13 Questions with Chaplain Jonathan Scott

I interviewed Chaplain Jonathan Scott with Coordinator for Pastoral Care & Volunteer Services Janet Johnson present, and one of the things I love about doing the 13 Questions series is that we continue to learn about each other – and find many things we have in common. During this sit down, both were surprised to hear each other’s stories even after having worked together for almost 15 years. (Feel free to share our 13 Questions with any of your family and friends to see what you can learn!)

What most surprised Janet and me about Chaplain Scott’s life story is that several generations of his family work the land in East Lyme, CT as farmers of Scott’s Orchard (a place that is part of my personal traditions earlier in my adult life when I lived in the area) and several other family-owned garden and food stands. 

He also credits his father’s role as a minister/farmer seeding his interest in becoming a chaplain. But before he went to chaplaincy training in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, he ventured to Finland as an engineer (he studied chemistry at Wesleyan University) working in the paper industry. By the way, while there and wearing a Scott’s Orchard t-shirt Jonathon was approached by a stranger saying, “Hey, I’ve been there.” Small world, right? 

I haven’t even introduced his three kids, his favorite places in his Pomfret neighborhood, why he’s enamored with Martin Luther King’s power of the spoken word, and his training program for hiking the Alps. I’ll leave that exploration to you. I promise you it will be a great conversation, and in the process, you’ll learn something about yourself. 

To prepare, read on.

1. I grew up in: East Lyme, CT
2. Who’s on your playlist? Old favorites are The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Cliff, The Tops, Amy Grant, Don Francisco.
3. What’s your favorite movie? Chariots of Fire, The Pink Panther
4. What’s your favorite color? Blue
5. What was the last thing you read? The Republic of Imagination
6. Who is your hero? Martin Luther King, Jr.
7. Pets or no pets? None now
8. Name something on your bucket list. Hike in the Alps
9. What’s your “go-to” comfort food? Homemade stew and crackers, apple pie with vanilla ice cream
10. Smartphone, tablet or desktop? Laptop
11. People would be surprised to know that: I worked as an engineer in the paper industry in Finland
12. What’s your current health focus? Yoga
13. What’s your favorite place in Northeast Connecticut? Like walking around my neighborhood.