'Hate Has No Business Here'

Recently, I saw this poster, “Hate Has No Business Here” at an elementary school. It was refreshing to see these words while children from different cultures played on the playground. Boys and girls wearing stocking and baseball caps, braided ponytails, and hijabs, filled with energy, running and laughing - playing - what beautiful sounds together they made.

The poster (which can be downloaded from mainstreetalliance.org or discussed at #hatehasnobizhere) specified: “We stand with our LGBTQ community members. We stand with Muslims, refugees and immigrants in our community. All are welcome here.”

Like many churches, we say that “All are welcome here,” but we don’t usually specify. We assume people know that “all” means “all.” Specifics matter, however, especially to people who have been told they are not welcome in places, such as churches. So, I downloaded the poster. Now, where to put it…

In the aftermath of Orlando’s devastating massacre in a gay nightclub, I believe specifics matter even more. To be clear, I stand with gay, lesbian, transgendered and queer/questioning people. Churches and religions that condemn people for being LGBTQ contribute to their targeted harm. Hate has no business in the United Church of Christ. My church will be hosting a transgender ally training, Sunday, June 26, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., so that we may better stand with transgendered people who are too often discriminated against, or the victims of violence. All are indeed welcome.

Orlando’s massacre may have been due to multiple factors: homophobia, radical Islamic terrorism, or perhaps mental illness/anger management issues, coupled with easy access to military-style assault weapons. It took about zero minutes for partisan politics to begin debating these matters. Yawn.

Entrenched debates guarantee nothing will change. Where will the next mass shooting occur? I wonder if discreet odds makers in Las Vegas bet on such things.

Pastors I work with from Oakland and Compton know what it is like to hold young people as they die from gunshot wounds. They remind us of the words of Dante Alighieri, “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”

John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. liked to use variations of Dante’s quote. King added, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

Blindly protesting and defending partisan positions is not the solution. History shows that conquering a deadly epidemic requires research to understand the factors involved. It has proven difficult to acquire and utilize public health data, given political stalemates, but we need good research and to hear from the prophetic voices of science, wound care professionals, and pastors who witness to this national epidemic. Tears and prayers are not enough. We need to understand the factors involved and do what we can to eliminate suffering. We are not outnumbered. There is more love than hate in the world, but too often we have been a divided people, weakened by divisiveness, helpless and hopeless, and outmaneuvered at making positive change. My faith teaches me that God uses people to do impossible things. God had chores for Moses, Elijiah, Jesus, and I believe you and me as well.

Non-partisan diverse interfaith organizations like People Improving Communities Through Organizing (PICO) can assist in grassroots efforts to understand and begin to take down big Goliath problems. Being among diverse people in a PICO gathering feels sacred as we come together on the things we agree on, like decreasing hate and victims of gun violence. You can learn more at piconetwork.org, or by contacting me. All are indeed welcome and necessary.

Blessings, Pastor Nancy

No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here!

The Tehachapi Congregational Church is an open and welcoming community of faith that believes that each person, created in the image of God, holds a piece of the truth. Therefore we respect each person’s unique spiritual journey. We invite you to experience the difference that religious freedom in a caring community can make in that journey.