From July 13-16 the Green Party of the United States held its annual national convention at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Delegates from across the country gathered to do party business and to spend time in relevant breakout sessions to discuss pressing issues of our times.

As a new Green, and as one who hasn’t spent time before in a Green gathering such as this, there was something that occurred to me as I met current candidates and former candidates for office.

Green candidates have found their administrative potential, policy prowess, web of experts, desire for leadership by living and working in the crucible of justice, peace and in the commons. The vast majority of candidates I met have been teachers, public health care workers, community organizers, environmental scientists or protectors, activists or civil rights leaders. These candidates have become candidates because they have done work “down river” where the results of societies’ systematic problems can be felt. At some point they realized that until they impact the stream at its source they will always be busy healing wounds that shouldn’t have occurred in the first place. By the time they have this realization they have honed skills that make they ready to be politicians.

That’s also what happened to me.

I am running for office, as the Green candidate for governor of NJ, having been shaped in this crucible too. For me, the specific vocation that has opened my eyes to the unnecessary suffering of people in NJ has been that of pastor and founder of three community development corporations.

Through the work of the church and related non-profits I have been shaped for political administrative leadership. I have learned the issues, I have built a web of experts in fields who I trust to advise me, I have worked with faith communities across the spectrum of religions, written and pushed for bills at the state and federal level, and I have drawn close to communities impacted by state-sanctioned unjust or insufficient policies and practices related to race, criminal justice, immigration, environmental degradation, school funding, housing, taxation, health care, disabilities and foreclosures.

In New Jersey and across America I hope to see a new pool of leaders rise up as politicians. There is no reason for us to be looking to the corporate-party bosses to groom candidates for leadership. We don’t need to wait around to be told who is part of the political-class, or who are options are for elected leadership. We can, instead, be the options. I would trust the skill-set of a housing-expert over that of a high roller in the world of corporate America any day. I would trust a community health center administrator over a health insurance mogul. Is that judgmental? You bet it is. Not all crucibles are equal when it comes to shaping people to understand what is needed in the commons.

Thanks, Green Party, for what you’re teaching me. Let’s find the candidates for political office in the places where they are being shaped to bring about a more beautiful world.

Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale

HIGHLAND PARK