COMMUNITY OF SPICE a newsletter for clergy spouses by clergy spouses

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What is it like for your children?
 
PK Responses
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PK questionnaire
Below are the questions we asked PK's (Preacher's Kids) from around the world.  Most of the responses were not from subscribers.
  1. How old are you?
  2. What is the denomination in which you grew up?
  3. Do you still count yourself as a part of that denomination?
  4. Which parent is ordained and what was your age when s/he was ordained?
  5. How often did you attend church as a child?
  6. If you are married, did you marry someone involved in the church?
  7. Was that a consideration when you looked for a spouse?
  8. Do you attend church, now?
  9. How often?
  10. If you don't attend now, do you believe that having children will change that (or did having children change your involvement in the church)? 
  11. If you're not active in church now, what do you see as some of the reasons?
    12.  
    In regards to church attendance:
  12. What will you do (or do you do) differently with your children than your parents did with you?
  13. What did your parents do well?
  14. What do you wish your parents had done differently?
  15. What did parishioners, parishes, dioceses do well?
  16. What do you wish parishioners, parishes, dioceses had done differently?

34 year old, male, Episcopal Church

1.-3.  I am a 34 year old male.  Grew up Episcopalian, but don't consider myself part of any denomination.

4.-5.  Both parents are ordained at this point.  I was about 1 when dad was ordained, and 33 when mom was.  Attended church every Sunday, as well as Wednesdays, Thursdays, and any other day during the week depending upon the season.  Up to 18, never missed.

6.-11.  Not married.  Attend church rarely, unless at home.  I don't think having children would influence whether or not I would go to church.  I think I would leave it up to the individual, stressing the pros and cons of going.  Personally I think I am not active in any church right now is because I went so much in 18 years.  I don't want to say I got tired of it, but I think burned out might be more appropriate to say. 

12.-16.  I don't think I would make it a requirement for my children to go to church.  I wouldn't down play its importance, I would let the individual make the decision.  I would talk about the pros and cons of church, but leave it up to my kids.  My parents did what they thought was the right thing.  I think there is a standard for PK's and spouses, it's like being a politician, they have to make an appearance at every event wearing smiles and shaking hands.

1505 Deerfield Drive
Oshkosh, WI 54904
Karen D. Powers
Publisher and Senior Editor

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