Amy Coney Barrett served on the board of a network of private Christian schools affiliated with the People of Praise community. A 2010 directory from the group identifies her as a "handmaid," a leadership position for women within the community, according to an excerpt obtained by The Washington Post.

The term "handmaid" was inspired by the biblical reference to Mary as "the handmaid of the Lord." However, the group later decided to drop the title due to its evolving meaning in contemporary culture. This change was influenced in part by the popularization of the term following the adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, "The Handmaid's Tale," for television in 2017. Atwood noted in a recent tweet that she was inspired by a "different but similar" group.

During her time in law school, Barrett lived with Kevin Ranaghan, a co-founder of People of Praise, and his wife, Dorothy. They played a significant role in establishing the group's male-dominated hierarchy and its views on gender roles. The organization emerged from the charismatic Christian movement, which emphasizes communal religious experiences, including practices like shared living, faith healing, and speaking in tongues.

One former member of the community recounted being instructed by elders not to "emasculate" male peers during conversations, reflecting the group's traditional views on gender dynamics. "I was made aware of the difference from a young age," the individual shared. "I realized it would have been better if I had been born a boy."

Although much of the evidence of Barrett's involvement with the group has been removed from the internet, references to her can still be found in the May 2006 edition of People of Praise’s magazine, "Vine and Branches."