7 Questions with Mister Rogers' Close Friend and Personal Minister; as the Fred Rogers Documentary Hits Theaters

Josh Shepherd : Jun 28, 2018
Stream.org

Really, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was about love. Fred lived and embodied First Corinthians 13 on his program, showing how love is the greatest lesson. He did the same in his books. He did it in the more than 60 commencement addresses he gave during his lifetime. -Reverend George Wirth

[Stream.org] This past weekend, a new documentary on Fred Rogers titled "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" hit number ten at the box office. Celebrating the pioneering children's TV host and his conservative values, the film has now grossed over $4 million. On Friday, it will expand to 500 theaters nationwide. (Screengrab: via 'Won't You Be My Neighbor'/YouTube)

With rare interviews of Rogers, animated vignettes and an in-depth look at his long-running PBS show, the innovative biopic has received glowing reviews from across the cultural spectrum. It's also made fans in surprising corners, such as liberal comedian Sarah Silverman.

Sarah Silverman-Tweet:

@SarahKSilverman
He's a Republican, he's a devout Christian, and he's my hero
Every single person needs to go see WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, the Mr. Rogers doc.
You are the only one capable of being you

For generations, parents and educators have used Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as a teaching tool. Yet few realize Christian faith is what motivated Rogers, an ordained minister. It's an aspect the new documentary places front and center including segments with his close friend, Presbyterian minister George Wirth.

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" reveals that Fred Rogers' gentle persona had its breaking point—as when TV shows targeted children in crass, commercial ways. In an interview from Pittsburgh, Rev. George Wirth talks about their friendship, Rogers' faith and the secret of his success.

Making Friends at a Funeral

The Stream: When did your friendship with Fred Rogers begin?

Reverend George Wirth: In November 1983, there was a memorial service for a mutual friend of ours. Robert Holland had ministered at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in eastern Pittsburgh, which is where Fred lived and where his headquarters was—and still is.

This Presbyterian minister had died and I said the prayer in the service. Fred was all the way toward the back of the sanctuary, as I recall. About three hours later, I received a phone call from Mister Rogers.

He said, George, I was at Bob Holland's service. Your prayer was lovely, I could tell you really miss your friend. I wondered if you and I might get together just to talk about that. It was out of the blue, and I agreed. (Screengrab: via 'Won't You Be My Neighbor'/YouTube)

The next day we had lunch at one of his favorite restaurants, a place called Duranti's. The next three and a half hours, we talked, laughed, cried and prayed. He finally said: You know, I'm sad you lost such a good friend. Maybe you and I could become friends as well.

That was the beginning of our relationship that lasted until the day he died in 2003.

The Stream: How would Rogers contrast popular children's entertainment with his show?

Wirth: Seeing all the craziness that is on television—throwing pies into other people's faces, flashy editing, loud noises and the like—it was painful for Fred. He knew children don't respond to all that chaos.

Children prefer a more natural, low-key relationship with whoever is on the television set. Fred was deliberate. He would look children in the eye through that TV screen, use a soft voice and speak words of affirmation: "I like you just the way you are."

The Fred that I would have lunch with, the Fred that I would talk and pray with, the Fred whom our family got to know, along with his wife—he was the same on his Neighborhood show. Nothing about him was affected, fake or play-acting.

It was the real Fred Rogers on television. Few in the entertainment industry are like him. There was an incarnational sense about Fred. He really had the spirit of the Lord pulsating in his soul.

Faith to Boldly Speak Truth

The Stream: How did Mister Rogers' Neighborhood address equality and race relations, which were contentious when the show premiered?

Wirth: Fred knew that people of all cultures and races are all God's creation. Particularly when his show began, for white people to respect black people and treat them with love and kindness was not common.

As we see in the movie, Fred chose François Clemmons, whom I know, to have an important role on the show. When Mister Rogers invites Officer Clemmons to soak his feet in that little pool, it was a big deal in 1969. Whenever a person of color was in the Neighborhood, Fred really made it clear: This person is a child of God. (Screengrab: via 'Won't You Be My Neighbor'/YouTube)

That was also true about women, as many starring in the show were female. Mister Rogers was very deliberate about the sense of equality, showing men and women being treated with respect. They're different but neither is better than the other.

The Stream: How did Fred Rogers integrate his faith into the show?

Wirth: Fred once gave me an insight into his television ministry.

He said, "The space between my mouth speaking and all the children hearing through television, that space is holy ground. George, I feel the same way when you preach. When you preach, the space between your mouth and the hearers in the congregation is holy ground."

No one had ever said those words to me. It changed the way I thought about being in the pulpit. I always knew there was a blessing involved if you are faithful in your preaching and teaching. I had never heard anyone describe it as holy ground...

Click here to continue reading, and to watch the movie trailer.