"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her," Ephesians 5:25. Jesus didn't only give up his life for his Bride, he gave up his home and took up the humble restrictions of a human body, "he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" Philippians 2:7. Jesus himself said he didn't come to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). So, how does the expectation that the pastor becomes everything and his wife becomes subservient to his calling square with husband's loving their wives? Pastors are not exempt from the basic requirements of Christian living.

Pastor Golden, you do understand the author was not claiming never to have heard the term "First Lady" before, right? She was talking about the inappropriate use of the term to refer to the wife of a senior pastor in a mega-church. No matter who attends such a church, calling the woman the "First Lady" is flat out wrong. There is only one "First" person in any church, and that's Jesus Christ. Cheers, Tim (timfall.wordpress.com)

I find this statement problematic: "I cannot think of a single instance in which a woman was expected to give up her gifts and calling in service of her husband, the dentist. Or lawyer. Or plumber." Giving up a career or hopes of a career to stay at home and support a husband's career has been a staple in marriage. The 'requirements' and celebrity of first ladies/pastors' wives are an extension of a long-standing (and problematic) dynamic.

I've never watched the show and have no intent of doing so. BUT, your article give me pause .The article does little more than attack rather than present. The term "first lady" isn't a "black thing" itz an AMERICAN thing. The term 'lady' originates in England. The title "First Lady" seems to have originated in the United States, where one of the earliest references was applied to MARTHA WASHINGTON. Surely, Ms. Ortega your apparent bias should not deflect your assumed scholarship in such understandings. An article about 'firsts' shouldn't be written by a second hand.

Yay! Nicely said. I have been married 35 years to a man whose occupation and calling is the pastorate. For all of those years I have heard "oh! You're the pastor's wife!" And then they suck all of the air out of the room. Often I just simply say, "Yes, I am married to the Pastor." I have been very fortunate that my husband has not elevated our family to any position that would reinforce the notion that the family is an extension of the ministry leadership. I would venture to suggest that some of these stereotypes are actually encouraged by the pastors themselves. My husband also teaches seminary and its alarming how many men arrive mimicking the "preacher boy" persona and they are dragging their wives and family right along. Whether we wish it or not, the stereotype follows us. Unbelievers and the disenfranchised place expectations on us even in the non church environment. A series like this will only serve to fuel unrealistic images.