Children of pastors (PK’s) are commonly stereotyped in one of two different ways: either they are seen as the model child, or as the prodigal (Barna Group, 2013). The model child is perceived as sheltered and naïve, with expectations placed on them to follow in their parents’ footsteps of faith and practice. The rebel is perhaps the more common stereotype, where children of pastors are seen as having negative feelings toward their father’s position, and wanting to make their own mark on the world and find their own faith journey. The purpose of this study was to determine if either of these stereotypes, or other unifying factors, were present and continuing into their college years. We interviewed 15 college students at a Midwestern Christian university, whose fathers were pastors of medium sized churches (200 to 500 members). While each student interviewed commented on expectations from society in general, their personal experiences varied between the two stereotypical extremes. Apart from the acknowledgement of the stereotypes themselves, we found no major themes common to a majority of the students. This leads us to believe that the widely-held stereotypes about pastor’s kids are not accurate or complete. It appears that these students are very much like their non-PK peers, varying to the same degree in their faith and life journeys, family dynamics, and social interactions
