As an alumnus of Conrad Grebel University College and a resident of Grebel during several of the years during which John D. Rempel served as chaplain and residence director, I am deeply saddened by the disclosures of misconduct that have come to light.
I honour the difficult decision of Rempel’s victims to come forward, and I acknowledge the courage and fortitude required to do so, even so many years later. In addition to the formal expressions of heartbreak, sadness, and regret, the Grebel alumni directly impacted by Rempel’s conduct should know they have the prayers and support of their alumni association as they seek some form of release from incidents that have, by now, become a lifelong, life-altering burden.
For many who know John Rempel personally, the news of his misconduct comes as a sharp blow to both mind and spirit. I remember John Rempel for his love of God, his commitment to the church, his faith in its institutions and ordinances, and for the energy he brought to interpreting the gospel for the modern era. I deeply regret that the misconduct now revealed will eclipse the contributions he made—through worship, teaching and writing—to the Christian formation of so many.
Our Christian duty—and the way of peace—is to care for both those who experienced Rempel’s misconduct and the man who committed such grievous offences. For our fellow alumni, we pray for closure, comfort, and healing. For the offender, we hope for contrition, repentance, and restoration.
Larry Cornies (1975) Grebel Alumni Association
