Dear friends and members of University UMC:
On this Labor Day weekend, I pray you are enjoying some fun and rest. I also challenge us to view Labor Day through the lens of John Wesley’s understanding of social holiness—which is to say: love manifested in the pursuit of the good and well-being of others. Vacation and rest are important for everyone, but oftentimes they are reserved only for those who sit in places of privilege and power.
The United Methodist Church is clear in its conviction that all people deserve dignity and justice in the workplace. In early twentieth-century America, poor labor conditions prompted the Methodist Church of the time to pen a social creed. First drafted in 1908, this creed called for an end to child labor, a fair wage, and safety standards. Below you’ll find a few resources to observe Labor Day, including a video about this early creed.
As we observe Labor Day, it’s a good time to reflect on the ways we can advocate for and support low-wage workers. I remember reading "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich years ago. Ehrenreich is the reason I leave tips behind in hotel rooms for those who clean the rooms. I know it doesn’t change the course of the universe, but it’s a small thing I can do as I consider the challenges low-wage workers face.
