From the time we graduated from seminary and were married, I have been extremely blessed to serve alongside my wife in vocational ministry in the churches of which we have been a part. She is a wonderfully talented woman with passion and love for God and His people. Her pursuit of sharing the grace and peace of Jesus has taken her all over the world — in fact, to over forty nations. She can teach you about Chomsky and Dostoevsky, mid-century design and molecular gastronomy. Despite enduring much hardship in her life, she is extremely compassionate — often empathetic to a fault. She is a gifted preacher, having spoken around the country, and a talented worship leader, even being featured on a worship album.

And yet, in our years of ministry together, she is often seen as “the pastor’s wife.” Without taking anything away from the many faithful women who have been pastor’s wives, my wife is a pastor. In all honesty, she is more qualified for the task of vocational ministry than I am — and yet, while many people have no problem addressing me as “pastor” (which, in the hierarchical Korean American church, is an issue of respect and directly affects a person’s ability to lead) others struggle to afford my wife the same inherent respect.

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