A note from Lynne:
As a Pastor's wife, I have just been sent a survey form from a University student about how clergy partners cope with role conflicts when their spouse is called into ministry as a Baptist pastor.
Reading through the questions I realised again the sense of freedom that I have at Opawa Baptist Church. The form asked me to quantify the number hours per week I thought I, my church, and the Baptist Union would like me to spend in various tasks, such as care of my family, working, and doing a variety of church tasks (eg administration, teaching, visiting, evangelism etc). I put some numbers in the section under "Me" and left the "My Church" and "Baptist Union" blank.
I wrote on the form, "I don't consider my church has any prescribed opinion on how I should spend my time. (They would consider caring for my family (including myself) of primary importance.) I feel a huge degree of freedom to be myself and use my gifts as seems appropriate."
I am grateful for the way you are allowing me to find my place and for the way that you have communicated appreciation for the things that I do. Thanks for the freedom to be me.