Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA terminated the credentials of Jeffery L. Kauffman on Aug. 6 for sexual misconduct that took place when he was lead pastor of Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio.

Conference minister Dick Barrett reported in the conference’s Ohio Mennonite Evangel newsletter that Ohio Conference received a complaint on June 19 alleging Kauffman was in a sexual relationship with an adult female member while serving at Zion.

Before Zion, Kauffman was lead pastor from 2003 to 2008 at Weavers Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., and associate pastor from 1997 to 2000 at First Mennonite Church in Middlebury, Ind. He has not served in pastoral ministry since 2016.

Ohio Conference’s Credentialing Ministry Team reviewed the report and filed a charge of ministerial sexual misconduct on July 22. Kauffman cooperated with the investigation, agreed with the charge on Aug. 3 and made a formal request to relinquish his ministerial credentials.

“It is our prayer that all those who have been affected by this misconduct and misconduct similar to this will be able to experience the justice, grace, mercy, love and healing of Jesus Christ,” Barrett wrote.