July 22nd

Support Persons Training for Misconduct Situations

The past few years have seen increased attention within Mennonite Church Canada on responding faithfully and compassionately to situations of ministerial misconduct. The development of a new nationwide policy—Guiding Ministerial Leadership in the Church (GMLC)—has been crucial to this. And critical to this new policy is tending to the vulnerabilities of the individuals and congregations involved.

When a formal complaint of ministerial misconduct is opened, one of the first steps is to assign a support person to the person filing the complaint (the complainant), the minister named in the complaint (the respondent), and the congregation involved in the complaint.

“Situations of ministerial misconduct cause significant distress for all involved,” says Jeff Friesen, Director of Leadership Ministries for Mennonite Church Manitoba. “It is of vital importance for the church to provide supports for individuals and congregations named in formal complaints of ministerial misconduct so that they may proceed in a safe and informed manner.”

Janessa Nayler-Giesbrecht (Jubilee, image left) is one of MCM’s support persons receiving training for this role. She says, “In April 2024 I graduated with my MA in Christian Ministry from Canadian Mennonite University, which had wrapped up with a thesis project that examined how the church can respond to abuse from the lens of the biblical metaphors of light and darkness. My interest in the topic stems from a deep desire to see the church be a place of transparency, safety, and loving care of all of its members.”

Dan Nighswander (Home Street, image right) is another of MCM’s support persons. “Since early in my ministry I have observed various kinds of ministerial misconduct,” he says. “I've seen the profound impact that has on people, including the church leaders involved. I am committed to accompanying people because I believe that nobody should walk through these traumatic experiences alone.”

Dan, who has extensive ministry experience within MCM, has been very impressed with the GMLC policy. “It is the best policy statement and strategy that we have developed in 50 years of working at these issues,” he says. “We need to keep growing in our sensitivity to everyone involved.”

“While these scenarios will be challenging and complex,” Janessa says, “my hope is that this role will help carve paths forward that bring about clarity, healing, and hope.”

Pray for Janessa, Dan, and Erika Enns-Rodine (Altona Mennonite) as they train for and serve in this role of support person. Pray for Jeff as he gives leadership to this important aspect of our shared ministry as a regional church. To give financially to support this work, see www.mennochurch.mb.ca/giving.