How Can a Minister's Wife Cope With a Church's Expectations?

In the early days of my husband’s pastoral career, he held the highly esteemed but meagerly paid position of youth intern. Being a young seminarian, he worked long hours, embracing any opportunity available to gain as much experience as he could. I, being young, in love, and a childless bride, stayed at his side—singing in the choir, teaching the children, and playing the piano. I even survived a junior high lock-in or two. Imagine my delight when, at our annual congregational meeting, I was bestowed the honor of "Layperson of the Year." The church chairman beamed as he handed me the award. "How could we have known," he said, "that we would get two for the price of one?"

It wasn’t long before the demands of full-time ministry and a few children entered our lives. Somehow "two for the price of one" seemed like a good deal for everyone but my husband and me...continue reading

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Excerpt found at AG Enrichment Journal Online, written for Spring 2000 issue by Joanna Bloss, who ministers with her husband in McPherson, Kansas.