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A Clergy Husband's Survival Guide

Reviewed by Julian Reindorp.

This is an excellent resource not just for clergy husbands, but also for clergy wives. Some of it is Anglican in emphasis, but any minister’s spouse would find this a valuable check list.

Its twenty four chapters are gathered in four sections: 1. The Journey, approaching ordination; 2. Clergy Husband: what does it mean? Everything from boundaries to church attendance, nothing is assumed; 3. Lifestyle issues: home, family, finances, telephone, email, and quality of life; 4. If things go wrong: sex, addiction, loss of faith, career crises, church hierarchy, illness and bereavement.

The author takes nothing for granted, his style is non judgemental, with bullet points and excellent summaries. Throughout the book, there are questions for each partner as well as for the parish, the diocese, the wider church and the director of ordination training. The book is based on the author's experience, sparingly used, and also on 48 responses from 14 Anglican dioceses. There are lots of wise suggestions and a resources list at the end. Realistic, forthright and practical, this book should be in the hands of anyone with a partner thinking of ordination, and a refresher primer for anyone in ordained ministry with a spouse or partner.