MCC offers resources to address sexual violence

MCC provides free resources, developing new material
By Rachel Bergen   

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has four free resources about sexual abuse and violence that are available in English and Spanish. They are:

• Understanding sexual abuse by a church leader or caregiver
• Created Equal  – Women and Men in the Image of God
• Pornography: Lies, truth, hope
• Abuse: Response and prevention – A guide for church leaders

MCC is also working to provide additional resources for church leaders on teaching about healthy sexuality.

“We have to provide more education,” says Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MCC U.S. restorative justice coordinator, “so those kind of things don’t continue to happen and that when they do, survivors aren’t going to be blamed or not believed.”

Sexual violence, from unwanted sexual advances to rape, is something we need to speak about openly, says Stutzman Amstutz,.

“We know that sexual violence affects millions of people in the U.S and that every 98 seconds someone in this country is sexually assaulted,” she says, citing statistics from RAINN, a national anti-sexual violence organization. “Unfortunately, we know it happens in the church too.”

MCC is combining its voice with those of other Christian-based nonprofits, churches and organizations that are part of We Will Speak Out (WWSO) U.S., a coalition committed to ending sexual violence. MCC is a sponsoring organization of IMA World Health, which launched WWSO in 2011. IMA is a faith-based organization that seeks to build healthier communities by collaborating with key partners to serve vulnerable people.

MCC U.S.’ work with WWSO started with a listening project of online surveys and focus groups to learn people’s thoughts and experiences related to sexual violence and the church.

The survey respondents expressed a need for MCC’s assistance in terms of educational resources, challenging societal norms and learning about mental health and emotional support services that are available locally.

"We asked people what the challenges for addressing sexual violence are, and people identified stigma, victim blaming and a lack of understanding and safety,” Stutzman Amstutz says.

Barbra Graber of Harrisonburg, Virginia, participated in the six-month listening project through the online survey that she promoted on her blog. As a survivor of sexual violence herself, she was glad to participate.

“So seldom are survivors at the table, so when a Mennonite organization like MCC actually makes an effort to talk to survivors, that’s a big deal,” says Graber.

A group of more than 20 MCC constituents and staff came together in December 2016 to review the results of the listening project and to discern next steps. The group encourages congregations and individuals to use the current MCC resources as new resources are being prepared.

Mennonite Central Committee is a relief, development and peace ministry that serves in the name of Christ.

Rachel Bergen is an MCC writer.

MCC U.S.is encouraging orders of any or all of MCC’s four, free resources about sexual violence, which are available in English and Spanish. They are Understanding sexual abuse by a church leader or caregiver; Created Equal  – Women and Men in the Image of God; Pornography: Lies, truth, hope; and Abuse: Response and prevention – A guide for church leaders. To order, email resources@mcc.org or call toll free, 888-563-4676.  MCC photo

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