Although most evangelical traditions bar women from ordained ministry, many women have carved out unofficial positions of power in their husbands' spiritual empires or their own ministries. The biggest stars write bestselling books, grab high ratings on Christian television, and even preach. Bowler offers a sympathetic and revealing portrait of megachurch women celebrities, showing how they must balance the demands of celebrity culture and conservative, male-dominated faiths. And black celebrity preachers' wives carry a special burden of respectability. A compelling account of women's search for spiritual authority in the age of celebrity. -- adapted from jacket

When Pastor Matthew Winkler was found dead at his Fourth Street Church of Christ parsonage in Selmer, Tennessee, both police investigators and parishioners were shaken and mystified: How could evil strike this cradle of faith? Meanwhile, Mrs. Winkler and her three daughters were still missing... A frantic search for Mary Winkler and the girls ensued. Once they were found, on a beach in Alabama, Mary was charged with murdering her husband in cold blood. But why did Mary pull the trigger? What sexual and psychological abuses did she allege she had suffered? In the months that followed, the crime—and the Winkler's marriage—would be exposed by the national media; Mary herself even appeared on Oprah. Set in a world of domineering men, obedient wives, and unshakable faith, this is the true story about what happened to Matthew Winkler and THE PASTOR'S WIFE

The deeply personal memoir of Lydia Meredith, a woman who spent almost thirty years married to a preacher—only to have her husband leave her for a man—and how her life becomes a testimony of tolerance and a theology of love and acceptance. After being married to Reverend Dennis A. Meredith for almost thirty years, Lydia Meredith discovers a shocking truth: the love of her life left her for a man. Now, Lydia opens up for the first time about how that revelation shattered her world—and strengthened her faith. With her life turned upside down, Lydia struggled to put the pieces of her broken heart back together and that led her to pursue understanding through an accredited theological education. She wanted a way to put her family back together and she found Jesus’ ministry and teachings were “actually” about teaching tolerance and love for people who are labeled different. Candid, honest, and incredibly touching, Lydia Meredith shows that faith and perseverance can get you through any challenge life throws your way.

When her husband accepts the pastorate of New Light Church in the small town of Southlake, Texas, Jacqueline Stevens, thinking this will be an easy transition, is unexpectedly faced with church drama, conniving members, loose women, power-playing deacons, and false accusations. Original.

In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family. Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.

Married for 20 years to the Reverend Benjamin Lynch, a handsome, ambitious minister of the prestigious Methodist church, Dean Lynch has never quite adjusted her temperament to the demands of the role of a Sunday wife. When her husband is assigned to a larger and more demanding community in the Florida panhandle, Dean becomes fast friends with Augusta Holderfield, a woman whose good looks and extravagant habits immediately entrance her. As their friendship evolves, Augusta challenges Dean to break free from her traditional role as the preacher's wife. Just as Dean is questioning everything she has always valued, a tragedy occurs, providing the catalyst for change in ways she never could have imagined.

There was nothing remotely romantic about widowed father Samuel Hart's marriage proposal. Yet Josie Randolph said yes. The Lord had finally blessed the lonely widow with the family she'd always dreamed of. And she was deeply in love with the handsome preacher, whose high ideals inspired everyone. Surely during their long journey across the western plains to his new post her husband would grow to love her. Each mile brought them closer to home, yet drove them further apart. Samuel didn't seem ready to open his heart again. But Josie was determined to be not just the preacher's wife, but Samuel's wife.

My sincere hope is that every person in an abusive relationship will get out, and that the abuser will be changed by realizing the pain and suffering they cause. When I prayed that God would allow me to marry a preacher, somewhere in my mind I thought it would guarantee me a life of love, peace, and happiness. Nothing was further from the truth. After all, preachers are men too, clothed in nice suits, shoes, and fancy robes. All my life, I had been around marriages that should have ended years ago. I wanted to be different; I wanted to help people change. I wanted to see men love and cherish their wives. We all know for the most part at least on the surface that preachers' wives seem to be more than happy. Some wear the designer suits and hats with fancy matching shoes. On occasion, I did too. However, I soon found out, at least in my life, it was all superficial. I was all smiles and encouraging words outside the door, but most days, behind closed doors, my life was a living hell. Three months into my marriage, I began living in a nightmare. I told myself I would never tell anyone. I would help the world believe we had the ideal marriage. Even before the I-do's, I knew there were some problems. Before long Shirley became a "preacher's wife with a secret life," and everything in her told her that she's not the only one!

Vicky Donahue is a stunningly beautiful lady and is married to the preacher in Butler, Tennessee. She witnesses a police officer commit one of the most gruesome murders to ever take place in Tennessee. Due to her husband's position in the community and her indiscretions, she cannot come forward. She makes a moral commitment to herself to correct the injustice. She does not know if the Sheriff is part of the crime or is trying to solve the crime.Wayne Tipton is the county Sheriff and is challenged with trying to figure out who killed the victim when her body is mysteriously discovered missing from the local hospital. Someone places a listening device in his secure office and somehow bypasses the office security system. He starts questioning his deputies. With a second victim found at the bottom of a roadside ditch, the body count is starting to climb. Wayne turns to an old college buddy for assistance and tries to make sense out of the facts. There are no suspects, and there is no apparent motive for the two killings. Wayne takes a long shot to discover the possible killer. All while the FBI is secretly investigating a serial killer which is unknown to the Sheriff and general public. The FBI investigators have been asked by the CIA to hold off on the investigation until they complete some secret operation. While Vicky Donahue is also trying to figure out the identity of the killer and have the innocent man who was arrested released from jail, Vicky has accepted she has made mistakes and has come to terms with what needs to occur for justice to be served. Vicky and the Sheriff finally meet in the most unlikely place and build a friendship that leads to future investigations, which are noted in the upcoming sequel.

Pastor's wife, Kirstie Donovan, lives life in a fishbowl, so when she hops on the back of a bright pink motorcycle, tongues start to wag at the conservative, century-old First Independent Christian Community Church of Eels Falls. Kirstie loves roaring down a road less traveled by most women over forty, but she's not just riding her bike for the fun of it. Kirstie has a ministry. However, certain church members have secrets to hide, and when God uses Kirstie's ministry to fill the pews with leather-clad, tattooed bikers, those secrets could be exposed... and some will stop at nothing to hide the truth. Join Kirstie and her motorcycle "gang"—two church matrons and a mouthy, gum-smacking non-church member—as they discover that road-toughened bikers are quite capable of ministering to others, and faith is fortified in the most unexpected ways.