"In 1976 Luther Place Church in Washington, DC began to explore how the Lutheran community might initiate a voluntary service program, inspired by the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), Mennonite Voluntary Service, and other services organizations, centered around principles of social justice, community living and simplified lifestyles." (from History, LVC 1981, LVC Files) Jesuit and Mennonite volunteers had been serving in Luther Place ministries such as Bread for the City, DC Hotline, and the Luther Place Night Shelter, and the combination of the need for volunteers and the value of the volunteer experience led to the "epiphany moment" (in Pastor John Steinbruck's words) - "Why not a Lutheran Volunteer Corps?"
Unsuccessful in its initial attempt to build church-wide support for such a program, in 1979 Luther Place organized the Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC). After some discussion, the resolution was passed by the congregation unanimously. This vote represented the great commitment of and support for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps from Luther Place that would continue throughout its history.
The first group of 17 volunteers had short-term commitments, some for the summer of 1979, some for the January or Spring 1980 academic term. Some were from JVC who extended their commitments. Housing was provided for them at 1333 N Street NW, one of a group of properties owned by Luther Place that had been converted from commercial rental property to church ministries in the 1970s.
During this first year, a structure was developing for the one-year program in Washington, DC - "a year of service, a lifetime of commitment" - based on Micah's biblical question of what the Lord require of me, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with my God (Micah 6:8). With commitments for placements from non-profit service organizations in addition to Luther Place's ministries and nine one-year volunteers, the first full year of LVC began in August, 1980. Most were recent college graduates from the east and midwest with little urban living experience but a clear commitment to the values of social justice and Christian community. They lived together in Bonhoeffer House.
LVC received over 40 applications for the second year and were able to place 19. The staff was challenged to find new placements, interview prospective volunteers in Washington and expand LVC to a second house in Washington. The third LVC group in 1982-83 included 27 volunteers in Washington, Baltimore and Wilmington. The expansion to new cities grew out of interest from local congregations and synods which were able to provide support through local committees for housing, placements and support for the volunteers.
By 1984-85, LVC had expanded to Jersey City and Chicago. The Jersey City program lasted just one year, but all of the rest continued to grow. 1985-1986 saw the growth of LVC to 47 volunteers and the additional location in Milwaukee. With that growth came the need to continue to develop the infrastructure of LVC, now operating in five cities. She developed a system for matching volunteers and placements in several time frames, to better manage the growing number of volunteers.
Recruitment visits to colleges across the United States had been done by LVC staff; in 1987-88 short-term recruiters (former LVCers) were hired to share the LVC story with potential volunteers. Administrative support came gradually with the addition of a photocopier and answering machine and the first professionally printed annual report. As the number of LVC staff and volunteers increased, more standardized personnel policies were developed and volunteer and placement administrative procedures became more formalized.
Subsequent years of service saw growth in both numbers of volunteers, to 82 in 1996-97, and expansion to Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1991 and the West Coast cities of Seattle and Tacoma in the mid-1990s. During this time the LVC Steering Committee went through an extensive self-assessment, resulting in a restructured National Steering Committee which would include representation from each of the LVC cities as well as from Luther Place. Several meetings in Washington each year with the
LVC staff have strengthened and energized this group as LVC grew to 87
volunteers in the 1998-99 year.
Later major changes included an expansion to Oakland/Berkeley, California in 2003. In that same year, LVC formally incorporated as its own non-profit organization. Although no longer an official ministry of Luther Place Church, the bond between the two communities remains strong.
Chronology
LVC Cities
1979 Washington, DC
1982 Added Baltimore, Wilmington
1984 Added Chicago, Jersey City
1985 Added Milwaukee
1986 Jersey City closed
1991 Added Minneapolis/St. Paul
1995 Added Seattle
1996 Added Tacoma
2003 Added Oakland/Berkeley
Volunteers
1979-1980 17 (partial year)
1980-1981 9
1981-1982 19
1982-1983 27
1983-1984 34
1984-1985 27
1985-1986 40
1986-1987 35
1987-1988 47
1988-1989 45
1989-1990 51
1990-1991 61
1991-1992 63
1992-1993 70
1993-1994 72
1994-1995 68
1995-1996 75
1996-1997 82
1997-1998 81
1998-1999 85
1999-2000 70
2000-2001 73
2001-2002 90
2002-2003 95
2003-2004 97
2004-2005 91
2005-2006 82
2006-2007 91
2007-2008 104