011: The Dance We're Fighting For: Sabbatical and Resistance in DC A Conversation on Rest, Resistance, and Ministry in Turbulent Times Podcast: The LOAM Podcast - A Conversation on a More Beautiful Gospel Hosts: Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina Episode Length: ~35 minutes Recording Context: First full day of federal government shutdown in DC, amid ICE raids, mass firings, and political turmoil Episode Summary After a long summer break, Anthony and Tonetta reunite to discuss Tonetta's sabbatical experience and what it means to do ministry in Washington, DC during a time of unprecedented crisis. This honest conversation explores the tensions between rest and resistance, pastoral care and prophetic action, and joy and suffering. Tonetta shares what surprised her about stepping away from ministry, while both hosts grapple with how progressive faith communities can stay awake to injustice without succumbing to burnout. "During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. And it was the dance that kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for." — Dan Savage Episode Highlights & Timestamps [00:00:00] Welcome Back & Sabbatical Energy Anthony and Tonetta reconnect after the summer break, with Tonetta bringing post-sabbatical energy and even downloading new apps. The conversation opens with the importance of listener feedback and sets the stage for discussing both sabbatical and ministry in crisis. [00:02:10] Sabbatical Interview Begins Anthony interviews Tonetta about her three-month sabbatical, exploring what she hoped for versus what actually happened. [00:03:22] What Were You Hoping For? Spending more time with her 3-year-old daughter before she started schoolExploring the theme of "home" after multiple moves in five yearsReading about place, gardens, and cultivating earthWhat didn't happen: organizing email and tech projectsDiscovery: Becoming very good at "puttering" - taking longer than expected to reach restful spaces The Bathrobe Moment: Anthony describes visiting Tonetta on a Sunday afternoon to find her in full sabbatical mode - in a bathrobe, completely at rest while her family attended church. [00:08:40] Chaos in the City, Rest at Home Did the intense summer in DC interrupt Tonetta's rest? Surprisingly, not much. She intentionally "holed up" in August knowing there would be plenty to do in September. As a Black queer woman in America, she notes that there's always suffering to be present to - but she won't survive if she stays constantly present to it. "I'm a black queer woman in America... when I have a chance to try to step away, I do. I won't survive if I just stay present to it consistently." On joy and resistance: Tonetta references Mary Oliver's poem "Don't Hesitate": "Joy is not made to be a crumb." When genuine joy happens, it is almost always appropriate to lean into it. [00:13:00] The Dance We Were Fighting For Discussion of Dan Savage's powerful quote about the AIDS crisis, and how it connects to T.S. Eliot's poetry about the Trinitarian dance. "At the still point of the turning world... at the still point, there the dance is." — T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets (Burnt Norton) Tonetta connects this to the idea that at the heart of the Trinity there is joy, love, and mutuality - and that the dance is what we're fighting for, the overflow of divine life. [00:14:41] What Did You Learn About Yourself as a Leader? Practicing Silence: Tonetta discovered the beauty of contemplative silence - not typical in the Pentecostal/charismatic spaces where she grew up. Learning to find God in silence at home, then recognizing that presence in unexpected quiet moments throughout the day. The Bible and Work: Tonetta realized how intertwined the Bible has become with her job. It's hard to approach Scripture in a lighthearted way when it's so associated with work. She started Lectio Divina but found herself wanting to "study" passages - which didn't feel good. A major takeaway: she needs to cultivate ways to disconnect the Bible from her work. Anthony's Lesson: Coming out of his own sabbatical, Anthony learned he has "two modes: uninvolved or in charge" - which is a problem. He had to learn to be okay with other people leading in ways he wouldn't, and that it won't hurt him. [00:18:09] What Did You Miss or Not Miss? The Surprise: Tonetta thought she'd visit synagogues, houses of worship, and connect with other church leaders. Instead, she just wanted to be home, pray, and listen to gospel music. Her family went to church while she "bathed in the silence." This gave her much more understanding and respect for congregants who want to step away from church sometimes. A congregant's response: "So now what you think is that we stay home to pray. I'm gonna just tell you that might not always be what we're doing, just to be clear." "My entire life I have been in gathered church spaces and I found it so ...
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