By Glen Guyton, COO of Mennonite Church USA and Dove's Nest Speaker's Bureau Member

Maybe nothing better illustrates the need for clear boundary lines than the hymn by Thomas H. Troeger,

“God marked a line and told the sea, its surging tides and waves were free to travel up the sloping strand, but not to overtake the land.”

Even in nature, we see that by design God created natural barriers to protect various aspects of His creation. They say good fences make good neighbors and I say healthy boundaries make healthy ministries.

“Even though we are a Christian school and environment, abuse happens.” This was a comment from one of the staff at Freeman Academy where Dove’s Nest speaker Brenda L. Yoder, LMHC, did a staff training on abuse, bullying, grooming, relationships, social media, and boundaries. 

As a new school year approaches, Dove's Nest is providing three new downloadable coloring pages for use in your classrooms. Please print these and share widely with the children in your congregation, school, or home. 

By Jeanette Harder, Dove's Nest Cofounder and Board President

Is it possible?

That’s a big question: is it possible to bring an individual with sex offense history into our church? After processing our emotional reaction to the question, it also spawns a lot more questions.

North Goshen Mennonite Church received the first-ever Children’s Dove Award from Dove’s Nest at the Mennonite Church USA Orlando 2017 Convention during a reception on Wednesday, July 5.

This award was created by the Dove’s Nest board to recognize a Mennonite Church USA individual or church that did something courageous to keep children safe. 

The individual who nominated North Goshen highlighted the following ways the church has made significant efforts toward keeping children safe: 

By Marlene Bogard, Dove's Nest Speaker's Bureau Member and Executive Director of Mennonite Women USA

Congregational mentoring programs are designed to nurture a spiritual friendship—one youth to one adult. How does the mentoring relationship fit with some of the procedures that Dove’s Nest suggests?

 The “rule” that two adults be present at every event where there is youth or children's ministry may frustrate mentors as they plan times with their mentee.

The biennial Mennonite Church USA convention will take place July 4-8, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. Several of the Dove's Nest staff, board members, Speaker's Bureau members, and volunteers will be participating and leading the following fifteen seminars and events:

Dove's Nest Sponsored Event and Seminars

If a child/youth discloses abuse or neglect to you or you have a suspicion, believe the child/youth and make a report immediately to local authorities. Remember: you don’t have to have evidence or proof. Do not do the investigation yourself—or anything that resembles that. Cooperate with professionals who conduct the investigation.

Follow these steps:

By Jim Amstutz, Akron, Pennsylvania, a missional church coach and consultant. He was a pastor for twenty-one years in two Mennonite Church USA congregations and currently serves on several nonprofit boards that address issues of homelessness, poverty, and returning citizens. He is married to Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, Restorative Justice Coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee U.S., and together they have three adult children.

1. Abuse is a crime and a sin.

For many of us, church feels good and safe. We were loved there as children and respected there as adults. In fact, we often describe our churches as “families” or caring communities where all are accepted. We trust one another, and we feel confident that others want the best for us and our families.

But for some of us, church was not only unsafe, it was destructive. Abuse by a church leader or an adult in the church community impacts us forever and can drastically change how a victim/survivor understands God.