The initial conversation will be with a person who understands misconduct and will listen to your experiences and help you determine how you wish to proceed. This person will take notes, but these notes and your story will not go beyond the two of you unless you decide otherwise.

With the support of the person who receives your concern, you will be able to review your options for how best to address your situation. Together you will assess what steps can be taken to bring healing and ensure safety for yourself and others.

Congregations normally have a pastoral leader who has been formally credentialed by a Regional church body within Mennonite Church Canada. Congregations also have numerous volunteer or lay leaders who are not credentialed. Mennonite Church Canada believes that a church leader, whether credentialed or not-credentialed have responsibilities to act in accordance with the GMLC and the code of conduct and ethical practice.  In particular, leaders should never enter into sexualized behavior with a person for whom the leader is responsible or with whom they interact as a part of their professional or volunteer roles.

Sexualized behavior can include inappropriate discussion of sexual matters, sexualized touching, actions or words that communicate sexual interest or add an overt sexual dimension to a relationship, and any breach of sexual ethical standards that govern church leaders.

The church leader is always responsible to prevent inappropriate behavior. If you are uncertain how to interpret what you experienced, the person with whom you share your story will help you understand if your experience involved a form of misconduct.

Meeting with an intake worker at the counselling agency noted in this website or a Support Person will be as safe and comfortable as possible for you. These individuals are fully committed to ensuring your safety throughout the process of reporting. We want to avoid “re-victimizing” anyone and therefore, every effort will be made to make you feel safe.

A person reporting misconduct is in a highly vulnerable position. Mennonite Church Canada is dedicated to receiving your story and to discerning next steps with you. Rest assured that the Support Persons are ready to hear your experiences with understanding and compassion.

The extent of your disclosure will be determined with your participation. The Support Person can talk to you about your options and what is involved in making a formal statement. A formal statement process includes policies and procedures which you can explore before you decide to proceed. At all times, your story will be treated with respect and with attention to confidentiality. However, there are mandatory reporting requirements like cases of sexual misconduct involving children under the age of 16.

With the exception of cases where the misconduct involves mandatory reporting like cases of sexual misconduct involving children under the age of 16 you maintain control of the story until you sign a formal statement. At that point “your story” becomes a record that necessitates certain actions and procedures as per the GMLC.  These actions and procedures attempt to limit the number of individuals who know details and identities of the event while still meeting the needs of procedural fairness. You can discuss concerns about confidentiality and the reporting process with the Support Person assigned. Your willingness and courage to share your story may prevent others from being harmed by further misconduct of an individual.

Mennonite Church Canada expects that church leaders behave appropriately and respectfully. No one benefits from looking the other way when it comes to misconduct. Even when it is hard to do so, it is better that the truth be heard.

The regional churches of Mennonite Church Canada are responsible for the licensing and credentialing of pastoral leaders, and therefore have the authority to investigate misconduct and then take necessary action.

The regional churches of Mennonite Church Canada do not license or credential lay church leaders. If the misconduct is related to a non-credentialed church leader, then Mennonite Church Canada through its regional church will support you in taking your concern to trusted leaders in your congregation. It is very important that your congregation takes the necessary steps to deal with misconduct by a lay church leader. Mennonite Church Canada will support you in taking these steps and will support the congregation in addressing misconduct by a non-credentialed church leader.

• All Mennonite Church Canada ministers are being asked to sign a form indicating their commitment to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Practice as found within the GMLC.
• In addition, every three years all active ministers are expected to attend continuing education events such as the Healthy Pastoral Relationships Workshop which outlines appropriate behavioral boundaries.
• All congregations are strongly encouraged to implement a Safe Church Policy, which outlines appropriate and inappropriate behavior and sets in place practical procedures so their faith community is a safe space for everyone.
• Mennonite Church Canada encourages education and resources to foster Church as a safe space for persons of all ages.