Comments for Ministry as Clergy Couples

Comment on Looking for Clergy Couples by noelle read

noelle read — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:27:12 +0000

My husband and I are a clergy couple and interested in connecting with others.

Comment on Networking with Clergy Couples by John Edward Harris

John Edward Harris — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:48:37 +0000

My wife and I are both PC(USA) Ministers and have been since 1994. We met in college but did not go to the same seminaries. Nor have we ever served in the same church. At times we have even been members of different presbyteries. We now both serve half-time in two not-yoked churches. We live in the mase associated with my wife’s church. I serve a small church twelve miles away. Do we qualify as a clergy couple? BTW, half of this clergy coouple or not is blogging at http:summittoshore.blogspot.com/

Comment on Jeff & Kerri Peterson-Davis by Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:37:11 +0000

Dear Jeff and Kerri- we are two seniors at Columbia, seeking a call as co-pastors- and applying to churches that most likely haven’t had a copastor ever….any advice about how to explain the idea, talk about call/package, etc? I have had very little help from the BOP people at PCUSA- I know somebody has to know how to set up terms of call for a copastor couple, but nobody seems to- we would really like to have a structure to talk about with churches….thanks- Nancy Meehan Yao and Jim Yao

Comment on Networking with Clergy Couples by Chris

Chris — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:51:26 +0000

To Jane — you’re really going to want to read the research paper. It will arm you with cogent thinking on what the church stands to gain from having a clergy couple. One nugget: A member of a clergy couple’s ministry is greatly enhanced by someone also trained and educated with whom to mull over difficult situations.
http://duodigest.blogspot.com/2008/01/two-pastors-under-one-roof-and-steeple.html

Comment on Networking with Clergy Couples by Chris

Chris — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:49:29 +0000

Hello fellow ministers married to ministers!

You might find some insights into the advantages and challenges of ministry as a clergy couple in this research I did as my wife and I prepared to seek a call. We’re now both happily serving in the same church. Blessings and come on over and explore our blog: http://duodigest.blogspot.com/2008/01/two-pastors-under-one-roof-and-steeple.html

Comment on Networking with Clergy Couples by Jane Esterline

Jane Esterline — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:47:54 +0000

Thank you for your blog. I came across your names while doing a google search on co-pastors and am delighted to find you here. I am in the beginning process of circulating my PIF for a first call with our PC(USA). My spouse, David, and I were commissioned as mission co-workers in 1985 and served for 11 years in Cameroon and the Fiji Islands (I know, life is hard but someone had to do it.) David had the primary call which allowed me to discover community based societies and the essential role of participation and solidarity.

Over the past 4 years I have finished my M.Div. and the under care process with the Presbytery of Chicago. David and I would like to minister as co-pastor but one where I have 80% of the load and he carries 20%. He is a full time faculty member at McCormick Seminary and theological education is his primary call. My call is pastoral ministries. Working as mission co-workers the “co” part of ministry has always fascinated me. The emphasis is on partnering, listening, discernment, sharing, and relationship – all essential elements of being community together. It just seems like a grand leadership model to embody that which is being lived out in a congregation.

That said, we face some resistance to the idea especially from PNC’s. I welcome your comments not only on the experience your two have and are having as a clergy couple but also on your recommendations on presenting a clergy couple PIF to nominating committees. Jane

Comment on Looking for Clergy Couples by Rev Kim

Rev Kim — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:11:01 +0000

I found you via Presby bloggers, of which I’m a newish member. I’m glad that you’re doing this! My husband and I are a clergy couple, currently serving churches 40 miles apart. For a few reasons, we’re thinking it’s time to update our pifs. We’ve have some questions regarding how to negotiate applying as a clergy couple and how it will all work, so I’m sure we’ll be coming here often.

Comment on Networking with Clergy Couples by Wade Apel

Wade Apel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:14:44 +0000

This is another network of clergy couples. Most people in this group are Lutheran, but we are expanding. I think it would benefit everyone if we could build a network together. If you are interested in working together, please let me know.

Comment on Clergy Couple Intro & Welcome by Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:28:04 +0000

Hi Nancy! How’s school?!? I hope the year is starting off well. Tell us more about how far along you are at CTS, where “home” is (outside of Decatur), etc.

You are asking some great questions as you consider being co-pastors — those are real issues that, I think most clergy couples would agree, if you don’t think about before you find yourself in a call, you’ll face some challenges. Sorry that you’ve been blown off previously. Kerri and I are happy to talk with you about these issues and other questions you might have. I’ll email you outside of the blog about that. I’m hoping, too, that folks like you will be able to find some more connections through this blog.

Also, I’ve started a facebook group for clergy couples if you’re a facebooker.

Finally, I don’t know if you’ve done your SM210 internship or not, but Kerri and I have been supervisors previously and are hoping to do that again in our current church. Our particular interest in being supervisors for interns is to provide a space for clergy couples (or part of a couple) to have the experience of exploring various models of co-pastorates. Just a thought…

Thanks for introducing yourself and for joining the conversation here!

Comment on Clergy Couple Intro & Welcome by Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:52:58 +0000

Dear Jeff and Kerri- greetings from CTS! My husband and I are both srtudents here, and hope to co-pastor after graduation in May. We have been searching for answers to questions about boundaries, trangulation, etc, in co-pastor situations- our CPMs (apologies to those not Presby…) have had this as part of our covenants, but other co=pastors have had precious little time to discuss this with us- essentially, we got blown off. Any help? be well- Nancy