Mennonite Mission Network apologized in August for initially failing to investigate a 2018 allegation of sexual harassment against an employee, according to documents made public Nov. 26 by Mennonite Abuse Prevention, a survivor advocacy group.

The employee, Kent Peters, a Mennonite Voluntary Service assistant in Newton, Kan., since 2007, was terminated in April 2021 based on evidence of inappropriate conduct.

In an Aug. 4 letter, which MAP posted on its website, Lyz Weaver, who was MMN ­senior executive for human resources at that time, admitted to the woman who brought the complaint that an MMN staff member’s failure to follow up on her report in 2018 was a violation of policy, a “grave lapse” and an “institutional betrayal of you and other victims.” MMN offered to pay for therapeutic support for her.

MAP reported that at least 10 women, many of them minors at the time of the incidents, have accused Peters of “sexually abusive or otherwise concerning behavior from approximately 2008 to 2021.” MMN told MAP it had “reviewed copies of an extensive series of inappropriate text messages” from Peters to a female minor. MAP posted screenshots of sexually suggestive text messages to a 15-year-old girl.

Citing reports by Into Account, another survivor advocacy group, MAP stated Peters contacted girls through his roles at Camp Mennoscah, a Mennonite camp in Kansas where he was a counselor for at least 17 years. A woman said she told a camp counselor of an allegation in 2015 or 2016, but the counselor did not tell anyone in a leadership role. Mennoscah removed Peters as a counselor and board member in 2019.

According to MAP, Peters continued to serve in leadership roles with youth at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel at least into 2020, although Mennoscah notified Alexanderwohl of an allegation in 2019. A March 21, 2021, letter to Alexanderwohl members stated Peters had been “granted a leave of absence from all responsibilities as a youth leader.” The leave of absence remains in effect.

The North Newton Police Department opened an investigation and interviewed at least 15 women. North Newton police chief Randy Jordan told AW “the vast majority” of women with complaints about Peters “have trauma caused by their interaction with him.” Jordan said the investigation remains open “because we want to give all potential victims the opportunity to tell their story.”

On Dec. 17, MMN published an online statement acknowledging Peters’ misconduct. 

“It is with deep sorrow that Mission Network recognizes the harm caused by its former employee’s misconduct, the failure to immediately report sexual harassment or abuse, and the agency’s delayed response,” the statement concludes. “Mission Network is grateful for the courage of survivors to share their experiences, and for the advocacy and collaboration of organizations like Mennonite Abuse Prevention (MAP) and Into Account. Through this process Mission Network identified its deficits. The agency is committed to improve and will do so through its strengthened policies, procedures and training.”