Jan Lugibihl - former Board President, Central District Conference of MC USA

October 9, 2025

Dear MCC Leaders:

Greetings to you as you prepare for your upcoming meetings.

I write this letter out of great respect for the vision and work of MCC as I have known it over the years and out of desire to call MCC to truly follow its mission to strive to share God’s love and compassion for all.

My service as an MCC volunteer in the Philippines 40 years ago greatly impacted my life and my vocational choices. I continue to feel that impact. One of my most profound experiences during that term involved listening to the stories of prostituted women outside of the US Subic Naval Base. From them I learned the importance of sharing even difficult stories and of knowing those stories were heard. MCC provided a vehicle for sharing those important stories with its constituents in the United States and more broadly when no one else was doing so. And that made a difference.

Because of that experience and the stories I have been privileged to hear from some of those involved with MCC Abuse Survivors Together (MAST), I am writing to urge you to enter into an agreed upon transparent, open, independent investigation of the concerns raised by MAST and to commit to making the results of that investigation public.

Further, I urge you to release former MCC volunteers and staff from any NDAs so that the full truth can be known. No one or no organization is served when difficult experiences are hidden. I believe we are called to truth-telling and honest relationships and I would hope MCC can lead the way in helping those to happen.

I have given MAST permission to publish this letter on its website.

I know the work of boards and leaders is not always easy and I pray that your upcoming meetings will be meaningful and that you may feel and follow Christ’s leading as you consider these and other matters.

Sincerely,

Jan Lugibihl

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In a time of destruction, create something. A poem. A parade. A community. A school. A vow. A moral principle. One peaceful moment.

- Maxine Hong Kingston, “The Fifth Book of Peace”