Release Date: June 3rd, 2026MCEC Responds to Alleged Misconduct by a Church Leader
Charges Laid Against James Evans, Former MCEC Pastor
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC), through a recent CBC News report published online June 1, 2026, has become aware that police have laid charges against former pastor James Evans for alleged historic sexual assaults of minors.
James Evans was a licensed pastor with MCEC from 1998 – 2000 while serving at Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church. At the conclusion of his employment with Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, his pastoral license expired. He is no longer a licensed pastor with MCEC. We do not know whether the alleged incidents occurred during the time he was licensed with MCEC.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/who-we-are/sexual-assault-and-child-abuse.aspx.
MCEC takes church leader misconduct seriously. In partnership with our nationwide body, Mennonite Church Canada, we hold all pastors to a high standard of ethical conduct. We have policies, procedures and training for pastoral leaders that promote safe and ethical interactions between pastors and participants in our faith communities. We commit to ongoing review and strengthening of these safeguards.
Through Mennonite Church Canada, we provide a web-based resource for understanding, reporting and responding to misconduct by church leaders. If you are a victim-survivor of misconduct of a church leader, we encourage you to come forward. You may contact MCEC Leadership Minister, Marilyn Rudy-Froese at mrudyfroese@mcec.ca or MCEC Executive Minister, Anthony Siegrist at executiveminister@mcec.ca. You may also contact Rossana Sabalones (MSW, RSW) at Camino: Wellbeing + Mental Health by phone at 519-743-6333 or by email at intaketeam@caminowellbeing.ca. Additional information is available on the MC Canada website at https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resources/leader-misconduct.
Our prayer is that God’s grace and compassionate love will surround, sustain and bring healing to all who have been affected.