(RNS) — Did you know there are piles of guidebooks meant to help women excel at being the church’s first lady? From how to step out of a car when pulling up to church on Sunday, to preparing the perfect casserole, to keeping the kids smiling and still in the front pew. And those dirty dishes in the sink? They could be the talk of the ladies’ luncheon if you’re not careful.
On a recent episode of the podcast “Saved by the City,” historian Beth Allison Barr shared her research on why the role of pastor’s wife has evolved in many denominations to be the primary path of ministry for some women.
Barr is a professor of history at Baylor University and the bestselling author of “Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry,” as well as “The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth.” She is a pastor’s wife and mom.
The below excerpt has been edited for length and clarity. You can listen to the longer interview with Barr as part of the “Saved by the City” podcast episode “So You Married a Priest?”
Talk about the wide-ranging expectations of a pastor’s wife.
The pastor’s wife rea …