Why a Shepherdess Organization?
Major research projects on feelings and attitudes of pastors' wives reflect both positive and negative elements ("A New View of the Pastor's Wife," Ministry, June 1981, and the Felt Needs Survey, 1987). Most ministers' wives do provide positive support for the church in general and for their husbands' work in particular. Yet surveys indicate the need for an effective support system to encourage and strengthen them in their roles as women, wives, mothers, and leaders.
These committed women are doing a great, though often unrecognized, work for the church. Many have expressed the need for more training, as they feel inadequate to meet the demands of their various roles.
The Spring Meeting of 1985 recommended the creation of an "affirmative action" plan for the involvement of women in various church ministries and the stressing of team ministry by a pastor and his wife, including the development of a financial plan and training program (Adventist Review, July 11, 1985, p. 20).
On October 11, 1987, Annual Council voted:
"To recognize Shepherdess International as a regular program of the General Conference Ministerial Association commencing January 1, 1988. . . ."
This action was taken to encourage and professionalize the pastor's wife in order to:
Spiritual Growth
1. Enhance her personal and spiritual growth. The minister's wife gives and gives of herself to the church, to her spouse, and to her children. This can lead to depletion of her inner resources. She needs an in-filling experience, as much as, or more than, her husband. Special programs and incentives to invigorate her personal and spiritual growth are imperative.
Role Clarification
2. Clarify her role as a minister's spouse. The minister's wife often finds herself feeling guilty and frustrated because she does not fully understand her own role. She needs to discover for herself her unique spiritual gifts and how she might develop them in a way that will prepare her for team ministry with her husband.
Training
3. Train her as a paraprofessional in the ministry so she will be able to complement her husband's work and develop her own competency and self-worth.
Support Group
4. Help her form close relationships. This is difficult to achieve within the congregation. Shepherdess chapters can provide support and fellowship as well as learning experiences.
Better Homes
5. Develop meaningful home relationships. Home problems cripple the ministerial couple in the performance of their task. With the minister's heavy schedule, relationships are prone to deteriorate. Programs to nurture ministers' homes are of primary importance.