Provided by Bluffton University

Eric Kurtz, a Goshen College graduate and executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes, shared the history of Mennonite Central Committee at Bluffton University’s Forum on Tuesday, March 11.

Mennonite Central Committee addresses issues such as mass incarceration and restorative justice, welcoming the stranger, racism and sexism in the community, peacemaking, climate change and reducing gun violence. MCC serves 45 countries worldwide. Kurtz touched on the topics of racism, immigration and armed conflict during his Forum.

“MCC embodies what is means to be Anabaptist,” said Kurtz. “MCC focuses on the Anabaptist principles of peace, nonviolence, service, simple living and following Jesus”

MCC has a commitment to dismantling racism. The organization was able to carry out this commitment by sharing the story of the Henrietta Dismukes Hospital. The hospital was a premier hospital for African-Americans and the largest privately owned African-American hospital in the 1930’s.

“Our greatest tool is hope,” said Kurtz. “Hope is not the same thing as optimism, you can have hope without being optimistic.”

Through the work of Mennonite Central Committee, the staff is able to work with individuals and families experiencing forced migration and displacement. 

“The main drivers of forced migration are natural disasters, increasing climate change, violence and conflict and economic remissions,” said Kurtz. “One of MCC’s goals is to prevent migration by helping people make a living.”

MCC also aids in munitions disposal for countries who have experienced armed conflict. Kurtz mentioned his work in the country of Laos, specifically, which led to many international agreements concerning post-conflict munitions disposal.

MCC also hosts young-adult service opportunities called Serving and Learning Together (SALT) with experiences in Kenya, Cambodia, Latin America and Palestine.

MCC partners with Bluffton University to host an Appalachian cross-cultural experience. Students complete service work alongside MCC Appalachia Build during the Kentucky experience. They learn about the social and environmental effects of the coal mining industry and are challenged to compare their own lifestyles, values, hopes and dreams with those of the people they met and worked with each day.

This event was part of the Anabaptism at 500 series. More information about these events can be found at www.bluffton.edu/anabaptism500 All Anabaptism at 500 events are free and open to public. Anabaptism at 500 events made possible with the generous support of Lowell and Marty Hostetler. To get involved with MCC, visit https://mcc.org/get-involved.