Biblical Mennonite Alliance and credential removal of past abusers

[Ernie]

BMAs moderator (president??) did recently resign because of the orphanage situation. This paragraph(sent to me) summarizes his reasons. The resignation was apparently for reasons of conscience which appear to be honorable.

“I cannot continue to function in a setting where I bear ultimate
responsibility for the decisions but have little or no authority for
how they are crafted. Furthermore, I cannot, in good conscience, support the denigration of whistleblowers and the minimization of failures by those in positions of authority.”

The last sentence is very concerning. Whistleblowers being denigrated? Minimization of failures?

He's still listed as moderator on the website. https://biblicalmennonite.com/contact/

[GelassenheitBnksi]

What exactly does it mean to denigrate? I had to look the word up to understand it:

Denigrate means to criticize unfairly or attack the reputation of someone or something; to belittle, disparage, or speak damagingly about.

1 Timothy mentioned another brother resigned as well. What was his title and how does it relate to the moderator to title?

It is also interesting that the resignations appear to have happened before Eicher’s crimes against children were uncovered.

Eicher’s crimes have been reported so what is the likelihood that he’s prosecuted in a similar way to Jeriah Mast? I have heard that the feds are driving for 30 years per count in his case. Obviously, if this goes through Mast is in jail for life.

Did you mean Eicher is in jail for life? I don’t imagine Mast has any connection to this case?

Eicher is not in jail but could face serious charges should the feds get a hold of the case as they did with Jeriah Mast. No connection.

[ken_sylvania]

What exactly does it mean to denigrate? I had to look the word up to understand it:

Denigrate means to criticize unfairly or attack the reputation of someone or something; to belittle, disparage, or speak damagingly about.

1 Timothy mentioned another brother resigned as well. What was his title and how does it relate to the moderator to title?

It is also interesting that the resignations appear to have happened before Eicher’s crimes against children were uncovered.

Eicher’s crimes have been reported so what is the likelihood that he’s prosecuted in a similar way to Jeriah Mast? I have heard that the feds are driving for 30 years per count in his case. Obviously, if this goes through Mast is in jail for life.

Did you mean Eicher is in jail for life? I don’t imagine Mast has any connection to this case?

Eicher is not in jail but could face serious charges should the feds get a hold of the case as they did with Jeriah Mast. No connection.

Is this known fact or just wild speculation?

[ohio jones]

He's still listed as moderator on the website. https://biblicalmennonite.com/contact/

I wouldn't expect that to be updated immediately, perhaps not until a successor is named, which could take some time.

[JohnH]

Did you mean Eicher is in jail for life? I don’t imagine Mast has any connection to this case?

Eicher is not in jail but could face serious charges should the feds get a hold of the case as they did with Jeriah Mast. No connection.

Is this known fact or just wild speculation?

“If the Feds charge someone with serious charges, they could face serious charges.”

So far nobody’s even said what Eicher did or didn’t do, beyond insufficient grocery shopping. I’m not downplaying anything, but there’s a notable lack of information.

[GelassenheitBnksi]

Eicher is not in jail but could face serious charges should the feds get a hold of the case as they did with Jeriah Mast. No connection.

Is this known fact or just wild speculation?

“If the Feds charge someone with serious charges, they could face serious charges.”

So far nobody’s even said what Eicher did or didn’t do, beyond insufficient grocery shopping. I’m not downplaying anything, but there’s a notable lack of information.

That information is readily available on FB. Reference the official communication from BMA that's been posted online. It's speculation on whether or not the federal authorities pursue charges, not speculation that abuse occurred. The crimes have definitely been reported so it's a waiting to see if they choose to move the case forward.

[JohnH]

Is this known fact or just wild speculation?

“If the Feds charge someone with serious charges, they could face serious charges.”

So far nobody’s even said what Eicher did or didn’t do, beyond insufficient grocery shopping. I’m not downplaying anything, but there’s a notable lack of information.

That information is readily available on FB--reference the official communication from BMA that's been posted online. It's speculation on whether or not the federal authorities pursue charges, not speculation that abuse occurred. The crimes have definitely been reported so it's a waiting to see if they choose to move the case forward.

I’m not that active on FB. I don’t know where to read BMA’s official communication either.

[GelassenheitBnksi]

BMAs moderator (president??) did recently resign because of the orphanage situation. This paragraph(sent to me) summarizes his reasons. The resignation was apparently for reasons of conscience which appear to be honorable.

“I cannot continue to function in a setting where I bear ultimate
responsibility for the decisions but have little or no authority for
how they are crafted. Furthermore, I cannot, in good conscience, support the denigration of whistleblowers and the minimization of failures by those in positions of authority.”

The last sentence is very concerning. Whistleblowers being denigrated? Minimization of failures?

He's still listed as moderator on the website. https://biblicalmennonite.com/contact/

J. Mark Horst, BMA moderator, resigned March 2nd, 2026. Jason Groff, chairman of the overseers resigned at the same time for similar reasons.

Authorities in Mexico (perhaps social services?) removed the orphanage children a week later. Is it possible that these two brothers were attempting to intervene but were withstood by others in BMA leadership? Horst’s statement would indicate something of that nature.

[Ernie]

He's still listed as moderator on the website. https://biblicalmennonite.com/contact/

I wouldn't expect that to be updated immediately, perhaps not until a successor is named, which could take some time.

Is that common? I would have thought that it would be updated with "interim moderator" or something like that.

[ohio jones]

He's still listed as moderator on the website. https://biblicalmennonite.com/contact/

I wouldn't expect that to be updated immediately, perhaps not until a successor is named, which could take some time.

Is that common? I would have thought that it would be updated with "interim moderator" or something like that.

I didn't realize the resignations were back in March rather than more recent. There might or might not have been an interim, but I expect a moderator has been appointed at the recent convention. The "moderator@" email from the contact page probably goes to the right person.

I don't get the impression that website updates are a priority; the congregational directory includes at least one church that has not been part of the alliance for well over a year.