Who is Rich Hendricks, and why does he live here?
Pastor of Davenport's inclusive MCC church takes the Official Quad Citizen Quiz
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Today’s column starts out with a bit of a blunder I made back in 2017 on a cold day in downtown Rock Island. That Saturday morning, I’d bundled up and gathered with other QC citizens who were upset by a certain vile person’s executive order on immigration.
The protest, held outside the federal courthouse, was organized in response to the then-president’s attempt to ban travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
That order would’ve upset me no matter what, but it was issued at a time when I was working closely with immigrants and refugees for my job. His vilification of (an) entire race(s) of fellow humans rankled me to my core, and still does today.
But I’m getting away from the story.
A speaker that morning was a pastor in a rainbow stole. His speech moved me — can I say “to my core” again in the same post? (“This pastor preached love, tolerance, and equality at the protest today,” I wrote on Instagram at the time. “What would Jesus do, indeed.”)
After the protest, a friend and I went into Rozz-Tox to warm up. She led me over to a group gathered around a table and introduced me to some friends of hers. As I began making conversation with a bearded gentleman — who was perhaps wearing a leather jacket, or some other form of commonplace outerwear — I said “Wow, did you catch that one guy who spoke? That pastor? He was amazing!”
The man smiled at me, but with knitted eyebrows. He looked at the others, and then back at me.
“That was me,” he said.
And then we all cracked up. I pointed out, as I would like to do now in this post, that THAT man who’d spoken a few moments earlier had been wearing significantly different garb.
I eventually learned that the pastor, Rich Hendricks, led a church in Davenport, one that welcomed LGBTQ people, and — well — everyone. (I was also fascinated to learn that he’d once been an attorney.)
Since that day, I’ve been able to easily pick him out in a crowd, and have participated in events that he either led or had a hand in.
I’m grateful for the work his organizations do for the QC community (more on that below) and everything they stand for. So I had to ask if I could feature him in my column about life in the Quad Cities, and thankfully he obliged.
THE OFFICIAL QUAD CITIZEN QUIZ: RICH HENDRICKS
Pastor and founder of One Human Family QCA, QC Pride, Inc. and Quad Cities Pride In Memory.
Why do you live in the Quad Cities? What brought you here/keeps you here?
I grew up in Davenport, and after high school lived in Des Moines, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia and Chicago. I came back to Davenport in 2005 to pastor Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCC QC).What do you like best about the QC as a whole?
I love living in the Quad Cities! There are so many great things to do here — art, music, theater, restaurants and parks. And there are so many great places to visit close to the Quads when you just want to get away for a bit.
I love the people, the cooperative interfaith community and, of course, my church. MCC QC is a progressive Christian faith community that welcomes everyone's diverse spiritual journeys.What would you like to see change for the better in the QC?
More affordable housing. More and better mental health services. More and better medical health services.Also, especially in Davenport, more interactive art pieces where people get out of their cars to come and take photos.
In your opinion, how many Quad Cities actually are there?
Five — Davenport, Bettendorf; Rock Island, Moline and East Moline. There are a great many smaller communities that make up the greater Quad Cities Area.How many of the Quads have you called home?
Only Davenport.
with husband Jeff Transou Best bridge: That’s a tough one. They all offer beauty and diversity of styles and uses. I love the movements of the Railroad Bridge and the Government Bridge, the looks of the I-74 bridge and the “bridge to nowhere,” but the Centennial Bridge says “home” to me.
Favorite meal available in the QC: Breakfast at QC Pancake House, Rock Island
Favorite standing structure in the QC: the Davenport Bank Building.
Something you’re willing to cross the bridge for, even though it might take five whole minutes: Anything and everything.
Best QC rumor/ urban legend/ local lore and whether or not you believe it: The number of car manufacturing companies that used to be here blows my mind! Our connection to the invention of sliced bread. That Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke here and received the Pacem En Terris Award.
Best live performance or historical moment you’ve witnessed here: Barack Obama speaking at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Pete Butigieg’s first appearance in Davenport at Brew in the Village of East Davenport when he had to jump up on a table to be seen and almost got conked in the head by a ceiling fan. The Immersive Van Gogh Experience exhibit at the River Center.
Business(es) you’d like to see get a boost from QC consumers: The Diner (inside the Freight House Market), Gypsy Highway, Crane & Pelican.
Same question about a non-profit or great cause: One Human Family QCA, our local anti-hate organization.
Places (or anything about the QC) that others should know more about, or that you think might surprise someone who’s never visited: The diversity of restaurants and art and live music available, as well as the bike paths and many parks.
Who is a Quad Citizen I should quiz and why?
Aubrey Barnes because of his talent; Adam Peters (works at Clock, Inc.) because of his vibrant youthful leadership and Dr. Lisa Killinger because of all the amazing things she has done in her travels and writing.
Thanks for reading The Inquisitive Quad Citizen! - Alison
P.S. Meet a community leader and one of Rich’s parishioners who told me a story about an event they organized —one where magic happened.
P.P.S. The owners of local QC shops, Abernathy’s and The Atlas Collective, also answered my quiz!
P.P.S. If you subscribe — even for free — I’ll send you more hugs than there are car washes popping up in the QC. I also do happy dances every time I receive support, be it in the form of paid subscriptions, shares, or a la carte donations via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee.
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Here’s our current roster, which also gives you a sense of where we’re from. You can’t read us all, we know it. But throw a rock, and you’ll hit something good!
Great article! Almost makes me want to move back to the QCA🙂