Anabaptist pastor arrested, charged with sexual assault
Bruxy Cavey, a longtime pastor at The Meeting House, an Anabaptist megachurch based in Oakville, Ont., was arrested by police in Hamilton, Ont., on May 31, charged with sexual assault. He was subsequently released to appear in a Hamilton court on June 27. In March Cavey resigned from his position as senior pastor of the…
Victim or Perpetrator: What am I?
In the aftermath of an investigation by two Mennonite institutions, that found my late father guilty of sexual misconduct (June 7, 2021, page 24), I am trying to decide whether I am a victim or a perpetrator. My father, Frank H. Epp, died 35 years ago. I have lived longer without him than with him…
Investigation reveals misconduct by influential Mennonite leader
Two Mennonite organizations have reported findings of inappropriate sexual behaviour by influential leader Frank H. Epp. Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCC) announced on May 27 that they cooperated on an investigation conducted by an independent team, based on a disclosure that was decades old and was recently brought forward again.…
Scholar researches coverage of sexual violence in Mennonite church press
In her recent research Carol Penner surveyed how the church periodicals, Gospel Herald, The Mennonite, and Canadian Mennonite reported on sexual violence from 1970 to the present. What she found became the subject of the annual Benjamin Eby Lecture, which features research of a Conrad Grebel University College faculty member. Penner is an assistant professor…
A church once sacred and safe is now suspect
My grandfather smoked, but I didn’t know it. Grandma didn’t want us to see him smoking and pick up the habit, but they agreed he could continue as long as it was out of sight. I had no idea until years after his passing, when a coworker returned from a smoke break smelling just like…
Credentials terminated for theologian-academic-pastor
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada recently terminated the ministerial credentials of John D. Rempel of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., following an investigation into complaints of ministerial sexual misconduct. The complaints were brought to the regional church by Marcus Shantz, president of Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont., after former students brought allegations of sexual misconduct by Rempel to…
Pastoral misconduct investigation mishandled, says complainant
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada should have taken action against Wilmer Martin at least two years ago, says one of the people responsible for bringing complaints against him to the regional church. Doug Johnson Hatlem, who served as co-pastor at Erb Street Mennonite Church in Waterloo, Ont., from August 2016 until January 2020, says MC Eastern…
MC Eastern Canada terminates retired pastor’s ministerial credentials
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada has terminated a retired pastor’s ministerial credential after investigating him for ministerial misconduct and ministerial sexual misconduct. The regional church made the announcement about Wilmer Martin, 75, of Waterloo, Ont., on June 16. Martin served pastorates at Tavistock (Ont.) Mennonite Church and Erb Street Mennonite Church in Waterloo from 1968 to…
Report names Jean Vanier as an abuser
On Feb. 22, L’Arche International released a summary report of the abuse investigation of their deceased founder, Jean Vanier. It concluded he had sexually abused six women over a period of 35 years. Vanier was a celebrated Canadian theologian and activist famous for his advocacy for people with developmental disabilities. He founded L’Arche, a community-based…
Reporting on #ChurchToo
Over the years, Canadian Mennonite has reported on sexual misconduct within the Mennonite context. As a member of the church press, we have tried to carry out our ongoing commitment to report on such stories with journalistic integrity, respect and sensitivity. Yet, sometimes the reports have stirred up pain and objections among readers. Occasionally, readers…
