tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post8431551046884132027..comments2023-07-06T06:04:07.849-07:00Comments on Sister, Daughter, Mother, Wife: When Church Work and Family CollideAnna Mussmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-62182658288509292014-06-19T07:35:25.471-07:002014-06-19T07:35:25.471-07:00I second that! My parents were non-Lutheran when I...I second that! My parents were non-Lutheran when I was young, and were involved in various mission and pastoral work. One of the minor things that my mom really appreciated about the LCMS when they joined is that Lutherans do have a stronger culture of supporting their church workers, and are less likely to assume that the pastor's wife has already learned piano so that she can play all the hymns for all the services for free. :-)Anna Mussmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-1573571534814870972014-06-18T05:35:17.661-07:002014-06-18T05:35:17.661-07:00My dad and my father-in-law are both Lutheran past...My dad and my father-in-law are both Lutheran pastors. And while neither of them have ever been asked to leave a parish, so much of what you say about "life in the stained-glass fishbowl" resonated with me. Especially the fact that "you will never be one of them." So very often that is sadly true. Every congregation is different, and some are much better than others at including their pastor and his family into the church family, but there will always be a subtle difference. The best we laypeople can do is remember that a pastor and his family are also members of the congregation, and that while the pastor was called to serve a particular parish, his family was not, and any talents they possess are the same as talents of any other congregation member -- something they can use to serve the church, but not something the church has a "right" to.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.com