Mutual aid is the voluntary exchange of resources to support members of a community. It is based on solidarity, trust, and a belief in the dignity of all. Mennonites have a rich history of mutual aid practices, including an early form of insurance that came to be called Mennonite Mutual Aid.
Federal safety net programs don’t count as mutual aid under this definition because the taxes that support them aren’t voluntary, but they can be expressions of social solidarity and a belief in the dignity of all. They are an expression of our collective commitments. Our current administration is slashing these programs at a dizzying speed, with SNAP, marketplace health insurance subsidies, and HUD housing grants getting the most recent headlines.
Mutual aid works at an entirely different scale than federal programs. It’s not intended to replace advocating for just policies. It is, however, a way for communities of trust to support one another and live out our deepest values. And I think we’re going to need to build increasingly creative mutual aid practices.
Over the past week, I’ve been part of two conversations around mutual aid.
This past Friday and Saturday I was up at Camp Friedenswald in southern Michigan for meetings of the Central District Conference board, committees, and staff. I’m serving as board chair through summer 2027. One of the new things that emerged, created by the Missional Church Committee, was the “Rise Up! Take Courage! Mutual Aid Fund.” It is described on a new web page HERE. Part of the description reads: “This fund exists to resource your faithful response, whether that means feeding families that are suddenly without assistance, accompanying those targeted by raids, protecting vulnerable neighbors, or building community resilience in new ways.” It is intended both as a resource for any CDC congregation, and as a source of inspiration for establishing or expanding congregational mutual aid practices.
In our congregation, the Shepherding Commission oversees the Compassion Fund. In the past, we have distributed this mutual aid to congregational participants as we have become aware of specific needs. But for the last couple days Shepherding folks have been pondering whether to offer more specific ways to access these funds. For example, in this time of increased anxiety, are there CMCers who have considered therapy but balked at the cost? What if the Compassion Fund would pay for the first few sessions and Shepherding give assistance for navigating lower cost options beyond that? If there are CMCers who will be losing health insurance subsidies, could the Compassion Fund fill part of that gap? These are just ideas of how to be proactive in offering mutual aid, and we welcome your input. And of course, giving to the Compassion Fund (which is separate from an annual budget line item that pledges support) may be one way you participate. Just be sure to designate your intention.
Mutual aid happens on a human scale, and it reinforces what makes us most fully human – a sense of shared wellbeing, a commitment to the common good.
Joel