When hate targeted them, North New Jersey church witnessed the ‘best of the human spirit’

Henry Ward Beecher, the celebrated Congregational preacher, activist, and abolitionist who delivered the opening sermon in 1873 at the newly minted First Congregational Church of Park Ridge, New Jersey, once said, “We are always on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things.”

A 152 years later, First Congregational would discover just how prophetic Beecher’s words were: This past Lent, the congregation found themselves on a proverbial anvil, facing the trial of a social media hate campaign over a pride flag.

According to the Rev. Dr. Mark Suriano, pastor of First Congregational, a parent picking up her child from Girl Scouts — one of the five community groups that meet in the church building — was offended by the flag and posted a picture on social media along with a message stating how the flag supports pedophilia. The parent, Suriano said, is also a member of the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a political organization that advocates against school curricula that mention LGBTQ rights, race and ethnicity, and critical race theory.

“We never had a problem like this in Park Ridge. We tend to get along with one another,” said Suriano, noting that the church’s open and affirming stance and his own orientation are no secrets. “I’ve been serving this community for years,” he added.

Hate becomes the new norm

Suriano had just arrived at the church Saturday morning to organize for worship the next day when a text by a member of his congregation notified him of the social media flag post. Both began monitoring the chatter closely.

“All of this is not normal on normal days, but these days we are in now, I wanted to pay closer attention,” said Suriano.

Others were also paying attention, including the Rev. Freeman L. Palmer, conference minister for the Central Atlantic United Church of Christ Conference. Like Suriano, Palmer was both dismayed and disarmed.

“It’s not like something like this doesn’t happen to churches that are open and affirming, but for this to happen in a part of New Jersey where we thought was safe is a reminder that we are in a very different climate now. We can no longer take our freedoms for granted,” said Palmer.

Park Ridge is in Northern New Jersey just outside of New York City.

For Suriano, it wasn’t until a comment about taking a match to the church appeared that he knew he had to contact the police. Luckily, the pastor, who at this point was reeling with holy rage, didn’t have to make that call himself.

A couple from First Congregational, concerned by that same comment as well, was already at the police station filing a complaint. Police then contacted local detectives as well as the Bergen County prosecutor’s office.

“Threats against a religious institution require the prosecutor to be involved,” Suriano explained.

What was left for the pastor to do was let the wider congregation know that steps were being taken to ensure safety during Sunday worship. Suriano also assured his flock that staying home was a respectable option.

It was an option no one chose.

‘The path forward is covenantal’

Rather giving into fear, the congregation poured into the pews on Sunday morning — along with 50 Park Ridge residents from various walks of life and members from four neighboring UCC churches.

“People rallied around the congregation,” said Palmer. “I couldn’t be in New Jersey physically, but when I joined online for worship and saw how packed the sanctuary was — it was such a beautiful thing. The Park Ridge community lifted their voices when they needed to be lifted.”

For the Rev. Craig Petersen, Central Atlantic’s associate conference minister for congregational development, who works closely with its New Jersey congregations, Park Ridge was a shining example of UCC’s covenantal theology at its best.

“We can’t go through these challenges alone. Being in covenant with one another gives us the strength and support we need. It’s scary the times we are living in, but we pull together,” said Petersen, adding, “The path forward is covenantal.”

The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President/CEO of the United Church of Christ, noted the response that neighboring congregations showed Park Ridge is “reflective of the depths of God’s love given to us.”

“Covenant is based on love and commitment to care for one another. This is the best of the human spirit and more importantly, the Spirit of God at work among us,” said Thompson.  

A new commitment to inclusivity

It is often said that one never knows what they truly believe until that belief if put to the test. For Suriano this “on the anvil” moment was a formative one for his congregation, even “providential.”

Right before all hell broke loose with one social media post, Suriano was meditating on what was next for his congregation. While the pastor would have liked the answer to have come in a gentler way, it was a pivotal moment of awakening for First Congregational.

“It brought about a new energy among us. Rather than receive this moment as ‘poor us,’ we see this moment as one that made us realize just how important it is to keep speaking the good news and showing radical inclusion,” said Suriano.

In addition to assessing building security and shoring up vulnerable areas, Suriano is also shoring up spiritual vulnerabilities. The church website now has a “spiritual resiliency” page featuring prayers and resources for finding strength and hope in trying times.

“What happened to us has given many in the congregation an awareness of the fear that so many people are living with these days. We are committed now more than ever to show up for one another,” said Suriano, adding, “We have the chance to decide now as people of God to stand in the river to make sure all our children get across safely. This is the charge we have: That we can amplify the voice of the marginalized.”

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