Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Amie Knowles stands with three crosses at a country church in Pittsylvania County. (Kody Knowles/Dogwood)

By Amie Knowles

The Archbishop of Canterbury leads the Church of England—and for the first time in the practice’s 1,400-year history, that role went to a woman.

On March 25, 63-year-old Dame Sarah Mullally began her public ministry in the position, an appointment originally announced last October. She now serves as both the head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the international Anglican Communion—groups that, together, make up approximately 100 million people worldwide. 

Online, many people congratulated her, citing her former work as a cancer nurse, progressive views, and a pro-age approach to starting a new chapter. Others, however, raised questions and concerns about a woman taking the helm of a Christian denomination.

Sadly, the latter reaction is one I’ve seen time and time again in rural Virginia communities—and in a multitude of Christian denominations. Churches in Stuart, Martinsville, Danville, Chatham, and more have duked it out, tossed scripture around like confetti, and picked out verses to fit their agendas. And I say that as a devout Christian woman myself who absolutely adores church.

Here’s what I discovered when I looked at the cultural and historical context of a biblical passage oftentimes improperly used to degrade and diminish women. 

Dear Grace,

My sister just broke up with her boyfriend and is now staying with me. She’s my sister, and I love her, but she’s rude, bossy, and self-absorbed. She uses the last of my milk without replacing it, leaves crumbs on the counter, and borrows my clothes without asking. But what bothers me the most is that I feel like she is always using me.

How do I tell her she can’t stay here forever? How do I deal with her while she’s here?

— Stressed Out Sister in the Sticks

Dear Stressed Out in the Sticks,

First, let me say this: you’re being a wonderful sister. It brings me so much hope to see women supporting women, like you are with her. Opening your home to someone going through a breakup is no small thing—it’s messy, emotionally intense, and as you’re discovering, can turn your whole life upside down. It’s completely normal to feel stretched thin.

Here’s something people don’t talk about enough: the price of strong relationships is inconvenience. Real love means showing up when it’s hard. But that doesn’t mean you have to absorb rudeness or disrespect while you’re helping. She is struggling, and she is not the best version of herself right now. That doesn’t mean you can’t lovingly set boundaries. Here’s some advice to help you both get through this tough season….

Whether it’s an increase in property taxes, the grocery bill, paying at the pump, or something else, we want to know: What expense has increased the most for you recently?

Down here in the Southside, I’d say gas prices and overall inflation are having some of the larger impacts—at least for my little always-on-the-go family. This month, we’re swapping one of Colton’s sports due to timing, distance, and a price increase and replacing it with something closer, cheaper, and just as active. 

Let me know what you’re experiencing in your part of Virginia at amie@couriernewsroom.com. 

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