Visit to Chicago MVS House

Dates October 20-21

On my way back from a “Safe Zone” training at Bluffton University, I made a short visit at the Chicago MVS House.  Like my visit to Madison, I was welcomed with great hospitality! I was met at the bus stop by Katie Vanderheide, a current member of the Chicago MVS unit, who escorted me to the volunteer house. Upon entering the house, among the typical assortment of random objects and posters in volunteer houses, I found rainbow decorations. Katie told me they were put up during the lgbtq Pride in Chicago. By how openly the volunteers spoke about lgbtq inclusion and the rainbows in the house, I knew this was a welcoming place!

I had the privilege of chatting with each of the five members of the unit. I learned that four of the current residents of the unit were in their second year in the community. Two of them were “associate members” volunteering at their placements through a Nazarene program. It was clear by their engagement and treatment by the MVSers in the community that they were full participants in the unit. The MVSers were all active in their host congregation, Chicago Community Mennonite Church (CCMC), which is also a member of the Supportive Communities Network (SCN). I’m thankful that they brought me along to attend Sunday worship at CCMC. An invitation of welcome was given freely during the service and extended to everyone to participate in the church community. Welcoming lgbtq people was named specifically in the sermon given by Ron Adams, the guest preacher. Ron is the pastor of Madison Mennonite Church, which is also a member of SCN and host congregation for the Madison MVS House.

Reuben with members of the Chicago MVS lgbtq
inclusion task force (Center:Hannah, Right:Katie)

During my visit, I went to a coffee shop to chat with Katie Vanderheide and Hannah Klaassen, the local program coordinator for MVS Chicago. CCMC has put together a lgbtq inclusion task force for the MVS unit, which includes Katie, Hannah, Megan Ramer (pastor at CCMC), and two others from the CCMC community. The task force hadn’t met as a group yet, so our conversation was focused on brainstorming various ways CCMC could work to make MVS more lgbtq welcoming. There was concern for a good and sustainable process when working with MVS. Within the MVS program, host congregations play a significant role in the life of their MVS units. The local leadership, made up of participants of the host congregation, is responsible for the long term vision of the unit. Also, local leadership helps in facilitating the organization of the unit and works to make it a healthy and safe environment. Both Katie and Hannah spoke about the importance of making CCMC’s welcome of lgbtq visible to any perspective volunteer applicants to the Chicago unit. They wanted regular discussion about lgbtq inclusion and annual “safe zone” training.

After dinner, I left Chicago to return to Minneapolis with renewed energy and hope! It’s really exciting to see and hear about the work being done by current MVSers, alumni, and their supportive congregations to make MVS a welcoming place for lgbtq people!