Question: Can you share a bit about your personal faith journey and how you came to be involved with the United Methodist Church?
Rush Harding: I grew up in the Delta community of Clarendon, Arkansas. My family always attended the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon. To this day, it is a beautiful, vibrant church. My parents were very disciplined and achievement-oriented. You could never miss a Sunday, and each year on promotion Sunday, I was so excited to get my perfect attendance pin. I had 17 when I graduated from high school. My minister was “Pop” Robinson, a former boxer and coach, who mentored the young men of our church with an outstanding acolyte program. Being a dutiful member of the church and being involved in making our community and school a better place was ingrained in me from an early age. My wife and I continue this tradition by being members at FUMC LR.
Question: What role has the church played in your life over the years—spiritually, personally, or socially?
Rush Harding: Our church has been the bedrock for me in every facet of my life. The altar at FUMC in Clarendon is my “holy ground.” When confronted with problems that seem enormous and daunting, I always find solace with a drive home to kneel and pray for guidance and wisdom. The same is true for FUMC LR. Linda and I were married there. Our children were all baptized there. Our most steadfast friends and relationships are centered there. When the tumult of life comes, our church has always been our safe place where we are understood and valued and forgiven and nurtured.
Question: Were there any pivotal moments or people in the church that shaped your commitment?
Rush Harding: Winston Faulkner recruited me to join FUMC LR in 1976. I was fresh out of college and worked with Winston. As a young man in his formative years, I was so fortunate to be around men like John Riggs, Tyndall Dickinson, Dick Butler, Craig Wood, Martin Borchert, Bill Bowen, Winston, and others. To see firsthand how these men led their church and their families and their businesses impacted me in a meaningful way. I wanted to be like them and lead like them.
Question: What inspired you to give to the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church?
Rush Harding: My wife and I are givers. At the top of our list are institutions and organizations that have impacted our family and make our community a better place to live. We really believe in higher education and “all things Methodist!” When the Bishop met with us and shared her vision, we responded. That is what we do.
Question: Is there a particular ministry, mission, or aspect of the church’s work that resonates deeply with you?
Rush Harding: I like the fact that when there is a need, whether it is local or nationwide or global, the United Methodist Church ALWAYS shows up. And we don’t judge and we don’t list conditions and we don’t do background checks, we are there to help. We meet people right where they are spiritually without regard to race or gender or ethnicity.
Question: What impact do you hope your contributions will have on the church and its mission?
Rush Harding: The United Methodist Church has had a struggle the last several decades primarily over a single issue. This all came to a crescendo recently with the disaffiliation of many of our churches. It is heartbreaking that this has happened but we must go forward. I think it is time for the United Methodist Church to celebrate who we are and proclaim our commitment to what we believe. We are an inclusive church that welcomes everyone. And we want to be involved in the solutions that plague our communities like hunger and homelessness and racial division.
Question: How do you envision the church evolving in the coming years?
Rush Harding: I think the tide will turn. Our message of inclusiveness and tolerance has to be appealing to young people. Many of our more evangelical friends think we are soft on sin and soft on rigid biblical standards. I don’t think we are “soft” on sin, I think we are committed to forgiveness and understanding. For me and mine, we need forgiveness, we need understanding. We need to worship in a place where we can question and grow and have the space to try and figure things out. I am thankful for the United Methodist Church where I can be nurtured and loved in spite of my shortcomings and failures and missteps as I navigate this journey of life.
Author’s note: We are extremely grateful for the gift that Mr. and Mrs. Rush Harding have given to the Arkansas Annual Conference to use for an “identity” campaign across the state of Arkansas. Look for #FollowingLovingSharing billboards in your area starting September 29, and an interactive grassroots social media campaign launching on October 15. For more information about this identity campaign, please visit https://arumc.org/following-jesus-loving-people-sharing-grace/