Teal ribbon campaign
Join us in wearing a teal ribbon as a quiet but meaningful call for accountability for MCC
Desalegn Abebe, President of Meserete Kristos Church, explains why he chose to wear the ribbon at Mennonite World Conference meetings in Schönblick, Germany, in May 2025:
I am wearing a teal ribbon as…
a small but meaningful gesture to express my deep longing for MCC—Mennonites’ largest humanitarian organization—to cease practices that harm or silence people
a choice to not remain silent
an affirmation of the need for transparency and accountability
a statement of solidarity with those who have been harmed
an expression of hope: I want the good and faithful work of MCC – built on a foundation of care for its workers and partners – to continue for years to come
a way to express my privilege and responsibility as a leader to act in a way that reflects the gospel of peace and justice
—Desalegn Abebe, President of Meserete Kristos Church
(see pastor Abebe’s call for accountability for MCC at https://canadianmennonite.org/from-inertia-to-momentum-restoring-institutional-integrity-to-mcc/)
Join Desalegn and MCC Abuse Survivors Together (MAST) in calling for change by wearing a teal ribbon
A teal ribbon is associated with support for survivors of PTSD, bullying, and sexual assault. It is also a prominent color in MCC’s communication materials.
If you want to participate, find a short length of teal-colored ribbon (aim for a color-match with MCC’s website). Wear it as you attend Mennonite gatherings, worship in Mennonite congregations, work in Mennonite institutions, and move through daily life in Mennonite communities.
If people ask you why you are wearing the ribbon, use pastor Abebe’s answers, print out and share this flyer, or draw on the information below and at https://www.mccabusesurvivors.org/faq.
MAST is aware of 61 cases of “bad endings” with MCC, which point to the involvement of all levels of MCC leadership in bullying, covering up financial fraud, responding inappropriately to reports of sexual harassment and assault, silencing whistleblowers, and neglecting workers’ health and wellbeing.
MCC states that "the claims of systemic abuse are unequivocally false,” and refuses to do an independent external investigation despite urging by church leaders and more than 1500 petition-signers.
MAST seeks to expose the truth about abusive behavior so that harm against MCC staff and partners can end. Our ultimate goal is not to destroy MCC as an organization, but to pursue justice, truth, and healing within the broader community of Mennonites who support MCC. We long to see our communities become places where survivors’ stories are believed, harm is repaired, and offenders are held accountable.