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

2.5 Identifying the Role of the Pastor’s Wife in the Local Church
Understanding the role of the pastor’s wife is not easy as there is no mould
or template available. Each wife is unique and establishes her role within the
church according to her situation. Most wives experience similar struggles
throughout their church life and can offer great support to each other,
especially new or young wives. Encouraging wives to cope with many
different kinds of pressures from family responsibilities to church
responsibilities and often job responsibilities through friendship or mentoring
can decrease the risk of burn out or loneliness.
It became evident whilst interviewing pastors’ wives that each wife was
unique within her church context and life situations. However, three groups of
wives were quickly identified, firstly, wives with young children, secondly,
wives with older children still living at home, and thirdly wives with no children
living at home, who were often grandmothers. For each group of ladies
different issues become relevant, depending on their stage in life.
It was not very clear as to the leadership role pastors’ wives play within
the local church, as it is not a formal office or position; however, many wives
are placed in leadership over a particular ministry and therefore are a leader
in some way. Outside of a specific leadership position, wives who are not
leaders still play a leadership role through example or influence. A pastor’s
wife is married to the most visible member of the church leadership and is
therefore seen as one who has power to influence others. As many Christians
simply attend church and absorb all that the pastor says without much
objection, believing that his word is truth and authoritative, so too will be any
word spoken by the pastor’s wife to many women within the congregation.
The role of the pastor’s wife is thus summed up at the very basic level of one
who has the ability to influence the thoughts and behaviours of another so she
is then to be an example and support of the Christian faith.
2.6 Chapter Summary
Preliminary observations indicated that pastors’ wives are generally
happy being the wife of the pastor. They are able to see and hear first hand of
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