Preacher's kid

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The phrase preacher's kid (often PK) is commonly used to refer to a child of a preacher, pastor, deacon, or other similar church worker. Although the phrase can be used in a purely descriptive way, it is often used pejoratively or stereotypically. It is mainly used in the United States.

Children of church leaders are often subjected to greater scrutiny by the community than other children. People around them, including their parents, often set higher moral and behavioral standards for these children. Due to the greater visibility of these children, their mistakes are magnified and given extra attention. In addition, these children often sense that they are treated differently from others and react in various disruptive ways.

All of these factors lead to a preacher's kid stereotype. There are two general stereotypes of preachers' kids.

Stereotype one: Preachers' kids act as if they are "holier-than-thou." They preach their beliefs to anybody they encounter. They do not like to be wrong about what they preach, even in the opinions of others.

Stereotype two: Preachers' kids start out as good, faithful children, but anywhere from their preteen years to their adult life, they rebel. They do anything they can to avoid the church and its practices. They may deny their parents outright or they may be rebellious behind their parents' backs.

[edit] Origins

The main reason people focus attention on the preacher's kids can be found in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 which talks about the requirements for a pastor (bishop, elder, or overseer in some versions).

"He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)" (NIV)

One of the ways a community can judge a pastor is by the way their children behave. Thus added responsibility is weighed upon the children, as they can be judged by their words, actions, whether implied or factual; they also must behave not only in the church, but in their schools, communities, anywhere where they meet people who are part of the community the church is established.