The bishops’ spouses meeting (and, no, Mark Andrew is not there) has gotten some news attention – perhaps because Lambeth itself seems low-key so far. I have often thought that there is little I would rather do less than be a bishop, but likely being married to a bishop is just as hard, if not harder.
In fact, many clerical spouses feel isolated, and presumably bishops’ spouses may feel even more isolated, so this spouses’ gathering is likely very welcome indeed. Clerical spouses live in an interesting moment – are you still expected to head up the women’s auxiliary and chair an annual tea/junk sale/silent auction? Which is to say – do churches still think they are hiring two people for the price of one when they hire a married cleric? My sense, even in the South where things change more slowly, is that the role of clergy spouse is very much in transition, for two obvious reasons: many clergy wives have full-time jobs, and many “clergy wives” are men.
By the way, Gene Robinson is not the only person promoting a book in England this week. Jane Williams, who is married to Rowan Williams, has a new title, too: Marriage, Mitres, and Being Myself.