I’m Roman Catholic, so almost all of the ministers we’re exposed to are men, with a few exceptions - Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion is one of the very few. And of course, very few priests are married, though there are a few. I’m glad that we generally don’t have to deal with this issue.
My main concern would be that by the time a priest leaves seminary, they’ve had training in counselling married people, even though they know that they will remain single.
Do evangelical minsters get the same type of training?
And what will happen if a single minister dates?
Will they be a good role model for the members of their churches?
Will they parade a long row of women through their lives and the church?
If they get married, will their wives be of the same denomination?
And if they never gets married, will it be because they liked being single, or because they are hostile toward women, or because they’re afraid of a commitment?
Who will take the place of the minister’s wife, who often runs women’s prayer groups, organizes events, etc.
I can see why churches shy away from single people where the norm is a married man.
Ahh, yes! The ministry, about the only profession, other than the military, where the employer still gets a twoffer: an employee, and an accompanying slave, for one low wage...and includes the wife's performance, covertly or even overtly, in the husband's performance evalutions.