Pastoral letter

Dear Pastor,

I am reaching out on behalf of MCC Abuse Survivors Together (MAST) to pastors who may be facing the challenge of helping their congregations to respond to allegations of abuse against MCC.

First, I want to check in because I know from experience that trying to faithfully navigate conversations about MCC abuse within congregations is really difficult. As faith leaders, we want to support those who have experienced abuse of any kind, including abuse we now know many have experienced from MCC. We understand that our public support of known survivors is a way of showing support to survivors in our congregations whose stories we may not even know. As Mennonite pastors, we also want to honor the good work and intentions of many MCC staff, volunteers, and other supporters in our congregations.

I do not think I am alone in serving a congregation in which some people want to completely cut off all ties to MCC while others want to ignore survivor stories and carry on as usual. Many of us who lead congregations are wondering how to most faithfully navigate these conversations. I don’t have any easy answers for you, but I do want to say that I see you and appreciate your difficult and delicate work. I know from talking with survivors that each expression of support and solidarity–especially from church leaders–means a lot.

Second, I want to make sure you know about the amazing resources available on the MAST website. The Abuse Prevention and Response Committee at Bethel College Mennonite Church, where I serve, has found the stories and other documents on this site to be invaluable resources as we try to provide information to those in our church. The new Frequently Asked Questions page gives you some helpful points for addressing questions you might hear from congregants.

Finally, I want to invite you into a deeper level of support for survivors. Please see the “Get Involved” page on the MAST site as well as the Suggestions for Congregational Engagement. (This letter and the Suggestions are available as a printable version here.) Rather than feeling overwhelmed by all the things, allow the Spirit to guide you to one or two things you can do in your current context.

Thank you for the various ways you support survivors and work for the health of the church. If you would like some peer support, please contact the MAST steering committee (stopmccabuse@proton.me). They can connect you with another pastor who is also trying to do this work well.

In Peace and Hope,

Joanna Harader