Communication, faith help community bridge differences

Fort Morgan Times
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
By Jenni Grubbs

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Fort Morgan is a very diverse community, with people of a wide range of ethnicities and beliefs.
This sometimes can lead to conflict, but bridging the gaps is one of the things the Morgan County Ministerial Alliance seeks to do.

They do this by counseling their congregations about the need to communicate messages of love with those around them and by being a part of group efforts, like the No2Hate initiative, to spread No2Hate was created by OneMorgan County and the city of Fort Morgan to push back against a small element in the area that was striking out against the East African refugee community.

While the hate crimes earlier this year were small, targeted instances of vandalism, they had a big impact, creating the fear and feelings of unwelcomeness the perpetrators likely intended.

No2Hate provided a way for people to contribute money to help repair what the vandals damaged, but also a way to get the community talking — including at the city's various churches.

The Ministerial Alliance is part of that effort, with the pastors talking with their congregations about love, compassion, tolerance and community, but also seeking donations for No2Hate.

"Collectively, our churches raised at least $2,261," Selena Wright, pastor at First Christian Church, said of the Ministerial Alliance members' churches. "I think they were excited to show that the actions of a few are not representative of the whole county."

During a recent Ministerial Alliance discussion on the topic, United Methodist Church Pastor Johnny Arrington said that while the victims of the vandalisms do not choose to worship at his church, the crimes "certainly struck at the heart, as a faith issue. It's heart-breaking to see a community, to see how we can not care for each other."

The Sanctuary Pastor Gary Meadows brought up that Hispanic members of his church had described going through similar things in the past as the East Africans were experiencing now.

"Years ago, they weren't allowed to eat in some restaurants," Meadows said.

He said that there still is not a very strong connection between the immigrant Somali community with his congregants.

"They're afraid to approach them, afraid to offend them," Meadows said. "Once we moved, we hoped there was a closer connection, but no."

Lutheran Church of our Redeemer Pastor Kaila Hochhalter said that some of her church members had asked what they could do.

"We've had conversations about how we can communicate with (the refugees and immigrants)," she said, adding that they talked about how they could "show God's love, show we're Christians."

"It's nice that we raised money, but I think people are hungry to bridge some gaps with their neighbors," Wright said.

"It's Christ in us that says, 'I gotta do something,'" Arrington said. "Prayer is a "great place to start, but it's a two-way street, though. We just flounder and flop sometimes."

Hochhalter said that the proclamation of common values, which the Ministerial Alliance recently adopted, was another good place to start.

"That proclamation recognizes how we are all human," she said. "That proclamation that we voted on as the Ministerial Alliance recognizes that we're all Christian. Sometimes we have to remember that that is where we all have our humanness. It recognizes that we're human, and how we can grow off of that."

"I think fear is something that all humans have," St. Charles Episcopal Rev. Lyn Burns said, adding that everyone had different comfort levels with the differences they see around them. "Just finding ways to reach out to those who are strangers" can be difficult, "but it is very biblical to reach out to those who need it most" when it is uncomfortable to do so.

She said that as an immigrant, she could identify with some of the challenges and problems the refugees and immigrants may be facing, but also with the strong desire to be here.

"We are the hosts," Burns said. "We ought to be welcoming them. If it were us going to Somalia, would we be willing to go introduce ourselves?"

Each of the Ministerial Alliance members acknowledged that they had heard negative or uncomfortable remarks among their congregations, but that there also were people seeking to find ways to overcome those fears and worries and build stronger faith communities.

"It's our duty as Christians to talk to people," Arrington said. "But that's not easy for everyone."

"We're great at welcoming visitors," Hochhalter said, but adding that can be more difficult with whose moving to this community.

"As Americans, we're good at meeting people where they," Burns agreed.

Hochhalter said she asks the members of her congregation if they know their family's own immigration story, including how far back it started and what traditions were brought over from an old country and what problems were faced. She said there often were similarities to be found with the new immigrants' stories.
"Maybe that's a way to bridge the gap," she said.

"Knowing that there's more than 38,000 Christian denominations, we're really good at dividing ourselves," Christ Congregational Pastor Greg Larsen noted.

But he also said that Christians were "really great at passing the peace," which is something Muslims do, too.
"I think we often forget that the God of Islam is the same as Christians and Judaism," Larsen said.

"In Islam, they recognize Jesus as a prophet, and they have great respect for Jesus," Hochhalter added. "I think too often all (people) hear about Islam in the news is terrorism."

She compared that to a Muslim person hearing about the Westboro Baptist Church's protests of military funerals as the only thing they knew of Christianity.

"We have to have conversations," Hochhalter said.

"It's so easy to stereotype," Burns said.

"It takes wisdom to cross cultural boundaries," Meadows agreed.

"I am so encouraged by this group in particular," Burns said. "I think our conversations have been so enlightening."

She said this provides the Ministerial Alliance members with new perspectives that they can pass on to their congregations.

"It's the same song with different dancers," Meadows said of the immigrants' and refugees' struggles. "My how hard it is when you can't communicate."

"And yet, 'love your neighbors' remains the same," Wright said.

"With all the diversity, love God, love your neighbors: It all comes back to that," Meadows agreed.

Contact Times Staff Writer Jenni Grubbs at [email protected], follow @JenniGrubbs on Twitter or check out tout.com/jennigrubbs

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