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

feminist theology, women in leadership or wifely submission, however, for the
sake of this research these debates are a nonessential study. The
significance relates to women, specifically pastors’ wives, being an active part
of the church and ministering one to another through guidance, advice,
support and mentorship.
3.5 Identification of the Pastor’s Wife
The pastor’s wife in her existence, purpose and calling is no different
from any other woman within the church; she is simply married to the man
God has called to lead a particular local church. Her identity remains in Christ
as a believer first and foremost and she is called to exercise her spiritual gifts
within the church. Her role relates primarily to her position as wife. There are
no references in scripture regarding the responsibilities an elder’s wife must
perform. It has been established that 1 Timothy 3:11 speaks of the female
deacons who ought to be a “women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers
but temperate and trustworthy in everything.” Wives are called to respect their
husbands (Eph. 5:33), to be a helper (Gen. 2:18) and to care for and nurture
their children (Tit. 2:4, 5) thereby meeting the needs of the family. There is no
biblical basis on which to institute a particular role for a pastor’s wife.
However, if a pastor’s wife were called to ministry within the church alongside
her husband, specific duties would need to be established by the church. 1
Timothy 3:11 does not deal specifically with responsibilities or duties but
rather with the attitude and moral lifestyle of the potential servant (Schreiner,
1991:220). Schreiner (1991:218) identifies the moral standards required of
one in service and then emphasises the importance of women exercising their
spiritual gifts; this denotes function.
3.5.1 Pastors’ Wives and the Church: Called to Full-time Ministry
The understanding of the role of the pastor’s wife within the local
church is ambiguous. If I have effectively established that no biblical mandate
is evident for her, then the primary role she undertakes is that of all women,
namely, a woman, wife (and mother) and believer. Common problems exist
amongst church leaders; lack of knowledge, lack of understanding, lack of
95