Letter from Doopsgezind Gemeente Bussum-Naarden (Netherlands) to MCC leaders
The Mennonite congregation where John Clarke and Anicka Fast are members in the Netherlands wrote this letter to MCC Executive Directors Rick Cober Bauman and Ann Graber Hershberger, and Board chairs Ron Ratzlaff and Gilberto Perez, and gave us permission to share it on our website. We have added links to some of the entities or news items to which the letter refers. - MAST
Cover email:
From: Hajo Hajonides [addresses removed]
Date: 25 jun. 2024 14:23
Subject: Letter from the current congregation of Anicka Fast and John Clarke
To: [addresses removed]
Dear Executive Directors and Board Chairs of MCC,
I am writing you on behalf of the Church Council Mennonite Congregation Bussum-Naarden, The Netherlands. This is the place where Anicka and John found refuge after their period with MCC in Burkino Faso.
We are woried about the deep mental consequences this family suffered after their dealings with MCC and it is therfore that we write this letter to you, which you will fnd in the attachment.
We realy hope that you take note of this letter
Many blessings
On behalf of the Church Council Mennonite Congregation Bussum-Naarden, The Netherlands
Hajo Hajonides.
Letter (attached as separate document):
Naarden, June 2024
To the board of MCC,
Almost a year ago, Anicka Fast, John Clarke and their two daughters (11,12 years) came to our Mennonite congregation in Bussum, the Netherlands. We encountered a family in great trouble and distress. As you probably know Anicka developed mental health problems for which she was treated. In addition, the situation in Burkina Faso became increasingly dangerous and they did not feel safe to return. They had already been struggling for months with the treatment by MCC human resources staff. They tried telling MCC leaders about this but experienced no response.
While they were trying to discuss with MCC the possibility of an extended stay in the Netherlands (working remotely, having John go back and forth, etc), they were fired.
This abrupt message was a great shock. Suddenly washed up in another country, they had to give up their house in Burkina Faso and had their belongings shipped remotely. Here in the Netherlands, with only a suitcase for a holiday they had nowhere to go.
The daughters couldn't go back, no goodbye’s, but a new school, new language... everything was different.
A family completely uprooted. Now, almost a year later, the whole family still suffers from trauma’s mentally. We understand that while they were trying to work things out with MCC, they were offered a large sum of money provided they would agree to never say anything negative about MCC and to drop all their complaints against MCC. We were shocked to hear about these kinds of procedures. We got the feeling that the intention was not to do justice and to take care for the family but to take care of the good name of the MCC institution. We believe that quality and sound organization only can be met if there is space to deal with difficulties and conflicts. Even if that process takes a lot of energy and attention. Dealing with difficulties in a good way makes an organization strong. We hope that you strongly evaluate these kind of procedures and strive to an honest organization where there is room for an open dialogue.
We heard that Anicka and John repeatedly insisted on mediation and investigation by trauma-specialized and, above all, independent and impartial organizations. MCC consulted their lawyer and did do some investigations, where there was a strong suspicion that the client, the department to be investigated and the one to whom was being reported, were the same. This cannot be considered independent or impartial. We were disappointed to hear that.
MCC does very good work at locations under very difficult and dangerous conditions, which requires extra care for employees. We recognize that we have heard only one side of the situation. It was then a shock to hear that they weren’t the only ones. Anicka and John and five other former MCC staff members published an open letter and a petition in which they formulate several questions. Since it is our duty, as a Mennonite congregation to help and stand by our members in need, we would like to hear your answers to questions the writers of the petition are asking and we are longing to hear your side of this situation as well.
We are aware of the MCC statement in response to the open letter and we feel that this is a good start but it is not addressing some of the pressing questions of the writers of the letter. Especially the role of HR is under critique and that is the party you are referring to as a safe space; to go to when you have a problem. This confuses us. And leaves us with a feeling of doubt. We hope that you take these matters serious, because we want to support MCC wholeheartedly.
We hope that you take the critiques of the writers of the letter as a starting point for reflection on the culture of the organisation. We hope and pray that the future will bring a more detailed reaction from you to the issues they raise. Even if you have to open up difficulties and mistakes, that would make your organisation and our so appreciated MCC even more valuable and stronger. If an organisation is willing to be vulnerable, that sets a tone and a culture of openness and learning ability that brings strength and change in the organisation and in the world it operates.
We hope that there can be some process of reconciliation between you (MCC directors) and the writers of the letter. In the meantime we are standing next to Anicka and John and their children. We pray for them and for you as directors that there can be a whispering of the Holy Spirit to come out of this dark dynamic. We pray for openness, to search for an answer (maybe) beyond institution, protocol and legislation, but in the unexpected creativity that Jesus learned us.
We are looking forward to your respons.
Blessings and peace on behalf of the
Church Council Mennonite Congregation Bussum-Naarden, The Netherlands
Hajo Hajonides
Chair