Pastors, like everyone else, need paid family and medical leave
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was shocked to find I had no paid leave or legal job protection.
“You have cancer.” These words ushered me into a wilderness of cancer treatment. The strengths and weaknesses of my sources of support—both personal and public—were exposed as my midlife identity shifted from competent caregiver to novice care receiver.
Prior to cancer, I saw the world through the eyes of the biblical character of Ruth, standing in the wilderness and pledging to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi. I was a care provider, and, as a pastor, I prided myself on my Ruth-like resourcefulness, diligence, and helpfulness to others. Now I was the one in need of care; I was Naomi. I resonated with her temptation to be bitter, her desire to go it alone, and her reluctant acceptance of help. I was humbled to hear family members and friends—as well as surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists—promise that wherever I went, they would go, too. Personally, I had support.
Publicly, though, the sources of help for a clergy member in a medical crisis were murkier. I thought I knew my stuff. My professional background serving as chief operation officer for a hospice organization gave me ample knowledge about medical leave. As a researcher and writer, I had published many articles and even a book about the need for paid family leave, mandatory sick leave, and flextime on a state and federal level.
