2017-2018 Faculty Research Grants
David Sedlacek (Discipleship) and Alina Baltazar (Social Work)
Male Spouses and Female Pastors: Stressors and Coping Strategies
Based on both religious prescriptions and cultural norms, the role of clergy in Christianity has been for centuries assigned only to males. Research suggests that the female clergy family experience a high level of stress because of limited societal and church hierarchy acceptance of the female pastor. In addition, they experience other typical pastor family stressors of congregant expectations about family members’ behavior, living under public scrutiny, and experience frequent moves disrupting friendships and social relationships. Research suggests that all of these stressors can lead to family conflict and highly dedicated clergy leaving their positions. Little is known about the unique stressors of the female pastor family. It is the purpose of the proposed study to conduct a survey of North American Division (NAD), Europe (TED), and Australia/New Zealand (SPD) female pastors and their spouses to examine the strain and stress of the Adventist pastor’s husband spousal role and its potential implications on the marital dynamic of the Adventist female clergy family in the NAD, TED, and SPD. These variables will be evaluated using a quantitative survey. Based on the survey results we will conduct qualitative interviews with husband and wife separately to elaborate and further understand the survey data. Based on the quantitative and qualitative data analysis we will work with Ministerial Departments of the North American Division and General Conference to develop training programs to better prepare the female pastor family to cope with stressors in order to reduce consequences to the marriage and decrease rates of burnout.