The PK Parishioner (4)

April 11, 2013 By RVD in Church Life, Pastoral Ministry

Although there can be hard things about being an adult pastor’s kid in a church not pastored by your father, being a pk in different congregation can also be a blessing. Here are some of the perks I’ve discovered.

First, you know what the ministry is like. You understand what life is like for your pastor’s family like few other people can and so you can pray for them accordingly. You might not even talk to them much, but you pick up on vibes, clues, or just common pk knowledge, and pray in a more informed way than you would be able to if you had not grow up in a pastor’s home. It will be a blessing to their ministry even if they are unaware of it.

And hard as it can be to have to earn the trust of a congregation, it’s good for you. When you are the new member and nobody knows your dad, you can’t rest on your pk laurels. Continue reading →

The PK Parishioner (3)

April 10, 2013 By RVD in Church Life, Pastoral Ministry

I never thought too much about it at the time, but growing up, I sort of assumed that once I moved out of the house, I would effectively stop being a PK: someone else would be my pastor, I would not play board games in the basement while Dad counseled an engaged couple upstairs, and I would not hear the phone ring in the middle of the night. Wrong.

It’s true, my dad is no longer my pastor, I don’t play board games much, and though I’m married to a pastor, he’s serving as a professor and students don’t tend to call at 2 A.M. But being a pastor’s kid never stops. Continue reading →

Preachers’ Daughters (2)

April 4, 2013 By RVD in Pastoral Ministry, Raising Children

What I’ve heard about the latest reality tv show isn’t encouraging, let alone edifying. Thankfully, there are teenaged preachers’ daughters who aren’t doing drugs, getting drunk, pregnant, and ruining their father’s reputations. Some of these young ladies, from different denominations, countries and families, answered a few questions about being pk’s for our second post in this series. We have left out their names to give them privacy. Their answers give insight into what it’s like to have dad as the preacher and give everyone some encouragement: there are many godly pastor’s daughters out there!

Would you marry a pastor?

1. “This is something that I have thought about a lot actually and have had pretty mixed feelings about. In some ways, I would like to marry a pastor as I think that it would help me to go deeper in my faith and having grown up in a pastor’s home, I have experience and knowledge that would hopefully enable me to be a blessing to a pastor. However, growing up in a pastor’s family has also opened my eyes to the amount of spiritual and emotional trials that many pastors deal with on a regular basis. Continue reading →

The Pastor’s Kid (1)

April 2, 2013 By RVD in Pastoral Ministry, Raising Children

My Dad is a pastor. Same for Grandpa, uncles, brothers-in-law, and husband. Growing up in a family of pastor’s kids (there were six of us, plus cousins) has given us a different experience than many of our peers, simply because dad was a minister. From not having him in the pew with us on Sunday, to going to every funeral and wedding in the congregation, our growing up years were shaped by his calling.

I haven’t seen much written on the pastor’s kid – pk’s tend to be tight-lipped, sometimes rebellious. So in the next couple weeks, we’ll be posting about different aspects of being a pk. Our hope is to give pk’s encouragement, give their parents some insight on a child’s perspective, and open up the topic for discussion in families.

Last week I was on a panel about growing up in the manse. Future pastor’s wives submitted questions ahead of time, and then a mix of pastor’s children answered. We’ll start this series with some thoughts I jotted down in preparation for that evening. Continue reading →

The Little Minister

January 8, 2013 By RVD in Book Reviews, Pastoral Ministry

Few people know that James Barrie, of Peter Pan fame, wrote a book about a young man taking up his first pastoral charge. The Little Minister follows Gavin Dishart, a freshly ordained seminary graduate, as he adjusts to the village Thrums, life in the manse, and everything that goes with it. Almost nothing goes as Gavin thinks it will, and despite the book’s theological perspective, it ably shows the confidence of the seminary graduate turning into a more careful humility. Moving into the manse, preaching, troubling the session (who are holding conference there on the left), and especially falling in love, all shape Gavin. Confronted with people who are not awed by his person or piety and confounded by situations that he has never had to think through before, Gavin is forced to change, often for the better. Continue reading →

Tough Ministry and The Strong Minister

December 12, 2012 By WVD in Pastoral Ministry

At times it is good to be reminded that even great theologians of the past, whose volumes calmly line the shelves of many a pastor’s study, were painfully aware of the struggles of Christian life and ministry and their own weakness. In October of 1555, some in Geneva were accusing Calvin of being in the ministry for the money, as he lived in bare frugality. In response to other critics and pressures, including ones from his friend and fellow pastor William Farel, John Calvin penned the following letter:

Though, my dear Farel, I may justly glory in these reproaches which envenomed and petulant tongues heap upon me, Continue reading →

On the Ascension of Christ

July 5, 2012 By WVD in Pastoral Ministry

“He is the great shepherd and bishop of souls, [1Peter 2:25], and the sick, and the broken, they are his sheep, his charge, his diocese, [Ezekiel 34:16]. And to tend such as these, he looks for ever upon it as his duty, as his own expression upon the like occasion imports, ‘Other sheep I have’ (says Christ), ‘them I must bring,’ [John 10:16]… And the proper duty of his place being to show mercy, he does it with cheerfulness, as the apostle speaks. For mercy makes one do what they do with cheerfulness… Continue reading →

Banner Conference

May 28, 2012 By RVD in Pastoral Ministry

Last week, the Banner of Truth held its annual pastor’s conference in Pennsylvania. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to go. Twenty years ago, I wanted to go because Daddy and Uncle Matt were going, and going fishing and eating ice cream with them for three days sounded like a blast. Not to mention, the Banner had an amazing book table. I told Dad I didn’t care if I would be the only girl. Continue reading →

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