When you come to Kits sometimes it is hard to tell who is in leadership because so many people are involved in the life of our community. There are countless people involved in leadership with Sunday School, Youth Group, Worship, and Community Life. We are grateful for all who contribute their time and gifts to this community!
Staff
Steve Schumm grew up on a Mennonite dairy farm in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, on his Mother’s side, a descendant of the first German Americans – Quakers and Mennonites who responded to William Penn’s invitation to settle a land of freedom – and, on his father’s side, 19th century Amish emigres to Canada (with some German Lutheran and welsh Quaker thrown into the mix.)
Steve felt God’s call to ministry as a young man and has followed the nudging and promptings of the Holy Spirit as it has led to new and surprising places. He studied Bible and Theology at university in Harrisonburg, Virginia and eventually went to seminary at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey in response to God’s call and the encouragement and prompting of those around him.
Married in 2001, Steve and his wife, Joni Sancken, are committed to balancing two callings to serve the church: Steve in congregational ministry and Joni through the training of ministers as she teaches homiletics (preaching).
January of 2024 Steve’s wife, Joni, began a new job as Butler Chair of Preaching and Biblical Interpretation at Vancouver School of Theology. Steve, Joni and their two children, Maggie (age 11) and Teddy (age 8) made the big move across the continent and now live on University Endowed Lands in Vancouver along with their two dogs. They enjoy hiking, traveling and exploring together. Steve enjoys watching almost any sport, reading and traveling.
Steve loves preaching and walking alongside and encouraging people as they live out their faith and their calling. He is hopeful about the future of the church because he trusts in the faithfulness of God.
Kelly Dycavinu is a pastor, writer, and life-long learner based in Vancouver, Canada. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing (UBC), an MA in Theological Studies (Regent College), and is
currently working on a second master’s in Counselling Psychology (UBC).
Kelly is especially interested in ancient Near Eastern texts, classic literature, Greek mythology, folk and fairy tales, trickster narratives, biblical narratives, and creation accounts. How we view ourselves and others is influenced largely by the stories we hear/see and the stories we tell. The link between story and identity fascinates her.
Whatever the task at hand, Kelly takes an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates artistic practices. She loves to capture one’s imagination towards the possibilities and wonders of God’s work in the world, to explore all the multi-faceted ways our stories intersect with God’s.
She enjoys spending time with her two children and their friends, thrift store shopping for vintage/MCM treasures, listening to Ludovico Einaudi’s music, and playing frisbee with Sakona, her two-year-old Aussiedoodle.
A social introvert, Nadia can be lured out of doors to tend gardens of both the literal and figurative nature. She is a pastor at heart, but a nerd in thought. Nadia has spent most of her adult life in urban and international ministry, in Canada, the USA and Africa. She loves her family fiercely, always has a stack of books she is reading, believes in the theology of radical welcome and is reimagining faith all the time.
Click here for the job description
In regard to official leadership the governing structure of the church involves the Church Council which is comprised of people who oversee various areas of our life together and with the pastoral staff set the vision and direction of the church. The Deacons look after pastoral care issues and support the church through prayer and practical care.
Church Council
Moderator: Jenn Milley
Clerk: Diane Fulton
Finance: Nigel Barker
Deacon Rep: Paul Klintworth
Member at Large: Madeline Barbour
Member at Large: Bernadette D’Silva
Other Key Leaders
Giving Administrator: Victor Ewert
Prayer Chain: Lee Best Sunday School Coordinator: Winona Montgomery
Deacons
Chair: Paul Klintworth
Jan Bingham
Thea Ewert
Click here to read the Deacons’ covenants and email guidelines.