WELCOME
Welcome and thank you for visiting the Shepherdess webpage. We pray that this page will be helpful, informational and inspirational.  We welcome you to visit often and to share with us any suggestions you may have that would improve our ministry.

INTRODUCTION
The South Central Conference Shepherdess Ministries is a ministry with the specific responsibility of nurturing the pastors' spouses and children. The unique position of the minister's wife places her under special stresses and expectations from the congregation that are not experienced by any other woman in the church. The Shepherdess Ministries provides a network to support and train her as she deals with the unique challenges of her role. She is encouraged as she serves Christ and the church through her unique gifts.

Most ministers' wives are happy in their role but express gratitude for a ministry that allows dialogue and provides training in areas of unique concern to them. They long for an opportunity to share with others who experience similar problems and joys.

SHEPHERDESS AND WOMEN'S MINISTRY
While many ministers' wives enjoy participating in Women's Ministries and may form some of its leadership, Shepherdess Ministries remains a separate ministry geared to the specific needs of pastoral wives. Just as the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association focuses on serving pastors and Church Ministries focuses on motivating laity for service, so Shepherdess Ministries focuses on pastoral spouses and Women's Ministries focuses on motivating lay women for service. The Shepherdess Ministry supports both groups. We participate in and wholeheartedly support Women’s Ministries.

MISSION
Our mission as set forth by Shepherdess International comprises of the following:

• Increases awareness of the value pastoral spouses bring to the church. These women comprise the single largest group of volunteers serving the church.
• Provides support and encouragement to pastoral spouses in their unique role.
• Promotes opportunities for spiritual growth, professional enhancement, and role development for pastoral spouses.
• Helps pastoral spouses to understand their importance, to recognize their unique spiritual gifts, and to serve their church in the areas in which they are most comfortable rather than being overly controlled by congregational expectations.
• Trains pastoral spouses as paraprofessionals in team ministry.
• Provides fellowship and support to a group who have little opportunity to develop deep roots in one location.
• Produces resources to enhance the ministry of pastoral spouses

SHEPHERDESS NEWSLETTER
South Central Conference Shepherdess Ministries publishes a newsletter for pastors' spouses. The newsletter features articles written by pastors' wives for pastors' wives. The featured subjects reflect life in the pastor's family and encouragement as we minister in our homes and to others day by day.  If you are a pastor’s wife and are interested in writing or contributing in some way to the newsletter, you may contact the editors Mrs. Lelia Patterson at samleebaby@aol.com or Mrs. Natalie Owens at nowens1@jefferson.k12.ky.us.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 2006
9-17     Camp meeting 2006 (Theme TBA)
12-15   Daily Shepherdess Workshops (Subjects, presenters and time TBA)
11        First Lady Luncheon (Place and time TBA)

SEMINARS
Seminars by Janice Johnson Browne, Ph.D.
A Prayer Life for the Pastor’s Wife
A seminar designed to emphasize the importance of daily prayer.  Life gets busy, children have to be cared for, husbands need attention, church members need to talk and the church members want you to hold an office in the church!  Where is the time for devotion and prayer?  Learn how to give God His time and share your time with others.