Lighten the Load!

It is often the pastor’s wife or women’s ministry leader who carries the load at a retreat.  Not only does she run the retreat, make announcements and introductions, but she may also be speaking at the retreat.  And of course, there are always those who want or need the opportunity to talk or counsel with her.

We have found that appointing a retreat coordinator, separate from the pastor’s wife or women’s ministry leader who heads up the retreat, is wise.  The coordinator basically runs the retreat.  She keeps track of announcements that need to be made.  She keeps an eye on the time schedule, so that if the schedule gets off kilter, she can decide how to correct it.  Disgruntled women are directed to her so their issues can be dealt with.  She expresses the pastor’s wife’s desires–unofficial rules such as “no TV” and “no charges to room service” and she becomes the  “enforcer”  and keeps everyone on track, leaving the pastor’s wife free for ministry responsibilities.

This takes a great burden from the pastor’s wife, leaving the pastor’s wife free for ministry responsibilities.