MCC board chairs respond to letters from church leaders ahead of Akron board meetings
On Oct. 14, MCC board chairs sent the following response to church leaders and concerned individuals who had written to MCC US national and regional boards ahead of their Oct. 17-18 meetings in Akron. A number of the individuals shared this response with MAST. Browse the letters to the boards, to which the below message is a reply, at https://www.mccabusesurvivors.org/board-letters
Dear ______,
Thank you for your concern for MCC and our mission. We resonate with your heart for our world, where needs and conflicts are exploding at an alarming rate. Now, more than ever, our partners, programs and projects are critical.
Because of these growing needs, we know that the health, safety and care of staff and partners are of utmost importance. Across multiple countries and through multiple levels of our organization, we seek to care deeply for our staff.
We lament any and every situation where we’ve failed to do this. As a human institution, we are far from perfect. We ask for forgiveness for the places we have fallen short or caused harm. We are committed to walking alongside partners, supporters and churches in learning, growing and becoming more Christ-like.
Over the past two years, MCC has worked to listen carefully and prayerfully to all individuals who have chosen to share difficult experiences directly with us. Multiple changes have resulted, including increased staff support and policy changes. At the same time, it’s impossible to respond to complaints that are anonymous or made in online public forums without situational details.
We remain committed to care for individual people – and to also care for the larger ministry God has entrusted to us. Our prayer is that no harm comes to individuals or to MCC’s mission. Our commitment is to adhere to our values and best practices in all parts of MCC and learn and improve where we need to.
We have shared your letter with the MCC U.S. and Canadian boards for consideration.
Thank you,
Emerson Lesher Ron Ratzlaff
Board chair, MCC U.S. Board chair, MCC Canada
Consider joining our teal ribbon campaign. Write your own letter to MCC boards. Review our list of possible additional actions at https://www.mccabusesurvivors.org/get-involved.