One of the ways that pastors develop support for themselves is building friendships with other pastors that they can occasionally talk to about what they are experiencing in their ministry. Except by accident, that sort of shared colleagueship rarely happens among pastor families. The presbytery could take some steps towards facilitating those relationships by setting up some shared lunches or dinners.
A staff member could find a mutually convenient time for three or four pastors and spouses to meet with him or her for lunch or supper. At that meal, the conversation could be directed towards recognizing the pressures on families and sharing strategies that different couples have found that help them cope with the pressures. So that the conversation does not become a negative experience of complaining, it would also be helpful to also ask for some of the satisfactions that each have had in participating in the ministry as families.
In this era of budget woes, it is unlikely that the presbytery could pay the bill for many such meals but they could contribute the effort of arranging for the agreed upon place and time. While it would not always happen, it could also provide the possibility that some of the couples might develop continuing supportive friendships.
