by Carolyn Egli
Whitehall [PA] Mennonite Church (WMC) is blessed with diversity. Among us are Karen refugees from Burma (Myanmar), a few Latinos, a pastor and his wife from Indonesia, members who openly share their mental health struggles, some who have experienced homelessness, those who have been or are imprisoned, and many who live at a low socioeconomic level while others live in the middle class. Many of us are consciously aware what a unique blessing it is to gather in a community like this.
One person in our fellowship shared that when he stands at the top of the fellowship hall stairs, looking down over those gathered to share our meal after Sunday worship, the diversity he sees fills him with joy. He calls it a glimpse into the coming kingdom of God, where we will one day sit together at the feet of God on his throne. Another person described the diversity at WMC as the “richness of God’s creation.”
Another member shared how the diversity at WMC has led to a greater sense of belonging for him. At churches he had attended before WMC, he was never sure he belonged or was worthy of participating. From his perspective, at WMC everyone is unique and cherished, which allows him to feel assured that he is accepted for who he is and belongs there.
One of our youth, of Karen ethnicity, shared that as she grew up at WMC she learned to be comfortable with others outside her culture, and this has helped her especially in school where there are very few Asians. Fellowshipping with people from other cultures and backgrounds has given her courage and confidence to be able to talk with anyone be accepting of all people despite differences.
Another member reflected that relating to unhoused people at WMC helped him be open to and unafraid of working with a homeless ministry in his community, and that the diversity he experiences at WMC helps him relate more authentically with customers at work.
Another member stated she was sure that she would not be friends with some in the fellowship at WMC if she had met them outside of the church. Raised in a comfortable, white, middle-class family, she appreciates that she has become comfortable with those from other backgrounds and can now just sit with people and not feel that she needs to swoop in and solve every problem.
Several members expressed that our differences increase their desire to know each other better. They reflected that understanding each other’s differences increased their compassion and desire to support each other. One young mother shared that she grew up attending a mostly white, middle-class church, and could easily avoid many of the world’s issues and complexities. She is thankful her young children are growing up at WMC in relationship with people who have faced mental illness, homelessness, and fleeing violence.
Through the years, diversity has impacted our worship at WMC. We have learned to be more comfortable with noise and the unexpected in worship. Due to different cultural expectations, we have increased the frequency of communion, served communion in different ways, and collected offerings in different ways. We have incorporated languages other than English into our singing, scripture reading, and occasionally in sermons.
Diversity has also played a part in our tradition of sharing a meal after worship. We are mindful that many cultures show hospitality by sharing food (with an intensity not regularly experienced in white U.S. American culture!). A traditional Sunday in Karen culture includes sharing food in family homes and eating together is highly valued. We also recognize that some in our congregation experience food insecurity and at least on Sundays can eat freely. Eating together provides us with more opportunities to get to know each other.
As one member said of the diversity at WMC, it is “good trouble”. As we feel ourselves being stretched, we are also being blessed.
Carolyn Egli
Carolyn Egli has worked as a social worker in refugee resettlement in Allentown, PA for the past 14 years. She is a member of Whitehall Mennonite where she serves on the Servant Leader Team and can often be found preparing food in the church kitchen.
