October 22nd, 2024MC Canada leaders approve new clergy conduct policy
Winnipeg – Mennonite Church Canada leaders approved a new clergy conduct policy at Joint Council meetings on October 4-6, 2024.
Entitled Guiding Ministerial Leadership in Mennonite Church Canada (GMLC), the new policy replaces the Ministerial Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure (MSMPP), including its Addendum. The MSMPP had served leadership since 2016.
The new GMLC addresses some matters that have previously resided in A Shared Understanding of Church Leadership: Polity Manual for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. The polity provides a common understanding of “how we do things in the church—specifically in the area of leadership,” states its introduction.
“In the design of this document, we felt it prudent to consolidate documents by bringing the code of conduct alongside procedural protocols” said Doug Klassen, executive minister for MC Canada. Should a conflict arise between the two documents, the GMLC shall take precedence in MC Canada, he added.
A clergy code of conduct and ethical practice is foundational to the new GMLC, as is accountability among the community of clergy, Klassen noted. “The new policy attempts to hold two values – sensitivity to trauma with low barriers to access assistance, and procedural fairness for the alleged offender, while outlining a clear process to follow,” he said.
The new GLMC also offers several procedural options for the breadth of matters of concern that might be brought forward while being rigorous and not having tolerance for behaviour that is understood to be egregious.
The GMLC policy has been thoroughly reviewed with pastoral leaders, regional church leadership, legal counsel, and external reviewers. Regional Churches, who are the credentialing body for pastors and ministers, will implement the policy with the assistance of the nationwide office.
The new GLMC takes effect immediately. Copies will be sent to all credentialed leaders in MC Canada and can be downloaded at https://www.commonword.ca/go/gmlc.
Originally, the new policy was meant to be a joint project with MC USA, but in 2023 it became clear that differences in legal protections, and legislated expectations of employers and institutions in the two countries, were incompatible.
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