Mission Centre Leadership

Kerry Richards
Mission Centre President
kerry@communityofchrist.ca
888-411-7537 ext. 28
519-822-4150 ext. 28

• Chief administrative, pastoral, and expansion ministries
• Oversight of CEM field staff

• Oversight of Leadership and Priesthood
• Congregational and new meet-up group supports Oversight of CEM programming
• Oversight of Missional Strategies

Dar Shepherdson
Bishop of Canada
​Mission Centre Financial Officer
dar@communityofchrist.ca
888-411-7537 ext. 34
519-822-4150 ext. 34

• Executive Director of the Canadian Corp
• Lead for funding for mission activities
• Teaching/Preaching stewardship and Disciple’s Generous Response
• Oversees management and maintenance of church properties/Risk management
• Recruiting/Supervising CFOs and Recorders 

Administrative Staff

Melissa Freer
MCP Administrative Support and Camping Ministries
melissa@communityofchrist.ca
888-411-7537 ext. 24
519-822-4150 ext. 24​

• Mission Centre President support, including priesthood calls – CEM
• Camping Project Administrator, including Registered Child and Youth Worker program – CEM
• Payroll and Benefits Coordinator – World Church Canada, CEM, CWM
• Website updates
• Communications and announcement support
• Temple school and eLearning support

Heather Huffman
Accounting and Administrative Specialist
heather@communityofchrist.ca
888-411-7537 ext. 23
519-822-4150 ext. 23

• Accounting, including disbursements – World Church Canada, CEM, Projects
• MCFO / Bishop of Canada support, including oblation – World Church, CEM
• Contribution receipting and Pre-Authorized Transfer (PAT) – World Church, CEM, CWM
• CFO support, including Shelby, CRA, and T3010 – CEM, CWM
• Invoicing for payroll, risk (insurance), HIEH – CEM, CWM
• Mission Centre Recorder and Congregational Recorder support – CEM

Ministerial Staff

Troy Roach
Creating Connection Director (CEM)
troy@communityofchrist.ca
519-404-3357

• Creating Connection Strategic implementation
• Barrie Centreplace community integration
• Products 4 Purpose coordinator
• Meetup.com network & program coordinator
• Creating Connection groups facilitation, mentoring, recruiting, support and training
• Connection Retreat/Sunstone Toronto co-organizer

Mary Jean Belrose
Creating Connection Networking Specialist​
maryjean@communityofchrist.ca
519-385-1426

• CEM Communications – Mission Expressions / What’s Happening newsletters
• Connection Retreat Administration
• CEM Community Networking Specialist
• Creating Connections external communications

John Hamer
Canadian Marketing Specialist
john.c.hamer@gmail.com
647-348-7755

• Marketing design, creative and editing support
• Congregational Facility and Strategy Transitions
• New Expressions pilot projects specialist
• History, Theology, Philosophy, Interfaith communications

Leandro Palacios
Canadian Marketing Specialist
leandro@centreplace.ca
647-348-7755

• Marketing Specialist for Community of Christ in Canada
• Creating Connections CEM Project management, web and social media specialist
• Livestreaming support specialist

World Church Leadership

Art Smith
Canadian Field Apostle
asmith@cofchrist.org
800-825-2806 ext. 3059

Art Smith is a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of Community of Christ. He is assigned to the Canada, Haiti, and Mexico Mission Fields.

A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Art received a bachelor of arts in philosophy and religion from Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa, and a master of arts in religion from Park University, Parkville, Missouri.

John Glaser
Field Missionary Coordinator, President of Seventy
jglaser@cofchrist.org
816-786-9462

John Glaser holds the priesthood office of seventy and is President of Seventy for Quorum 8 with geographical emphasis in the Caribbean Mission Field and the Canada-Haiti-Mexico Mission Fields.

Born in Whittier, California, John received a bachelor of arts with a major in history from Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa; a master of urban planning from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas; and a PhD in education from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.