The Emerging Reality of Pastors' Husbands: Assessing and Addressing the Issues and Needs Facing the Husbands of Female Clergy Within the Canadian Baptist Denominations

Abstract

An emerging sector of ecclesial care is that of clergy husbands. These men live in a distinct situation that remains largely unexplored and often even unrecognized. There is minimal research and literature available on this specific topic, particularly in Canada, and in Baptist denominations. Thus it is necessary to identify and evaluate the issues and needs of these men before one can even begin to develop resources to address these issues. A model by Charles VanEngen, based on the Nicene Creed, of one holy catholic and apostolic church with unifying, sanctifying, reconciling and proclaiming forces gives a theological basis for the project, which is expanded to include the findings of the literature review and the outcomes of the research. Research was conducted into the current pastoral care resources of the three, English speaking, denominations of the Canadian Baptists and their affiliated churches that are available to female clergy, their husbands and families. In a second phase of enquiry, using focus groups, interviews and narratives, it was established that male spouses of female clergy have some issues and needs that are different than those of female spouses of male clergy. Based upon these findings, some suggestions are given in a plan that the regional denominations of Canadian Baptists and their affiliated churches could implement to address the situation.