Case Study: Secondary Leadership of Pastors

Case Study: Secondary Leadership of Pastors’ Wives

Dionnie DeWitt | 2025

Abstract

This study aims to answer the research questions of how preachers’ wives, who have accepted their calling into ministry, experience and handle challenges and exercise strategies in their leadership within the church. The study revealed severe challenges that make it difficult for women to access copastor leadership or pastor roles within church establishments. These stem from patriarchal perceptions of gender, socially constructed male chauvinism, and biblical hermeneutics that give scant regard to women’s authority. The participants described denial from the congregation and minimal support from male peers as religious roots of institutional misogyny is revealed in the church. The study also relates to the battle in the pastors’ wives’ hearts: the desire, doubt, and confusion about societal expectations and the double call of both the home and the church. As exemplified in this case, most women in leadership and are ascending to a pastor position must have enough direction, influence, or training. Nevertheless, the study ascertained that most women are strong willed, religious, and praying. They get support from groups established within the community to enable them to deal with leadership issues. Therefore, the study provides insights and contributes to knowledge on gender, religion, and leadership, which helps advance initiatives to promote gender-sensitive and equitable leadership within religious institutions. Last, the research outlines the measures that may be implemented by church leaders so that the church is more inclusive of women in leadership, including reviewing the church’s policy on leadership and creating leadership development programs for female leadership. This paper shows how faith, hope, and charity enable pastors’ wives to surmount odds and discharge their biblical functions.

Keywords: Biblical Context, Church, Community, Gender, Preachers’ Wives, Women