The Executive Directors downplay the seriousness of the investigation results, making it sound like MCC’s only mistake was not to respond more quickly to concerns that, they imply, were unfounded anyway.

It is concerning to MAST that MCC continues to imply that wrongdoing or harm might not be “clear” in this case.

In response to MCC’s plans for a “listening space where further engagement can happen with those who desire it,” MAST says, “The creation of a “listening space” that is controlled by MCC is a classic divide-and-conquer tactic, and way to contain the problem so that MCC is not held publicly accountable. Such a space does not prevent abuse from continuing and can cause more harm to those who come forward.”

Guest post 2 on NDAs by Into Account Executive Director Stephanie Krehbiel.

The short version: NDAs sustain and reproduce the most spiritually violent tendencies in organizational cultures. Abuse of all kinds–sexual, psychological, financial, spiritual, physical, emotional–thrives in cultures of silence. The normalization of NDAs makes that silence feel both necessary and legally enforceable.

Guest post 1 on NDAs by Into Account Executive Director Stephanie Krehbiel.

I've been trying for years to get Mennonites to start paying attention to abuse-related NDAs, and mostly I feel like I've failed. Mennonites have so much trouble believing that their institutions are like other institutions. But that's the case for every religious group that has its own institutions… The comprehensive silence they can buy with that hush money is just far too tempting.