New York Mennonite Conference takes seriously any ethical misconduct on the part of its credentialed leaders or any other leader in our congregations. We want to make reporting abuse a safe process for you.
If you have been harmed by a minister or if you are a church chairperson or other congregation member who is concerned about possible misconduct by your pastor, please contact Beth Steria Rush at bethsteria@gmail.com, Connie Zehr at connie@nymennonite.org or Keith Zehr at bluegrass774@gmail.com. To report ministerial sexual misconduct by an NYMC Conference Minister, please contact our denominational minister: Michael Danner, Mennonite Church USA, at MichaelD@MennoniteUSA.org.
Once the initial “misconduct report” has been received, an experienced, trained individual will listen to you, provide helpful resources, and walk with you through the initial part of the process. Conversations are confidential!
Mennonite Church USA has developed policies and procedures for dealing with such misconduct. NYMC also subscribes to these policies and procedures. The link to this is formation is “Mennonite Church USA Ministerial Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure” https://www.mennoniteusa.org/resource-portal/resource/sexual-misconduct/
Safe Church is a newly formed ministry developed by MC USA for abuse awareness, prevention and response ministry. This ministry works to empower and equip faith communities to be proactive in keeping children, youth and vulnerable adults safe from abuse of any kind. Safe Church offers curriculum, policy guidelines, consultations, and trainings to assist in this important work. Check out the website for more information. https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ministry/church-vitality/safe-church/
Mennonite Health Service https://mhsonline.org/