Signs urging kindness show up in Findlay

FINDLAY — Just as the latest crop of political signs is popping up in yards across the city, so are placards advocating the Golden Rule. Its part of a new Kindness Campaign that First Presbyterian, St. Andrew's United Methodist, St. Marks United Methodist and Journey at Christ churches are participating in, said Leslee Kirkconnell, director of Connectional Ministry at First Presbyterian Church. "The whole thing is 'do unto others' because the Golden Rule is something all religions share, and a lot of people who aren't religious. Let's treat each other like we want to be treated," she said. "We don't have to agree on everything, but we can treat each other kindly." The campaign is a grassroots movement launched by Resurrection, a United Methodist Church in the Kansas City, Kansas area, to be intentional about treating one another with kindness, even those with whom we disagree. The Rev. Adam Hamilton is the pastor. "It's a huge multi-campus church, and he's actually very prolific and has some wonderful curriculum materials that we've used in different places," she said. "This is a way to kind of address how divisive we are right now, and that you and I can be on different spectrums and the way that people can get being entangled with each other and not listening." You're never going to drive out hate with hate, added Kirkconnell. "And we may never change some people's minds, but at least we can treat them kindly and leave it in God's hands for some people," she said. Resurrection church began the Campaign for Kindness during the 2020 presidential election. "Just looking at their materials I think it's inspiring because I think sometimes there's nothing quite as polarizing as religion and politics," said the Rev. Amy Miller, lead pastor at St. Andrew's. "So to be able to bring those things together and figure out how we lead with kindness and lead in the way of Jesus, it just kind of all made sense for us." And even though the campaign started during the last presidential election, Miller said the information can be used at other times. "The materials are so good. It's just common sense stuff like loving as Jesus loved. And so I think several churches in the area have kind of grabbed onto that and they're doing the series as part of that," she said. Kirkconnell said special signs were printed for congregation members to display in their yards. "We've encouraged people to take the yard signs and I've seen them popping up in other areas," she said. First Presbyterian Church's signs read "Do Unto Others," while St. Marks' signs says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" on one side and "Kindness" on the reverse side. "So yes, I have my political stuff in my yard, but I also have the kindness signs," Kirkconnell said. "I also have another one I got from another person that says 'Let's be neighbors.' It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from." Kirkconnell said she's used social graphics, art work and videos from Resurrection church. And recently they put out a list of 30 acts of kindness in 30 days. She designed a meme that goes out on First Presbyterian's Facebook page every day. "People are really tuning into that. So it's just different things like take a walk in your neighborhood and pray for each house, leave the largest tip you can for a server, just simple things," she said. "So I just made it a campaign every day." The church started its Kindness program two weeks ago, while Miller said the four-week campaign starts Sunday at St. Andrew's. "Each bulletin will have a card that says my idea of an act of kindness is …," she said. The church will take those ideas and make a list of their own acts of kindness. "We'll share that and we'll say, for the next 30 days, here are these acts of kindness you came up with. What would it look like for you to do these in your daily life?" said Miller. "Hopefully they come up with good ideas and hopefully people do it." Along with the campaign, the church is also conducting a study called "The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics." "So it's kind of nice to have both the sermon series and something else kind of running alongside so we feel like we can equipment people to think more critically about some of these things," Miller said. If nothing else, she said, it may help remind people of things everyone wants. "I think we want to be treated well. I think for most of us, we want to treat other people with kindness and generosity. But when you feel passionately about a subject, you have to kind of remind yourself to live in the way that Jesus lived," she said. Kirkconnell said even within the church there are a variety of opinions. "But I've always looked at it for me as a professional, whatever that means, in ministry that I'm here to work with you and for you. And my opinions are mine, yours are yours and we can talk. But at the end of the day, we're still family in the church and let's just be kind to each other," she said. The campaign will run through the General Election in November at First Presbyterian, she said. To date, about half of the 100 signs ordered have been taken by congregation members. St. Andrew's plans to focus on the Kindness Campaign for four weeks, said Miller. "We are not talking about specific issues. We are not talking about the Christian stance on abortion or taxes or immigration," she said. "We're simply looking at what it looks like to live with kindness and love and how can you enter into a space with people you passionately disagree with but still see them as a human being."