Photo: Joe Hackman, Salford Mennonite Church; Mark Schloneger, North Goshen Mennonite Church; Joel Miller, Columbus Mennonite Church; and Izaete Nafziger, North Goshen Mennonite Church, at the Dove’s Nest Children’s Dove Awards. Photo by Dove’s Nest. 

North Goshen (Indiana) Mennonite Church received the first-ever Dove’s Nest Children’s Dove Award at the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando during a reception July 5.  

The award was created by the Dove’s Nest Board of Directors to recognize a MC USA individual or congregation that took courageous steps to keep children safe during the past year.  

North Goshen’s Pastor of Community Service and Outreach Izaete Nafziger was present to receive the award, along with lead pastor Mark Schloneger. Jeanette Harder, co-founder of Dove’s Nest and president of its board of directors and Kathy Haake, interim executive director, presented the award. 

“Amidst crises in the denomination related to sexual abuse and misconduct, it is important to recognize the positive efforts many individuals and churches are making to keep children safe,” said Nancy Kauffmann, a member of the Dove’s Nest board and the Children’s Dove award committee. “This award demonstrates how far many churches have come in recognizing abuse and prioritizing education and prevention.”

Dove’s Nest, which is not formally associated with MC USA, has a mission to “empower and equip faith communities to keep children and youth safe in their homes, churches and communities.” The nonprofit organization serves congregations in MC USA and other denominations. 

The individual who nominated North Goshen for the award highlighted several significant ways the congregation worked to keep children safe in their congregations and homes.

“North Goshen Mennonite Church actively pursued the resources provided by Dove’s Nest, not only for Circle of Grace materials but also for child abuse education and social media and technology education training,” the nomination read. “They also reached out to their community by hosting community events, bringing in attendees from a diverse group of church members and youth workers across a variety of faith groups and agencies, in addition to educating their own congregation.”  

Other nominees included Columbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church and Salford Mennonite Church in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.  

Nominations for Columbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church (CMC) pointed out their children and youth protection web page, as well as volunteer trainings offered throughout the year. CMC also organized and began implementing a Keeping Columbus Mennonite Church Safe annual training.  

Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, Pennsylvania, had a worship service in March to prepare for Child Abuse Prevention Month that included reflections on the journey of abuse and healing. Words of lament and words of hope were read by survivors to recognize and honor their stories and other stories in the congregation and commit to healing for the community.