Introducing Lanette Vawter: Director of Leadership Development

By Lanette Vawter, Director of Leadership Development

As the newest director for Community of Christ Canada, I am pleased to introduce myself and look forward to our work together. I am committed to fostering inclusive communities where everyone feels they belong and can contribute meaningfully to our shared mission. My role involves connecting with and supporting current leaders, as well as overseeing and implementing a leadership development strategy across Canada.

Growing up in the Prince George Mission of Community of Christ in British Columbia in the 1960s and 1970s, we met primarily in each other’s homes. I learned at a very young age the value of the scripture:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20, NRSVUE)

It was in this small mission that I learned how the Spirit of God infuses even the humblest of gatherings with meaning and purpose. The humility and faithfulness of this congregation continue to inspire and support my own faith development. The knowledge that each life matters and has something to contribute has shaped my approach to leadership.

My values of inclusion and belonging have influenced my work as a director of community services for an organization that supports persons with intellectual disabilities. These values also inform my personal relationships, my work as a spiritual director, and my life in the church as a member and an elder. As we move forward together, I hope we can deepen our engagement and act with greater love to make the peaceable kingdom a reality.