Desalegn Abebe, MAST, and others speak out through teal ribbon campaign at Mennonite World Conference meetings
At Mennonite World Conference (MWC) meetings in Germany from May 23-28, 2025, MAST launched a support ribbon campaign, inviting people to wear a teal-colored ribbon as a public call for justice, accountability, and transparency for MCC.
Pastor Desalegn Abebe and Anicka Fast wore the ribbon during the meetings. They were soon joined by others, including MWC staff members and volunteers.
MWC General Secretary César García read a statement of support for Fast’s ministry in the Faith and Life Commission and emphasized that MWC supports efforts toward resolution of the conflict with MCC.
The topic of allegations against MCC received symbolic visibility during a morning prayer time on May 27.
In a conversation with MCC Executive Directors who challenged his involvement in the teal ribbon campaign, Abebe insisted on the need for MCC to respond appropriately to the allegations through an external investigation.
Press release, January 31, 2025
MCC reaches non-confidential legal settlement with John Clarke and Anicka Fast
MCC releases misleading internal statement about the legal settlement and the Veritas investigation
MCC’s “internal third-party investigation” by Veritas Solutions finds that “senior MCC staff as a whole” engaged in harassment against John and Anicka
MAST calls for negotiations about an external investigation during upcoming “facilitated conversations”
MAST launches website at https://www.mccabusesurvivors.org/.
Survivors share the deep pain and isolation they feel due to unquestioned MCC loyalty in their communities
Mennonite church leaders support survivors at story-sharing event Dec 12, 2024
Canadian Mennonite reports on Veritas investigation findings, labour board conciliation planned for Jan. 22, 2025, and facilitated discussions brokered by church leaders
One day prior to a planned conciliation meeting between John Clarke and Anicka Fast and Mennonite Central Committee as part of a Québec Labor Board dispute, Canadian Mennonite reports on the Veritas Solutions investigation findings and interviews Fast and Clarke about their expectations for the conciliation process, their reaction to the investigation findings, and their hopes for a restorative solution through a facilitated conversation being brokered by César García (general secretary of Mennonite World Conference) and Marisa Smucker (executive director of Mennonite Mission Network).
Investigative article: “Involuntary: Terminated MCC workers call for accountability and change”
“The concerns of the terminated workers raise questions about how MCC, and, by implication, other organizations, deal with internal conflicts and how the influence of human resources (HR) practices affect organizational culture.
Several people who have held leadership positions with MCC or related organizations are also raising concerns about MCC culture and/or the termination of Fast and Clarke.”
“Clarke said he does not want a sense of the “unquestioned sacredness” of MCC to prevent people from requiring accountability of MCC leaders. He does not want the “beloved” organization to be turned into an “idol” that cannot be questioned.”