Among the bishops’ spouses at the Lambeth Conference are around a dozen priests, including one man. Amongst them is Patsy McGregor, ordained in the Anglican Church in Kenya. But, following her husband’s call to serve as a bishop in Madagascar, she now lives in a country which doesn’t recognise the ministry of women priests. Despite this she continues to serve as a missionary as a ‘guest in God’s country’. She told her remarkable story to Gavin Drake.

Patsy McGregor was clear. She wasn’t being called to be a missionary. She was being called to be her husband’s wife. He was being called to be a missionary and so she would go with him.

She is now equally clear. If anything ever happened to her husband she would remain in on the mission field to spread God’s word and ‘help westerners to see what God is doing all over the world.’

Patsy met her husband Todd in a church in her home-state of Florida where they were both going through seminary. She knew he was going to be involved in Christian ministry but hadn’t initially realised this meant working as a missionary.

‘Tom and I felt called to go to Madagascar when we were both going through seminary. We went to the Episcopal Mission Agency and I remember them interviewing both of us individually.

‘They said to me: “can you tell me about your call to mission?”

‘And I said: “me? My call to mission? I don’t have a call to mission! But my husband has a call to mission and I strongly believe that I am called to be my husband’s wife and therefore I have a call to mission.”’

Patsy and Todd went to Madagascar in 1991 and spent their time teaching at St Paul’s Theological College, building 11 new churches including the Cathedral in Mahajanga and church-planting the Ravinala Community; building nine health clinics; founding lay ministry school.

In 2002 the couple moved to Kenya so their two daughters, Corbi and Charese, could go to boarding school. While there Todd served as director of mission and evangelism in northern Kenya taught church growth, evangelism, and leadership at St Paul’s United Theological College in Limuru. Patsy managed and expanded the St Julian’s retreat and conference centre. While in Kenya Patsy pursued ordination, answering a call which began in a dream back in Madagascar. She was ordained by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi as a priest in the Anglican Church of Kenya in September 2006.

Around the same time Todd was elected as the first bishop of the new diocese of Toliara back in Madagascar. He was consecrated in December 2006 and the pair returned to Madagascar in 2007.

‘We’re opening a brand new area, a brand new diocese the size of Texas, which I believe is around the same size as Great Britain. He has 1,000 miles of coastland and right now he has four clergy which has doubled since he got there, he came with two. And he has five permanent churches. When he went it was only one permanent church.’

Madagascar is part of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean, which doesn’t, at present, ordain women to the priesthood. But this is not something that concerns Patsy too much. She finds the economic contrast between her experiences in the United States and their life in Madagascar a much bigger challenge.

‘The real challenge lies for me in how to represent both sides of the economical scale with grace and dignity. Because when I go back to the US I go to a diocese that is very wealthy, in the Gold Coast of Florida. Sometimes when I go back to Florida I live with friends in the inter coastal with a pool and a whirlpool and a boat in my back yard; and then I go to Madagascar and I’m in a slum in the ninth poorest country in the world where they live of a dollar a day. And in order to receive that income they sell the water bottles that I drink out of.

‘So it’s very much of a challenge to be in both environments and to treat each group, each community with respect and dignity. Living in a slum in the ninth poorest country in the world as a North American westerner is a very big challenge for me.’

Patsy’s original call to the mission field was not to be a missionary but to support her husband. Having now spent 18 years in Africa she is now convinced that this is what God has called her to be.

‘You know we all wonder how we get our call to follow Christ. Sometimes people get the voice of God speaking to them and sometimes it comes more through process and discovering our responsibility; and that’s how it’s come for me.

‘We always have to go to the hard places, we always have to think about death on the mission field because we risk our lives to be there; especially in northern Kenya where my husband had to travel with armed guards. And I can say now that if something were to happen to my husband I would remain on the mission field in order to be that bridge and to allow westerners the opportunity to see what God is doing all over the world.’

This commitment to serve what she calls the poorest of the poor comes despite the luxury lifestyle awaiting her back home in Florida; and despite the fact being married to this particular Anglican bishop means living in a slum rather than a grand palace.

In fact, she describes her experience as being ‘guests in God’s country’ and says the vast difference in the wealth of the two communities she know and loves the most strengthens her resolve to serve in Africa - even though her priesthood is not - yet at least - recognised in Madagascar.

‘I believe I’m doing the work and ministry even without my collar. I disciple women, I lead a contemporary worship service on Saturday evening for the youth, I play guitar, sing and teach English through the Scriptures.

‘I do see it being resolved and they’re in the discussion process. I think it’s just a matter of time and not a long period of time either.

‘In God’s eyes we’re the priesthood of believers and we’re all equal in his sight. He just wants us to spread his Word.’

• The McGregors have set a series of difficult targets for the new missionary Diocese of Toliara, including building 30 new churches within 10 years; building a secondary school and multi-building training centre, provide support and assistance for families in the diocese and the construction of the first cathedral in southwestern Madagascar, complete with bishop’s residence and guest house. You can find out more about their amazing ministry at www.peoplereaching.org.