I am a charter member of Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship in New York, where John D. Rempel was charter pastor from 1989 to 2000. I grieve over the disclosure of long-prior sexual misconduct that has resulted in the removal of John’s credentials. As pastor, he brought many valuable spiritual teachings. At present, any path to reconciliation and restorative justice seems blocked. My heart grieves for both accuser and accused. I trust we will not need to wait for the Heavenly Banquet for reconciliation. There must be ways for reconciliation and restoration for John, for those who experienced the misconduct and for the Mennonite institutions that have condemned him while teaching peace and reconciliation.

Merv Horst,
New York