The PNMC staff and the PNMC Pastoral Leadership Team are committed to take all claims of ministerial misconduct seriously, and to provide a safe place for persons who have been harmed to report situations of ministerial sexual misconduct and any other abuse of ministerial roles and relationships.

What is ministerial sexual misconduct?  Ministerial sexual misconduct can include sexualized behavior by a minister involving individuals with whom the minister has a professional relationship, unusual attention given or received by a pastor, or other occasions when a credentialed person abuses the trust placed in him or her. Further description and examples of sexual misconduct can be found in A Shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership:  Polity Manual for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA, pp. 68-70.

Other examples of ministerial abuse and misconduct include:

• Violations of confidentiality
• Use of technology for illegal or immoral purposes
• Use of pornography
• Intentional deceptions or dishonesty, including misrepresentation of oneself in training or past records
• Acts of physical, emotional or spiritual abuse
• Gross negligence of ministerial responsibilities
• Financial irresponsibility, mismanagement or irregularities
• Sexual abuse, sexual violence, or sexual harassment
• Failure to be accountable to the area conference that holds the credential
• Major theological deviation from Christian and Anabaptist/Mennonite understandings
• The effort to harm the leadership of a ministry colleague
• Behaviors that undermine the congregation, another congregation, or the relationship with the wider Mennonite church (from A Shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership:  Polity Manual for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA, pp. 69-70)

Reports of misconduct should be made to the PNMC Conference Safety Liaison, Duncan Smith (503-707-4012). We will receive your story, connect you with an advocate and support person, and commit to following the policies and procedures described in the Mennonite Church USA Abuse Prevention & Accountability Resource.

If the report of misconduct is against a PNMC staff person, reporting should be made to the MCUSA denominational minister serving PNMC: Rachel Ringenberg Miller (574-523-3010).