Just when you thought there couldn’t be a more controversial, dramatic, and cringe-inducing reality show, TLC creates a new one that will give a rather provocative look into the lives of women and ministry. This January, “The Sisterhood” will follow five pastors’ wives, in Atlanta, who have decided to give the public a glimpse into the inner lives of a “first lady.”
“A first lady has to appear perfect because she sets the standard for the congregation,” said cast member Dominique Scott. Her fellow co-star Tara Y. Lewis echoed her sentiments by stating, “When you’re married to a pastor you’re held to a higher standard.”
Just from the show’s preview those high standards look very interesting as the women dress in some not-so-traditional outfit choices, talk about sexual matters with their friends, and argue openly about personal issues. Right off the bat, you can tell these ladies aren’t your run-of-the-mill Southern preacher’s wives.
“She’s fit and fabulous and her wardrobe leaves little to the imagination,” reads the bio for Tara Lewis, a certified fitness instructor. “Tell the devil he’s a liar!” Lewis yells while working out in skin-tight shorts and a midriff-exposing t-shirt.
“Did you get breast implants, too?” asks Christina Murray over dinner with the women, whose husband Anthony leads Oasis Family Life Church. “Christina often makes it known that she’s a sassy Latina who you don’t want to mess with,” states her bio. “Christina and Anthony … have to wrangle their two challenging teenage daughters who are just as sassy as their mother.”
“You better watch yo’ self, girl!” jokes her husband.
“People don’t expect a preacher and his wife to have a good sex life,” Ivy tells the cameras.
“Preachers’ wives can run from very conservative to very radical,” states singer DeLana Rutherford, whose husband Myles leads Worship With Wonder Church in Kennesaw, Georgia. “One look at DeLana singing on stage in her leather pants and spiked heels and you’ll definitely think she’s a rock star,” writes Access Atlanta.
Each women is very different but as Dominique states, “First ladies generally disagree on a whole lot of things. The only thing we agree on is that we all love God. Everything else is up to chance.”
These ladies are certainly pushing the envelope and keeping it real for viewers as they’re revealing the “high standards” of a ‘first lady’ and Christianity.
So, what are you thoughts on “The Sisterhood?”
Are you glad to see Christian women being real and showing that Christian’s aren’t perfect and don’t always fit into a stereotypical box?
Or, do you think this show might make a mockery of Christian women and wives of men in ministry?
Unlocking Femininity 
I definitely think that this is a mockery of Christianity. True, Christians are sinners who fall down and get up and are far from perfect but how these women portray the gospel is more likely to bring disrepute to Christ than encourage unbelievers to become Christians. Because of their position as preachers’ wives, they ought to be a city on a hill but their conduct fails to conform to God’s standards of modesty and femininity.
Just a thought though, I think if you really look carefully, you will note that there’s like a sort of agenda by the media to make Christianity look bad (although one may justifiably argue that Christians have done that all by themselves by being poor models of Christ in various matters). Just look at the number of shows and movies that have the hypocritical Christian character e.g. MTV’s Awkward, Saved, GCB, Easy A etc. That being said, I think that as Christians even though we struggle with the same sins and addictions that the world does, our struggle is raised up to the Cross of Christ and that is reason enough for us to look different from the world. Otherwise, how will we be the sweet fragrance to those who are being lost and those being saved? (2 Cor. 2:15)
I think the show gives the “secular world” a good ook at us “church folk” & see that we are human. We are just like you, we have struggles like you but through Christ we are able to overcome those obstacles. We as Christians can be too fake and we try too portray the church as being perfect , as if we don’t have issues that we deal with on a daily basis. Often times we tend to point the finger at others as if we have it all together and that it has ALWAYS been that way. The main and sole purpose of being a Christian is not about being the best dressed in church or even about going to church every sunday but it’s about saving souls and bringing the people to the church and allowing them to see that it’s okay to come as you are. Christ loves you just as much as He loves me and you don’t have to be perfect in order to live a holy life; but by allowing God to be the head of your life and each day strive to be Christ-like and being an open vessel for Him to use you in wharever way He chooses & this just maybe the way that God is using these women to reach the masses. So ” Church folk” stop pretending like we have it all together & put down your sword of judgement & do what you are called to do & that is to go out in the streets & witness to others about the greatness of the Lord & how He saved you!
I am a pastor’s wife and even though my husband and I have a good relationship, no one understands what it is like to be the spouse of a pastor unless they live it. The pressures and expectations are tremendous and a loyal pastor’s spouse doesn’t air their dirty laundry therefore, most of the time they don’t have a trustworthy support network. They have all the same problems that are commonly found in lay marriages except they are held to a higher standard a lot of times, higher than the expectations of our Lord and Savior.
I have not seen the show yet but one thing to keep in mind is that first and foremost this is a money making show. The only reason these types of shows get on the air is to make a profit. Having said that, the more provocative and eye catching, the better. I would venture to say that although this is a reality show, it’s not real. Will there be episodes revealing the true devastation that occurs daily in the lives of our pastors’ and their families? A wife who is so “done” with church that she has isolated herself and withdrawn form the community and feels so disconnected from God she wonders if she is really a Christian? Caring for a wife who has cancer for the third time and isn’t going to beat it? Calling the police on your 16 year old son who is out of control? A marital breakup due to adultery with a congregant? Or how about the pain and agony of a troubled marriage and the wife who is isolated, lonely, depressed and is considering leaving her husband or worse yet, drugs and alcohol to soothe her weariness? These are real lives. The reality shows “pretend” to be real, but don’t come close to portraying the real brokenness in real families.