Last week, we had the wonderful opportunity to talk with John Rogers, an associate pastor at the First Congregational Church of Montclair. We got his take on hate and hate crime and also discussed some contemporary issues. A couple minutes into the conversation it was obvious that he was someone who is dedicated to making the world a better place and teaching the youth to be more accepting and open minded. We learned a lot from John and hope that you do too…

What would you say most motivates you to do what you do?

In my life, I found out I’ve been taught and formed in diverse and accepting communities and I want to pass that love on. As someone who is very much benefited from being part of communities of trust and ones dedicated to social justice, I feel honored to be in a position to help create those communities for young people and for members of the First Congregational Church

What is the goal of the FCC church and youth program?

For the Youth Community, to help cultivate young people that have open hearts, that can truly see the divine in their neighbor and have the kind of open mind where they learn a lot of different cultures, a lot of different ways of being. The guiding light for our the church community are Jesus’ great commandments; to love with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. We want to create space where folks can ask hard questions and seek Truth (in its many forms). In a world full of fake news and deception, we want to be a community where truth can be uplifted and can be explored in an open environment.

Why do you think hate is so widespread in our world today?

I think that there’s a lot of fear in our world today and fear left unchecked leads to hate. A lot of people profit off of perpetuating fear and if you aren’t a part of a community that can give another narrative it can be easy to fall into fearful mindset. When you are filled with fear I think you can see your neighbor as a threat—forgetting that we are all created in the image of God. No matter where we’re from, no matter how old we are, what gender, what sexual orientation, we are all children of God and therefore we belong to one another.

Where do you think the all the enmity of mankind comes from? Religion? Past experiences? Or is there a deeper meaning behind all the hatred that is happening today?

That’s a deep question. The creation stories in the Judeo-Christian tradition in the book of Genesis includes a myth that seeks to answer the question “why does humanity feel separated from its Creator, the land, and one another?” The story symbolizes that as human beings we can be very easy to put self-interest in front of the care for all of humanity. The history of the world shows that entire systems have been created – slavery being one striking example—where the interests of a few have meant sufferings and oppression for many. The Prophets in the various religious traditions have had to come and remind us that we belong to each other while demanding justice. When resources become tight and there feels like there is change all around it is the perfect time to share rather than compete and to learn from one another and not isolate ourselves based on differences. Where there is crisis there is always opportunity.

What do you think is the most appropriate way to go about, when teaching today’s youth not to hate others for their differences?

I think that anyone who has a privilege working with youth has the opportunity to bring our young people to different cultures. There are so many ways to educate. I found that exposing the youth group to all a lot of diversity creates a more trusting way of being in the world that isn’t afraid of difference. It makes them much more comfortable crossing boundaries and learning from people that might have the same background. partnership. If done with integrity and respect service trips can be another great opportunity to expose young people to cultures. During these trips, I’ve heard students realize that American way of life is not the only way of life. When our church went down to the Belize we worked with a Kekchi Maya Youth Group who had a connection to nature and the kind of joy that permeated their way of life that we found missing from American way of life in New Jersey.

What would you advise us, students?

Well if I was talking to other students I would get tell them to get to know you guys. I don’t have any advice to give you because you’re doing the work, already you’re going to get in a community where you’re learning from the wisdom of your spiritual tradition and you taking that wisdom and you’re putting it into action in your school. You’re finding very relevant ways of disseminating the important information against hate and creating community. This is really a model of the world that we want to see. Just keep doing what you’re doing and persevere.

Despite recent progress toward acceptance across America, the LGBT community in the Southern states continues to face significant barriers to equality, few states offer protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. How do you see it? Are you hopeful?

I think that it’s profoundly sad that in 2018 that were still facing such discrimination and close-mindedness. When people are full of fear it is like they are asleep or blinded to the beauty of their neighbor. Ultimately, the LGBTQ community in this country is an inspiration despite what they have faced. The movement towards marriage equality was incredible. The organizational structures within the LGBT community are very strong and very inspiring. As a person of faith, I believe that love ultimately wins, so I’m very hopeful.

What should we do to stop bullying? What action should we take?

I think that there’s power in numbers and power in communication, you know. If I had to go through school again, which would be tough, I guess I would be really intentional about understanding that if one of my classmates is really hurting, that hurts me too. This is a high ideal, but it’d be great if we could see every single day as an opportunity to look out for one another. It’s easier said than done, but I think that’s the ultimate the call. To not only to go through our day thinking what’s in my best interest but it’s in the best interest my school and my classmates. Facing these challenges is a wonderful opportunity to cultivate leadership. If you see somebody that’s being bullied, stand up for them in a small way or at least get a small number of people around to help. Because when you’re bullied, I think it can create a lot of shame and a lot of people suffer in silence, so if there is a kind of community that looks out for one another and then that can create more power for the person being targeted. Coming together shows there are more productive ways of relating to one another..
Cultivating empathy you know I think that is as important as developing skills in math, science, history, English, and whatnot. Educational and spiritual communities should be cultivating people that are truly able to feel for and with their neighbor.
It can just be so easy for the chain violence to continue. However, we have to break out of an eye-for-an-eye mentality. There are many teachings of seeing the world with more compassion. It is easy for us as people to be judgmental, but a lot of our spiritual teachings from various traditions teach us not to judge. If we can become very aware of the judgmental aspects that are within us, then we can have even more integrity when we tell other people “ it’s not right to judge this person is not right to bully this person/” If you live this way, then your voice can have much more weight, because you’ve done the hard work of trying to be less judgmental.

What are your thought about religious intolerance?

It’s frustrating and sad. I think that different religious communities have the potential to celebrate the diversity of human beings and our many wasy of worshiping God. But when that difference turns into my ways an only way, my ways are the right way, I think that it’s kind of losing sight of our common identity under one God.

Do you have anything you would like to add?

I think you all did a great job covering a lot of questions and it’s an honor to be able to participate in this and for other DoNotHate activities, we would love to support.

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