Reformation Bibles and the Reforming of Time.’ She was meticulously prepared, marshalled her facts in a compelling way, and conveyed a storehouse of information. She also handled herself with savoir-faire and aplomb in the give-and-take during the panel discussion at the conference’s close, and that in front of an eclectic crowd from all walks of life. As one conference-goer later wrote: “I came back home so enthused. I learned so much from all the speakers especially the first speaker and learning about Martin Luther and the reformation movement. This is not something I was taught at Hebrew school as a child.”

    Dr. Damon Di Mauro

    Professor of French at Gordon College and Co-curator of the exhibit, “What has Greenwich to do with Jerusalem?” (Feb. 1, 2025)

  • "Jennifer was a featured speaker at our biennial Marten Preaching Conference at the University of Notre Dame. Her knowledge, energy, and passion make her a wonderful speaker and, even more, a witness. She possesses the gifts of depth of insight and clarity of communication. She made a genuine impact on her hearers."

    Msgr Michael Heintz, PhD Director, John and Virginia Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics Department of Theology University of Notre Dame

  • "Jennifer Powell McNutt is that rare scholar who is equally at home in the lecture hall, the pulpit, and the public square. I have had the privilege of witnessing her in all three: at Calvin University's Healthy Dialogue Series, at the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies, and in conversation at Baker Book House — each time bringing the same remarkable combination of historical rigor and pastoral warmth. Whether she is addressing scholars, students, or a general readership, Jennifer commands the room with clarity, depth, and a generosity of spirit that makes her not only a gifted communicator but a model of charitable engagement across difference."

    Noah Toly, Senior Fellow for Faith and Learning, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities; Visiting Fellow, Center for Public Justice

Signature Topics

Link to Speaking Topics

Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt is an expert in Reformation history and theology, women in church history, and the history of the Reformation Bible.

Latest Book?

The story of Mary Magdalene—and why the church needs to rediscover her.

Churches • Women's groups • Book clubs • Bible studies • General readers

ECPA Book of the Year 2025, Finalist “Christian Living”

Midwest Book Awards 2025, Finalist “Religion / Philosophy”

Book titled 'The Mary We Forget' by Jennifer Powell McNutt with a graphic of a woman's face and a silver award medallion attached, decorated with floral illustrations.
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Let’s Connect!

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