• Español
  • Historical Archives
  • Convention
  • Contact Us
Support the Ministry Give
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Home / News / Delegates unanimously approve Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse
Jul 03 2015

Delegates unanimously approve Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse

MCUSA-Logo

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (Mennonite Church USA) – Delegates approved the Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse with nearly unanimous support during their morning session on Friday, July 3.

To open the session, Moderator Elizabeth Soto Albrecht reminded delegates that this was an important issue and a harmful one. She observed that there were survivors of sexual abuse in the midst of the delegate body and exhorted delegates to engage this resolution sensitively and with prayer, holding the “sacred tears and holy anger” as necessary.

Following the approval of the statement, Carolyn Holderread Heggen, who has served as an adviser to the Mennonite Church USA Discernment Group on sexual abuse and the church, thanked delegates for listening to victims of sexual abuse and passing this statement. Heggen, along with Ervin Stutzman, executive director for Mennonite Church USA, led the delegates in a litany of response and confession.

Stutzman read, “Sexual abuse is evil, the abusive exercise of power over those who are seen as vulnerable, inferior and easy to manipulate. We honor the courage and strength of victims who resist this evil in their struggle to survive, whether through silence, actions or words.”

Delegates raised questions during the open mic time about needing clearer guidelines for mandatory reporting procedures, more instruction for sexual education, and broader acknowledgement of power imbalances, along with other concerns. Tyler Tully, a delegate from San Antonio (Texas) Mennonite Church, made a motion calling for the writers of the resolution to revise the statement to address concerns and questions raised during open mic time, and for delegates to revisit the revised statement on Saturday. The motion did not pass.

Mary Lehman Yoder, chair of the lament service planning committee and member of Assembly Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana, invited delegates to visit the Wailing Wall for sexual abuse and lament in the convention exhibit hall and to attend the service of lament and hope for sexual abuse at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral at 13th and Broadway, adjacent to the convention center.

The last meeting of the delegates will take place on Saturday, July 4.

###

—Mennonite Church USA staff

  • Posted in Convention News, News
  • Tagged A Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse, Carolyn Holderread Heggen, delegate assembly, Ervin Stutzman, KC2015, Mary Lehman Yoder, Tyler Tully
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail
Official comments policy for users of Mennonite Church USA’s websites and other social networking tools. We reserve the right to remove any comment that violates this policy.
  • The purpose of comments is to engage in constructive dialogue.
  • Please provide your own full name.
  • Be respectful. If you’re offering criticism, focus on others’ ideas — not their motives, person, character or faith. Consider the log in your own eye before pressing ‘Enter.’
Comments are moderated. Comments with any content that is deemed obscene, libelous, defamatory or hateful toward an individual or group will not be approved. Comments will remain open for 10 days.
    --
Política de comentarios oficiales para los usuarios de los sitios en Internet y otras herramientas de redes sociales pertenecientes a la Iglesia Menonita de EE.UU. Nos reservamos el derecho de eliminar cualquier comentario que viola esta política.
  • El propósito de los comentarios es entablar el diálogo constructivo.
  • Por favor brinde su propio nombre completo.
  • Sea respetuoso. Si ofrece críticas, enfóquese en las ideas del otro, no en sus motivos, su persona, su carácter o su fe. Considere la viga en su propio ojo antes de apretar ‘Intro’
Los comentarios son analizados. Aquellos comentarios que contengan contenido que se considere obsceno, calumnioso, difamatorio u odioso hacia algún individuo o grupo no será aprobado. Los comentarios permanecerán abiertos por 10 días.

1 Comment

  1. Mennonite Minister Edward J. Miller
    July 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm · Reply

    My heart and prayers go out to those who were sexually assaulted by John Howard Yoder. I also have concern for the innocent family relatives of J.H. Yoder, who keep hearing and reading of the sexual immorality of their close relative and the pain he has caused his victims. But I have thus far heard no expression of sympathy for the pain and suffering these also have had to bear. Did I miss any concern that has been expressed officially or unofficially ? Have these innocents been contacted with offerings of MC-USA counsel and help? My sympathy and prayers go up and out to these victims also.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

3145 Benham Ave. Suite 1
Elkhart, IN 46517

718 N. Main St.
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (866) 866-2872
  • News & Media
  • Español
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Convention
  • Resources
  • Give
  • Staff
  • Employment
©2020 Mennonite Church USA   |   Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive news and blogs compiled into one weekly email.   SUBSCRIBE