In the past few months, I’ve had two conversations where persons serving on a church staff were struggling with their spouses’ lack of support. One was a pastor whose wife was worn out with a constant stream of criticisms directed at her husband and her family. She was pushing her husband to leave the church and find secular employment.
The other situation involved a children’s minister whose husband was angry because she was gone so many nights. He felt the church was taking advantage of her and pushing her to work too many hours to the neglect of her family.
Both of these ministers were truly struggling. They did not know what steps to take. They were uncertain how to respond to their spouses.
Unfortunately, these situations are not unique. They are too common, and they often do not end well. More than one couple has divorced over this issue.
So what is a pastor or staff person to do in such difficult situations? While I don’t pretend to have specific solutions for every case, I would like to suggest seven things to consider for those who find themselves in struggling marriages because of this issue.
- Listen to your spouse. Give him or her the freedom to open up completely with you. See if there are some mediating solutions to the problem. For many pastors particularly, the local church can be a demanding mistress who takes pastors away from their families.
- Express your unconditional love to your spouse. Let your spouse know that you love him or her without conditions. Express that love clearly and with conviction. Be clear that your marriage comes first regardless of the cost.
- Pray with your spouse. Pray with your spouse every day about this issue. Be unified spiritually as you come before the Lord. Pray specifically about the struggles related to the church.
- Seek counsel for you and your spouse. That counsel may be the same person, or there may be the need for each of you to have a different counselor. The counselor may be a professional, or he or she could be someone who has walked a similar path.
- Consider taking a break. See if it is possible for you and your spouse to get away several days. I know one ministry couple that took two full weeks of vacation to relax, pray, and gain perspective. They came back to serve in the church with a new commitment and vigor.
- Look in the mirror closely and honestly. Is it something you are doing that is bringing pain to your spouse? Perhaps the change needed for your spouse is a change in you, your attitudes, and your priorities.
- Be willing to leave the church. Do not sacrifice your marriage and your family. We sometimes like to gloss over 1 Timothy 3:5: “If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?” (HCSB). Our families must come first. Our marriages must come first.
It is indeed a difficult situation. Local church ministry can be tough. But it can be especially tough if our spouses are not supportive.
Let me hear from you. Have you ever been in this situation? Do you know how others have handled this situation?
Posted on March 4, 2015
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
More from Thom
156 Comments
My husband was in ministry and he was removed unfairly. I’m talking about lies and the whole nine to take him out. We remained in the church and at the beginning was horrible. People were horrible towards us at first. Many years went by and we were at a point in our lives that we were happy.
Now he is being called again, Yes the same church. He is very excited but it breaks my heart that I don’t want to go back.
We would have to sell our house and leave our jobs. I am terrified. I don’t want to be in the way of my husband’s dream and calling
I really don’t know what to do.
I have ministered in worship arts for more than 44 years. I have been married to my spouse going on 22. We have ministered together in choirs, but he is not interested any more. He keeps wanting to jump to another church, when I get involved. I have belonged to only 2 churches in 44 years of ministry, but in our marriage I have followed my husband, most times reluctantly, to more than 8 and now he wants to move to another. I am weary of this but feel obligated to move with him. He really just wants to attend, not really get involved. He comes up with many excuses, which I know are not the reason. I am not a pew sitter. At 70, I still have work to do. I am not sure how to handle this latest desire – I am exhausted.
It’s frustrating for me. I am a Pastor and my wife does not come to Bible study. She comes to Sunday Service once a month. She baby sits kids on Sundays. It’s frustrating to go to church services by myself and the other Pastor’s wives ask if my wife is with me and my answer is no. Sometimes i want to go to breakfast or luncheons that are hosted for Pastors and their wives but she has no desire to do so. I’m not asking her to serve in the church, my desire is for her to come and be supportive. I pray for her but nothing has changed. I do feel that she could bring the kids she baby sits for on Sunday to church. It seems like for the wives that supports their husbands in ministry, the congregation are encouraged by that.
Leave the church if your husband does not support your ministry? Leave the man because he”ll never change. My situation is a fine example: “Let the woman be silent and learn???” What and why would churches support this notion from Timothy?