Press release, January 31, 2025
MCC reaches non-confidential legal settlement with John Clarke and Anicka Fast
MCC releases misleading internal statement about the legal settlement and the Veritas investigation
MCC’s “internal third-party investigation” by Veritas Solutions finds that “senior MCC staff as a whole” engaged in harassment against John and Anicka
MAST calls for negotiations about an external investigation during upcoming “facilitated conversations”
MAST launches website at https://www.mccabusesurvivors.org/.
Survivors share the deep pain and isolation they feel due to unquestioned MCC loyalty in their communities
Mennonite church leaders support survivors at story-sharing event Dec 12, 2024
MCC releases internal statement about the legal settlement with John and Anicka and the Veritas investigation findings, Jan. 23, 2025
January 23, 2025. MCC Executive Directors sent an email to all staff with an update about the resolution of the legal case with John and Anicka, and a FAQ document about the case and the Veritas Investigation results.
MAST has written a response to this FAQ, which it considers to be “problematic, misleading, and inaccurate in multiple ways.”
Canadian Mennonite reports on Veritas investigation findings, labour board conciliation planned for Jan. 22, 2025, and facilitated discussions brokered by church leaders
One day prior to a planned conciliation meeting between John Clarke and Anicka Fast and Mennonite Central Committee as part of a Québec Labor Board dispute, Canadian Mennonite reports on the Veritas Solutions investigation findings and interviews Fast and Clarke about their expectations for the conciliation process, their reaction to the investigation findings, and their hopes for a restorative solution through a facilitated conversation being brokered by César García (general secretary of Mennonite World Conference) and Marisa Smucker (executive director of Mennonite Mission Network).
Veritas Solutions determines that actions by MCC “senior personnel” toward John Clarke and Anicka Fast constitute multiple counts of “harassment.”
Veritas Solutions determines that actions by MCC “senior personnel” toward John Clarke and Anicka Fast constitute multiple counts of “harassment.”
Investigative article: “MCC accused of inadequate response to sexual assault allegation in Mozambique”
During her four years with MCC, Moyer worked on seven sand dams, seconded by MCC to Conselho Cristão de Moçambique (Christian Council of Mozambique—CCM) in the city of Tete. She loved the work. Moyer, who still lives in the country—now working for Equip Mozambique—is proud of the work she was part of and the people whose lives are better today because of it.
But Moyer paid a high price. In two interviews with Canadian Mennonite, Moyer told of a troubled workplace at CCM Tete… and alleged sexual assault by a fellow MCC worker.
She also speaks of how MCC’s response to sensitive and difficult situations failed to meet her needs.
Press release announces formation of MCC Abuse Survivors Together (MAST)
September 10, 2024. A group of signatories of the open letter and their allies announce the formation of MAST “to coordinate ongoing efforts to hold MCC to account for its abusive behaviour.”
The MAST steering committee includes open letter signatories as well as other MCC survivors and allies.
MAST seeks justice for survivors of MCC abuse, accountability for MCC, and transparency for the MCC constituency.
Investigative article: “Involuntary: Terminated MCC workers call for accountability and change”
“The concerns of the terminated workers raise questions about how MCC, and, by implication, other organizations, deal with internal conflicts and how the influence of human resources (HR) practices affect organizational culture.
Several people who have held leadership positions with MCC or related organizations are also raising concerns about MCC culture and/or the termination of Fast and Clarke.”
“Clarke said he does not want a sense of the “unquestioned sacredness” of MCC to prevent people from requiring accountability of MCC leaders. He does not want the “beloved” organization to be turned into an “idol” that cannot be questioned.”
Seven former MCC employees launch petition, “MCC, stop harming your workers and partners now!”
June 11, 2024. Former MCC employees publish an open letter and a related petition.
The petition asks MCC 19 questions about its employment practices. As of January 2025, it has been signed by over 1500 people.
Seven former MCC employees publish open letter, “Concerns about abuse within MCC and call for answers”
June 11, 2024. Former MCC employees publish an open letter and a related petition.
The letter describes a pattern of abusive behaviour by MCC leaders. It is signed by seven former MCC workers, working in four different countries, whose employment ended between 2009 and 2024.