While I wait for the compilation stories according to the “Call for Submissions” below to come in, I will post similar stories for the blog series Minister Wives Fellowship & Support. If you would like to guest post for this series, check out the tips and information on the Guest Post page. The guest posts have a very high probability of being published in the compilation book.
Call for Submissions
Being a pastor’s wife ought to be the easiest job around, with lots of love and friends built right in. But those married in ministry are often dumbfounded by the opposite reality. Confessions of a Recovering Preacher’s Wife is a book of humorous stories about the life of a minister’s wife written to encourage laity and minister’s families.
We are now accepting humorous stories related to minister’s wives and the lives they lead. The true-life experiences will be used to illustrate the truths related to the special position and activities of minister’s wives. The writer will get credit for his or her story. We are looking for stories with redeeming qualities and a variety of experiences including stories from children, missionaries, spouses and close friends as well as those from minister’s wives. The wife of a pastor often feels isolated and this book promises encouragement and laughter.
Submissions Instructions
- Stories will be accepted until each section is complete. Contact for current need.
- Email submissions as an attached MS Word Document.
- Email to Robin (at) RobinBryce (dot) com
- Label the subject line: Recovering PW Submission
Submissions Guidelines
- Stories must be true-life experiences. Slight embellishment and exaggeration can be added for humor.
- We prefer a word count of 1200 to 2000 words, but we will consider all stories.
- Editors reserve the right to edit content for clarity, purpose and additional humor if needed.
- Include your contact information: name, email and phone number.
- Include byline information: name, place of service (if minister’s wife) and location. Such as: Rose Mary, The Jesus House, Bethlehem, Texas. (If anonymity is required, suggest fictitious names, pen name and such, but please send the your real contact information for permission to publish forms needed upon acceptance.)
Submission Guidelines for Non-Writers
We will consider stories “as told by” for non-writers. Please contact Robin Bryce at Robin (at) RobinBryce (dot) com for instructions.
Upon Acceptance and Publication
- Author will receive a byline credit
- Author will receive one free copy of the book, Confessions of a Recovering Pastor’s Wife
- Author will be able to order additional copies at the author’s discounted rate
This book is not under contract. Accepted stories may be used in the proposal to gain a contract.
We welcome you to this opportunity to encourage minister’s wives. Your story can make a difference in the life on another. Please share your story. If it is chosen, we will send a permission form for you to sign and release the story for publication.
Topics and chapter synopsis
- Even Dogs Get Scraps – A ministry marriage may be made in heaven but it’s lived under the table. Most often the marriage is required to sustain itself on the fare dropped on the floor where even leftovers don’t find themselves. Ministry takes its toll mentally, emotionally, and physically. It drains my husband. Often he has no energy to focus on our marriage, family or me. The church gets all of his effort and I’m usually left scrapping the floor for what’s left of him. This chapter will include stories about the ups and downs of being married and in the ministry.
- Buy One, Get One Free – I always felt the church expected me to take on many roles since my husband was “their” minister. It’s like they sought out a married man in order to get two workers for the price of one. A group, while interviewing my husband for their lead pastoral position, asked me what I did as if I played the piano or something. Somewhere someone began the notion that part of the job requirements of being a pastor’s wife is to play the piano beautifully. This chapter includes stories about working in the church and expectations of the pastor’s wife in the church.
- Raising Cain – The precious angels I birthed sometimes acted like devils. We had a deacon that taught my first born to throw rocks at cars in the church parking lot. Not the elder’s kid, the elder himself picked up a small rock and showed him how to throw it. What’s a preacher’s wife to do? This chapter will be about the challenges of raising a preacher’s kid. It can include stories from the kids about how they felt bearing the expectations of others in their roles.
- Hostess with the Leastest – I thought I was doing great, the kids playing contentedly while I cleaned house fervently. I cleaned to some rocking Christian tunes that were loud enough to hear from room to room. It was a wonder that I ever heard the doorbell. A white-haired woman and leader in the church stood at my door. The loud music continued not-so-much in the background. I invited her in and went to turn down the music. She refused to come in. She must have thought the devil lived in the house. Apparently the minister’s home is supposed to be ready to receive any parishioner that needs counseling, friendship or a cup of coffee at all times. And I’m supposed to understand the duties of being a minister’s wife at potluck dinners, or dinner on the grounds: the best cook, fix a certain something or not to fix another. This chapter contains stories about being a hostess, including funny ones from those of us without the spiritual gift of hostess.
- Image is Everything – How I look and how I act. Everything has to be put together just right. I can’t be myself or have any problems with the kids or at home and especially with my marriage or the church. My role in public is to be above all scrutiny and as the model Christian never have problems. This chapter contains stories that deal with the expectations of others.
- Beauty Past Skin Deep – My kids tell me that their friends are afraid of me. They say that my face shows that I’m angry when I’m only thinking. Apparently I frown when I think causing unsightly wrinkles that aren’t visible when I’m smiling. Must I always smile? Sometimes when I feel inadequate in appearance and beauty, I think I’m no good as a minister’s wife. My hair doesn’t look right or my clothes don’t fit right. Could it be because I don’t weigh right? This chapter deals with self-image and the pressure to be the beauty expected of the preacher’s wife.
- Secrets Under Glass – A pastor’s wife isn’t supposed to have trouble in her marriage. She’s not supposed to feel alone and isolated, right? I had no one to talk to and no one to trust with this horrible secret. The house that was perfect and kept under glass for all to see had a secret that stained the crystal clear glass. Our lives are as public as politician’s. This chapter deals with the secrets we hide that threaten to consume us and we wish we could come clean with someone who would listen. And listen without throwing stones. Some stories may be shared by a pen name to conceal the identities.
- Where’s God in Godly – In trying to live out being a preacher’s wife, I easily get caught in doing the religious activities and forget about God and my need for daily conversation with God. But even prayer can be turned into a duty or something to be checked off the To Do list. When we make prayer a dutiful practice, we create a religion about God not enter a relationship with God. This chapter shares stories of moments when God made himself real in our circumstances.
- Playing Parts – A Sunday School Director that doubled as a Vacation Bible School Director was drumming up workers for VBS. When I asked if she had enough workers, she gave me permission, almost ordered me, to forget about working VBS that God had a calling on my life to write, speak and work with adults. She validated my God-given desire and said, “God will take care of VBS without you.” That was a lot of work and weight off my shoulders. It always stressed me to work in VBS because I’m not so good with kids. It’s not my spiritual gift. Don’t ask me to play the piano. I might remember “I Dropped My Dolly in the Dirt.” This chapter contains stories about finding God’s specific purpose for us as individuals.
- Recover and Redeem – Out from under the glass and past skin deep, I found freedom in Christ. In the process, I’ve recovered from hurts, slanders, and expectations. My family life isn’t perfect and I’m okay with it. My ministry isn’t without fault and that’s good enough for God. I’ve found that God loves me and chooses to use my weaknesses to make much of him and his grace. God has redeemed my suffering and set me free to be who he created me to be. This chapter contains stories of restoration and redemption as they relate to being the minister’s wife that God desires.
- Misfits – Sometimes we feel like misfits and our stories don’t fit. This chapter allows for extra stories with redeeming qualities that will encourage minister’s wives and their families as well as enlighten others about recovering pastor’s wives.
Direct Submissions, Questions and Queries to:
Robin Bryce
Robin (at) RobinBryce (dot) com
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