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Experts: Preachers' Wives Often Struggle
Associated Press ^ | Apr 1, 2006 | WOODY BAIRD

Posted on 04/01/2006 6:40:33 PM PST by twippo

SELMER, Tenn. - Mary Winkler was the quiet, unassuming wife of a small-town, by-the-Bible preacher, seemingly devoted to church and family. But now her husband, Matthew, is dead and she is charged with shooting him in the back with a shotgun.

Authorities won't discuss a motive, and church members say they didn't see any indication she was unhappy. But experts say preachers' wives often struggle with depression and isolation, expected to be exemplars of Christian virtue while bearing unique pressures on their private and public lives.

Gayle Haggard, author of "A Life Embraced: A Hopeful Guide for the Pastor's Wife," said ministers' wives can feel isolated because of a misconception about leadership, since they and their husbands are leaders of their congregations.

They can feel trapped, she said, by unrealistic expectations "to live a certain way, to dress a certain way, for their children to behave a certain way."

And ministers' wives often find themselves handling more jobs than they expected to take on, said Becky Hunter, current president of the Global Pastors Wives Network.

"You're not really hired, and yet there is some expectation in most church settings that the pastor's wife comes along in a package deal," Hunter said.

Too often, ministers and their wives are reluctant to seek emotional help from members of their congregations because they're looked up to as leaders, said Lois Evans, a former president of the Global Pastors Wives Network. They can become isolated, lonely and depressed.

"This family needed help," said Evans. "It seems like there was no place to turn to and no place to talk and it became an explosive situation."

Matthew Winkler, 31, was found dead in a bedroom at the couple's parsonage Wednesday night in Selmer, a town of 4,400 people about 80 miles east of Memphis. Mary Winkler, 32, and her three young daughters were found Thursday night leaving a restaurant in Orange Beach, Ala., about 340 miles from Selmer. Orange Beach Police Chief Billy Wilkins said she had rented a condo on the beach after the slaying.

She was charged with first-degree murder and ordered held without bail. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent John Mehr said authorities know the motive for the killing, but he would not disclose it.

Mary Winkler was working part-time as a substitute teacher and taking college courses to get a teaching certificate as well as raising her three children and serving the congregation as its preacher's wife.

"You know she was weighted down," said Jimmie Smith, a member of Matthew Winkler's Fourth Street Church of Christ congregation and a retired psychiatric nurse.

Defense lawyer Steve Farese refused to talk about the Winklers' private life or if they had personal troubles.

"I can't discuss anything she's told me," Farese said. "But I think you have to look at the entire picture. You can't look at the end of a story and determine what the beginning and middle were."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: associatedpress; blamethedeadguy; christianity; marywinkler; matthewwinkler; pastor; pastors; pastorswives; preachers; preacherswives; religion; winkler; wives; women
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To: yukong; ClancyJ; trubluolyguy; Sloth
You believe that being dipped in some water is what your salvation bought with. It's a common water dog belief. I don't share it. I believe that Jesus Christ bought my salvation and through my faith in Him, I am born again. I was bought with a price, and it was the precious blood of Jesus Christ, not a dip in the water. If you would like to know how you too can be born again, please read this:What Must I do to be Saved?
181 posted on 04/02/2006 5:09:25 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: Full Court

You believe that being dipped in some water is what your salvation bought with.



No. I don't.


182 posted on 04/02/2006 5:11:28 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (If I wanted to live in Mexico, I'd FRIGGING MOVE THERE!)
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To: yukong

Okay. Then if I commit the sins of the 10 commandments I am not sinning? Only those in Gal 5:19 count because it was after the day of Penecost?


183 posted on 04/02/2006 5:11:49 PM PDT by marajade (Yes, I'm a SW freak!)
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To: Full Court

Well, as Reagan said, "there you go again". I said, tell me what God says, not what John Rice says. One more time, answer I Peter 3:21.


184 posted on 04/02/2006 5:12:54 PM PDT by yukong
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To: yukong; marajade
Well, if you will recall, the thief on the cross died before the church was instituted on the Day of Pentecost. He died under the old law. The mission of Christ had not yet been fulfilled when the thief on the cross died. The mission/work of Christ did not finish until 3 days after the thief died.

That argument falls flat because some of the Scripture you use out of context is also happening before the death of Christ. But none the less, you should remember what salvation was of in that "different dispensation."

Romans 4:1  ¶What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

185 posted on 04/02/2006 5:15:04 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: marajade

Christ's death did not make something that was sin, not sin. Christ's death brought about a new way. Christ's death was the one true sacrifice for the sins of all men for all time. The law of Moses wasn't about do's and don'ts, it was the original means of justification/sanctification. But Jesus's death became that means and way.


186 posted on 04/02/2006 5:16:23 PM PDT by yukong
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To: yukong

I thought you wanted to know how to be saved? Were you lying?


187 posted on 04/02/2006 5:17:26 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: yukong

I choose today to believe differently. I guess only time and judgment today will answer. Only God can have that say.


188 posted on 04/02/2006 5:18:11 PM PDT by marajade (Yes, I'm a SW freak!)
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To: yukong

Acts 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.


189 posted on 04/02/2006 5:18:42 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: Full Court
That argument falls flat because some of the Scripture you use out of context is also happening before the death of Christ. But none the less, you should remember what salvation was of in that "different dispensation." The scripture that I used that was before Christ died, was Mark 16:16, and Christ himself said that after his death, burial and resurrection sometime bfore he ascended to Heaven. So, it was after the Old Law had ended. So it too was after the coming of the Law of Christ.
190 posted on 04/02/2006 5:22:06 PM PDT by yukong
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To: yukong

Romans 4:1 ¶What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.


191 posted on 04/02/2006 5:24:21 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: Full Court
Friend...please don't do as you accused me, and take a passage out of context. Please finish that passage. 31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
192 posted on 04/02/2006 5:25:16 PM PDT by yukong
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To: Full Court

And?


193 posted on 04/02/2006 5:26:12 PM PDT by yukong
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To: twippo

preachers' wives do struggle, but the ones who are homicidal maniacs seem to have the toughest time of it...


194 posted on 04/02/2006 5:26:49 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Full Court

No, I want you to tell me. I'm not in a dialogue with John Rice. I'm in one with you. Tell me.


195 posted on 04/02/2006 5:26:59 PM PDT by yukong
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To: marajade

Well, that is the beauty of free choice. As I said to Full Court earlier, if I'm wrong, then I just got wet. But if you are wrong...? Each must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. Phil 2:12


196 posted on 04/02/2006 5:30:16 PM PDT by yukong
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To: yukong
Thanks for posting that and proving to all that baptism only comes after belief.

Romans 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

197 posted on 04/02/2006 5:37:17 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: yukong
As I said to Full Court earlier, if I'm wrong, then I just got wet.

No, you trusted the local water company instead of Jesus Christ and you are going to bust Hell wide open.

198 posted on 04/02/2006 5:38:48 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: yukong
Are You Washed in the Blood? Click here for music

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

199 posted on 04/02/2006 5:42:55 PM PDT by Full Court (Baptist History now at www.baptistbookshelf.com)
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To: Full Court
Well, I never denied that baptism comes after belief. If one doesn't believe, then baptism is to no avail. But belief alone isn't sufficient. James said in James 2:19, You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!.

Yes, belief must come before Baptism. But baptism is what brings us into contact with Christ's blood. Read again Romans 6. I couldn't explain it better.

200 posted on 04/02/2006 5:44:01 PM PDT by yukong
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