KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mennonite Church USA delegates on July 3 approved a statement confessing the church’s failure to offer healing for survivors of sexual abuse and vowing to “change our ways.”

The “Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse” says: “We resolve to tell the truth about sexual abuse; hold abusers accountable; acknowledge the seriousness of their sin; listen with care to those who have been wounded; protect vulnerable persons from injury; work restoratively for justice; and hold out hope that wounds will be healed, forgiveness offered and relationships established or re-established in a healthy way.”

It lists six action steps for congregations and six for church institutions.

Steps for congregations include making sure that child-protection policies are in place and followed, and teaching members the realities for sexualized violence.

Steps for institutions include implementing policies on sexual harassment and abuse, teaching and modeling mutuality between men and women and challenging the church’s legacy of patriarchy.

The statement confesses “that we have often responded [to sexual abuse] with denial, fear and self-preservation. We have tended to listen to voices who have positional power, rather than to those who have been violated and those who are most vulnerable. In this way, we have enabled sexual abuse to continue while silencing and disregarding the testimony of victims. We lament that our inaction permits abuse to continue and the ways we obstruct God’s healing.”

‘Tell me I am worthy’

A woman who identified herself as a survivor of abuse pleaded with the delegates to open their hearts and listen to those who are suffering.

“I need you, the church, to tell me that I am worthy, that I have a voice, that I am not filthy,” she said with deep emotion.

Moderator Elizabeth Soto Albrecht replied: “You are a gift to this body. You are valued, you are important, we love you.”

Megan Ramer of Chicago called the resolution a good start that didn’t go far enough. She said more public transparency and accountability for known sexual predators was needed.

Brenda Martin Hurst of Frazer, Pa., said it was important to hear as well as tell the truth about sexual abuse, including the voices of LGBT people.

Several delegates wished for inclusion of a wider range of abuse problems.

Ruth Abraham of Austin, Texas, was disappointed that the resolution made no explicit mention of victims of sexual abuse by Mennonite theologian John Howard Yoder.

Harriet Berg of Hidden Valley, Pa., said the document should have mentioned victims of domestic abuse.

The resolution passed with three opposing votes.

Delegates read a litany that said: “By God’s grace, open our eyes so that we may no longer be accomplices of evil.”

See also: “MC USA service laments sexual abuse“