Peg Kerr's Journal

I had mentioned in June that I was going on a seven-week furlough at work, in which I was going to be working half time. Now that this seven-week furlough is over, the staff has finally been told what I have known since the beginning of June: unlike all the other people who were furloughed on staff and who are now back full-time, my furlough is permanent. I will continue to work only sixteen hours a week for the Minneapolis Area Synod. Of course, tithes to churches drop as people lose their jobs, and churches, in turn, cannot give as much to the synod, which is how the synod gets its income. Therefore, cuts needed to be made, and my job seemed the logical choice to face the ax first. My job is (was) half candidacy and half administration/hospitality. With COVID, we are not doing on-site meetings or needing to greet people with an on-site receptionist. Therefore, the administrative portion of my job seemed the logical choice to face the ax first.

I am cutting my own costs all I can, of course, and taking other steps to try to make ends meet. I have consulted with my financial advisor, and I do have resources I can draw upon. I may have to look for an additional job for one or two days a week. I probably will also investigate the feasibility of claiming social security survivor benefits: I am eligible to claim Rob's now that I am over the age of 60, although the benefits would be reduced if I claim them at this point, i.e., so young and still working part-time.

I am also thinking about trying to write for publication again, although I've been out of the market for over twenty years.

I am glad that I will be able to continue to work for the synod in at least some capacity. I know that my boss and my supervisor deeply regret this situation, too. Otherwise...yeah.

I am trying to be gracious about this. I am really trying to be gracious. Really. Trying. Trying so hard. Obviously, it's nobody's fault that my job ended up getting singled out.

But I loved my job and the people I worked with, and I hoped to be doing it and supporting myself comfortably this way until retirement.

This sucks.