Karla Morton - Pastor & Moderator in Pacific NW Mennonite Conference

Friday, October 3, 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: Karla Morton, Moderator

 Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference

 Pastor, Salem Mennonite Church

RE:  MCC’s response to allegations of abuse and misconduct

Dear MCC Boards and Executive Staff,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I am writing to you as you prepare for the upcoming meetings of the US Boards and Executives. I know that this is an important time in the life of MCC for the coming year. May God’s Spirit guide you to make decisions that will bring glory to Christ!

As you prepare, I am writing to speak in solidarity with the members of congregations in the PNMC who are now a part of the MCC Abuse Survivors Together – MAST – and who are hurting in ways that cause harm to them and their families.

I am writing to specifically ask you as the MCC US Boards and Executive Director, to engage in thoughtful, trustworthy, and appropriate actions that can bring healing and restoration to those who have been harmed. There are now over 60 cases of individual abuses that affect over 100 people that have been reported to MAST (please see charts on pg. 3), these are cases of MCC workers who have been mistreated by MCC. For me, this is heartbreaking as I have come to love and trust MCC. Now, however, trust has been broken and I hope that MCC will take the necessary steps to restore that trust, not only with me, but with the wider constituency. Approximately 30 years ago, my husband and I had the honor of hosting Peter Dyck in our home. We so enjoyed his company and stories. Beyond that, I came to know more about Mennonites and the desire to help those around the world in need through Doris Janzen Longacre’s cookbook, The More with Less Cookbook. I have wonderful memories of helping out at relief sales, and being on the board for a short time for our festival in Idaho. To be honest now, engaging with the relief sales feels less than joyful knowing that there are so many who have been hurt by an organization for which I have come to have great respect based on the people I have met or known through my past activities.

I wish to have that trust and joy restored by asking you as the US Boards and Executive Director to work toward the following action steps:

Accept the facilitated conversation parameters as proposed by Chris Funk and Rus Funk (June 21, 2025) with Anicka Fast and John Clarke. This seems to be the very least that can be done to take steps toward restoration.

Commit to an external investigation into MCC’s handling of abuse allegations. This is the only credible way to work on such an investigation, it cannot be from within the Mennonite churches/conferences in either the US or Canada. This will give the investigation credibility and allow for a rebuilding of trust, especially with MAST and MCC’s constituency. In order to make sure that all will be done well, the MAST Steering Committee must have a say in the choice of the firm that is used and the mandate for the investigation. The investigation must include binding public recommendations regarding accountability for perpetrators and reparations for survivors.

MCC must release survivors and former staff from Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) which have prevented survivors from truthtelling, as well as being able to heal because they must hold all of this abuse internally.

As an organization committed to peace and justice, that is formed in the peace church tradition, it is incumbent upon the leaders to work heartily toward healing and wholeness with those who have been harmed by systemic issues in MCC’s DNA. I don’t know how or when these issues became de rigueur in MCC, but considering the number of cases per decade, it either appeared in the 2010s, or was a part of MCC prior to that decade perhaps when people were less likely to speak up about their abuse.

It has taken the survivors of this abuse many years and a lot of soul searching to take the steps that they have. They have wondered if anyone would believe them, I am sure, as well as speaking out about abuses from a much beloved organization. For many of them, I believe, they entered into their service terms with a great deal of hope and excitement to serve others through MCC. I stand in solidarity with these survivors. I am using my voice to call you all to come to account for the abuses that have been done by an organization that claims to serve “In the Name of Christ”. It is long past time for reparations and restoration to take place. I urge you, I strongly urge you, to do the right thing and enter into a process of reconciliation and taking accountability. I know that it isn’t easy to do, but it is necessary so that MCC may continue to serve “In the Name of Christ”.

I appreciate your time and efforts in working toward peace, justice, and reconciliation especially within the family of Christ.

Please know that the Boards and the Executive Directors will be in my prayers for you all to have wisdom, grace, and courage. It is not easy to take accountability, but it is so very important to the Body of Christ. May you not be afraid to take the necessary steps to bring healing and reconciliation with those who have been harmed over the years. May you be wise to know where there need to be changes within the system. And may you be gracious, with yourselves and the survivors. I have given MAST permission to share this on their website.

In the Name of Christ,

Karla Morton

Pastor, Salem Mennonite Church

Moderator, Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference