from Julene Fast
October 4, 2025
To:
MCC U.S. and MCC Canada Boards of Directors
Ann Hershberger, Executive Director of MCC U.S.
Ken Kim, Executive Director of MCC Canada
From: Julene Fast, Member of MAST Steering Committee
former MCC Local Voluntary Service Worker
Re: MCC’s response to allegations of abuse and misconduct
Dear Kim, Ann, Ron and Emerson and the MCC US and MC Canada board members,
I am writing you at this critical moment to share with you my deep concern and my request that you take this opportunity to act honourably and with integrity.
Always I have been so grateful for the work MCC does around the world and the mandate of serving in the name of Christ encompasses all that I hope for in the organization. It was such a joy to serve in a local voluntary position for some years in my past and I value all that those years gave me. That is why it is with such profound grief that I continue to live with the devastating experience of my niece and nephew being unexpectedly and cruelly terminated from their term of service with MCC. If that was not enough to lose faith in the good work of MCC, the alarming number of others who have shared their stories with MAST is heartbreaking and almost mind numbing. And the number which is over 70 by now continues to grow.
This is not serving in the name of Christ. It speaks to a very different ethic. It looks more like one of covering up, ignoring pleas for justice, and an unwillingness to look in the mirror and become aware of shortcomings. A lack of humble repentance and making things right.
I am aware that the US MCC Boards are meeting in person mid-October for the first time since COVID. I plead with all of you to turn your attention to addressing these very important items. Trying to make the allegations and requests just go away will not stand MCC in good stead in the coming years. I urge you to:
Engage in a transparent, external and independent third-party investigation into the allegations of abuse and MCC’s handling of these allegations. The firm hired to do this work must be approved by the MAST steering committee and will require a full public report for full transparency.
Commit to the parameters set by the facilitators hired to conduct a facilitated conversation with John Clarke and Anicka Fast and 2 board members.
Release survivors from the NDAs that are inflicting greater harm by silencing their stories of trauma and abuse.
While these steps might feel like a hard choice, be assured that MCC constituents would value transparency, integrity and a commitment to true repentance over hiding, covering up and denying the systemic nature of this abuse.
I cannot in good faith support MCC work anymore financially or in spirit. When cruel acts are committed to the “least of these” by an organization claiming to work in Christ’s manner, I cannot see how anything they do is not tainted with the legacy of cruelty and a complete lack of repentance.
This is a public email and I have given MAST permission to post it on their website.
Here’s hoping!!
Julene Fast