Response to invitation

Dear Herman Bontrager, Arli Klassen, Ann Hershberger, and Rolando Santiago,

Thank you for your letter of response, and for your invitation to work together with your board and staff towards positive change.  We would like to accept that invitation.  We are currently working on a longer more substantial response that addresses some of the issues raised in your letter.

In the meantime, we wanted to respond to your invitation for dialogue during the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Columbus.  We especially value opportunities to talk face to face, and we appreciate the suggestion of meeting during the convention. Unfortunately, very few members of our group plan to be there.  Considering the fact that members of our group live in various places, it may be most practical for us to talk with you by phone. Perhaps we can schedule such a meeting some time after the assembly.

We signed our letter in hope.  We have not given up on MCC.  The actions we have taken are signs of our deep caring and commitment to the work of anti-racism within MCC.

Again in good hope,

Tim Barr, Calenthia Dowdy, Brenda Zook Friesen, Karissa Ortman Loewen, Conrad Moore, Yvonne Platts, Tobin Miller Shearer, Regina Shands Stoltzfus