The Biblical Role of the Pastor's wife - South African Theological ...

in the church. Whilst in one particularly large church I attended the wife did
nothing except look exquisite, smile and greet people with her husband as
parishioners left the building.
Information and resources regarding the role of the pastor’s wife come
predominantly from the United States. Although their experiences may not all
be relevant within the South African context many similarities exist with regard
to personal characteristics and difficulties faced. White (1986:11-12) identified
the wives who contributed to her survey to be talented, creative, conscientious
and caring individuals. One wife in particular shared with White her current
responsibilities:
I am the church secretary, office manager, bookkeeper, assistant
music director, adult teacher, children’s church coordinator,
district representative of women’s ministries, organist, member of
a trio and of a choral group. I help supplement the family income
by working part time as a school teacher. My husband and I have
two children….
We, as congregational members, have a general misconception that our
pastors’ wives are involved in everything for everyone as volunteers. The
above mentioned example of a pastor’s wife, who seems continually
overburdened with responsibilities, is a classic example and may vary only
slightly from congregation to congregation. White (1986:13) identifies some of
differences between wives married to pastors and wives married to a man in
any other profession, namely that of identifying the wife within her husband’s
vocation. A wife of a doctor is rarely (if ever) introduced as the “doctor’s wife”,
or the wife of a professor is not introduced by her husband’s vocation as the
“professor’s wife”. Why then has the church taken to introducing the wife of
the pastor within the context of his vocation? Does it stipulate a certain job
responsibility for her? Should her identity be found in her husband’s vocation?
Dobson’s (2004:13) quantitative research survey to pastors’ wives in the
United States identified some key needs pastors’ wives face such as setting
boundaries, friendships, dealing with congregational expectations, support of
one’s husband and finding one’s calling in the church. In Swart’s (2003:50-59)
Master’s thesis regarding ministry to Dutch Reformed clergymen wives, she
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