With each new week, many of us face the never-ending question: “How was your weekend?” I find this much easier to answer some weeks than others. This weekend was particularly tough to sum up, because it contained such high highs and low lows. My wife and I went out to dinner with some delightful friends who were in town, and we rocked out at a Brandi Carlile concert. So much fun! But also a dear family member continues to fight a terrible battle with cancer.
The Century’s recent content is resonating with me in this complicated personal moment. We have pieces that tackle difficult issues, like the need for systemic change in denominations and the anti-labor tendencies of many Christian schools. But we also have an absurdly charming poem about praying for dogs, along with a heartfelt tribute to the late Ron Sider. And our video of the week is a really helpful chat with Amy Ziettlow about the struggle for paid leave in churches.
I hope there’s something here that will speak to you no matter what kind of moment you’re in.
“What structures in our churches must change in order to become open to those beyond our ministry’s present line of sight? A change in physical structures? A change in decision-making structures? A change in cultural structures? All of the above?”
“And so at night I find myself in prayer
like this: Oh, Lord of endless mercy, Lord
of grace and wonder please bring healing down
to Cupcake and to Captain Fluffyface. . . .”
Jon chats with Amy—pastor, author, and activist for paid medical and family leave. She tells us more about her own journey and the struggle for paid leave in the church.
“The events that were about to unfold would end up transforming legal precedents for religious exemptions in the academic workplace, threatening the already precarious situation of workers at many Christian educational institutions.”
