wfn.org | Clergy spouses need more support, survey says

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

March 5, 2004	News media contact: Linda Bloom7(646)369-37597New York7
E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org 7  ALL-WI{093}

NOTE: For related coverage of the United Methodist Commission on the Status
and Role of Women, see UMNS story #092.

By United Methodist News Service

Clergy spouses do not get enough support from the church, a new study
sponsored by the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women
has found.

Many spouses are unaware of the resources available to them in times of
crisis, but even those who are aware often do not ask the denomination for
assistance "because of fear of the effect on the (clergy member's) career,"
according to the survey results.

Mackie H. Norris, a health professional with Norris and Associates, conducted
the survey for the commission. Norris also has been involved in a training
event for spouses of newly appointed district superintendents and directors
of connectional ministry and has collected information about spouses of
district superintendents for the denomination's Board of Higher Education and
Ministry in Nashville, Tenn.

Responses for the commission's survey on clergy spouses and families came
from 183 spouses around the United States, of which 15 percent were male. 

During her presentation at the Feb 27-29 commission meeting in Pittsburgh,
Norris said she was struck by the amount of pain that seemed tied to the
survey responses. Most wives, she explained, said they did not feel
comfortable seeking support from the annual (regional) conference where their
husband worked and were worried that any sign of weakness in the family would
hurt their spouse's ministerial career.

About 25 percent of respondents said they had no one to turn to for pastoral
support except their spouse. That concerned Norris, a pastor's wife for more
than 40 years, because the spouse could be part of the problem.

Clergy spouses are most concerned about their spouses' schedule and housing,
and some feel isolated and under scrutiny. "Many respondents commented that
they perceived others had an expectation of perfection in themselves and
their children," the survey report said.

"Participating in a loving, caring community" was considered a joy or "perk"
by many clergy spouses, along with other perks such as job security and the
pension plan. Issues identified by survey respondents as "perils" included
frequent moves, loss of friends, demands on time and unrealistic
expectations. Living in a parsonage was considered both a perk and a peril.

The male respondents did not have all the same concerns, according to the
survey. For men, the chief issue "was the time demand on their spouse and the
subsequent potential for burnout."

One recommendation by clergy spouses on the survey was for annual conference
or jurisdictional gatherings to discuss issues of concern to clergy spouses
and families.

The Commission on the Status and Role of Women will use the survey results to
support its new resolution to the United Methodist General Conference, the
denomination's chief legislative body, which meets April 27-May 7 in
Pittsburgh.

The resolution, "Clergy Spouses and Families - Life in the Fishbowl," offers
recommendations to sustain "the emotional, spiritual, physical and economic
health of our clergy families."

Commission members also will make recommendations for a follow-up study to be
conducted with other denominational agencies to get a wider sampling of
clergy families.

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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