Call the pastor's wife "first lady"

[Proudmommy]

In my last women's bible study, we some how got on the subject of another church in our area and it was mentioned that the pastor's wife at this church was to be called "First lady" by the members. Have you ever heard this? I was talking to my DH about it last night, and it seems to me that this type of thing is just wrong for a pastor's wife. I believe that as a pastor's wife she is in a postion of authority over women in her church, but at the same time, it seems to me that she is also in a postion of "servitude". Is this a new thing among certain chruches?

[4everHis]

Isn't it strange and funny how people love to place lables on people.

I said in another thread that I dislike people who think of themselves as better than others. I think it's snobbish for a pastors wife to want to be called "first lady".

What the heck does the Pastor want to be called???

Playing church. It's a national pastime.

[roadrunner570]

In my last women's bible study, we some how got on the subject of another church in our area and it was mentioned that the pastor's wife at this church was to be called "First lady" by the members. Have you ever heard this? I was talking to my DH about it last night, and it seems to me that this type of thing is just wrong for a pastor's wife. I believe that as a pastor's wife she is in a postion of authority over women in her church, but at the same time, it seems to me that she is also in a postion of "servitude". Is this a new thing among certain chruches?


Not to sound mean or anything, but it almost sounds like you guys may have been gossiping about this other church. I mean, was something edifying coming from this discussion? Or was it more on what the other church was doing wrong?

The only reason I point this out is because this is something the Lord has convicted me on recently in my conversations about other ministries.

[Ajani]

I can't imagine referring to our pastor's wife by anything but her first name (or Mrs. Lastname when talking with our son - the pastor is Pastor Firstname to our son). First Lady? Um, no. But then we don't see her as being specifically in any position of authority because of her husband's position. She's very much just a part of the congregation. Just one of us. Then again, our pastor is very much like that too. We're quite laid back, but we do recognize his spiritual authority, of course.

[Proudmommy]

Not to sound mean or anything, but it almost sounds like you guys may have been gossiping about this other church. I mean, was something edifying coming from this discussion? Or was it more on what the other church was doing wrong?

The only reason I point this out is because this is something the Lord has convicted me on recently in my conversations about other ministries.

No, we weren't gossiping. One of the ladies in our church was asked to come to a service at the church, so she was asking about them. Rose, our pastor's wife was explaining that a couple of people were coming to our church, but they were more 'charasmatic than our church is willing to be or allow. So they decided to start their own church. And it just came up, I don't know who said it, that the pastor's wife there was being called first lady. All of us were a little taken aback by the idea of calling a pastor's wife, first lady. No one bad mouthed her or them. Rose just said she preferred being called Rose or Mrs/Miss Rose. And I just started wondering if this is something new, and then my family was coming out of the bowling alley and another group of people were talking about "Pastor and First Lady", and it got me to wondering.

[antsinmypants]

I can see how this would come up totally innocently...

And no I hadn't really heard of such a thing.. but I have heard similarly strange things before.. :hug

[humbleone]

I had to laugh at the idea of someone wanting to be called "First Lady" who is married to a male pastor. I think it's really silly, but that's just my opinion.

Never heard of it before today.

[soprano]

I know TD Jakes wife is referred to as "The First Lady" of The Potter's House. :sigh
We hear it and see it all the time here, mostly in conjunction w/ WOF-type churches.



deb

[Ladybug]

I've never heard of it either, but I did a quick little internet search and found this:

The term is also used often in the religious setting. The wife of a pastor is usually called "first lady" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady And I found this on Tony Evans' website (a conference his wife appears to be putting on): http://www.loisevans.org/site/c.nkI2KhMWItF/b.2184457/k.5292/First_Lady_Conference.htm

Also, I'm finding quite a few websites for churches that refer to 'our Pastor & First Lady....'. The denominations are across the board, but one thing I did notice, in that the dozen or so I checked, is they're all black. So perhaps it's a cultural thing? :confused

[humbleone]

I'm sorry but I reread this thread again and once again I :laugh :laugh

I mean, how absurd is that? First Lady?

:laugh


Yeah okay.

[Proudmommy]

I've never heard of it either, but I did a quick little internet search and found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady And I found this on Tony Evans' website (a conference his wife appears to be putting on): http://www.loisevans.org/site/c.nkI2KhMWItF/b.2184457/k.5292/First_Lady_Conference.htm

Also, I'm finding quite a few websites for churches that refer to 'our Pastor & First Lady....'. The denominations are across the board, but one thing I did notice, in that the dozen or so I checked, is they're all black. So perhaps it's a cultural thing? :confused

Now that you mention it, I do think this is a predominantly black church...atleast that is what I gather from what was said.