"Love Everybody, Keep Your Mouth Shut, Don't Have an Opinion”: Role Expectations Among Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Spouses

While many Christian church members and social workers would most likely agree that the role of the pastor’s spouse is central to church life, few are able to define exactly what the pastor spouse role entails. Examining the pastor spouse role from the perspective of the participant, this qualitative study identifies a number of defining elements associated with being a pastor spouse. These features include (a) providing emotional support for the pastor (her spouse); (b) conforming to particular standards of appearance; (c) being capable in specific ways such as music, hospitality, career; (d) attending church events; (e) being an example to others; (f) keeping quiet; and (g) doing things like or being like the former pastor’s spouse. This study provides a starting point for advocacy and future research for Christian social workers who are passionate about fostering a healthy congregational life.