Staff Directory

Canada West Mission Centre

Gwyn Beer
Mission Centre Co-President
[email protected]
877-411-2632 ext. 1

Liaison to both Hills of Peace and Samish Island campground boards.
Non-resident ministry.
Advises on practical matters around registrations and processes.
With Kat as “heart” and Shannon as “head”, Gwyn is the “hands” of the mission centre president team.
Gwyn is a retiree who can often be found caring for animals large and small on farms and in homes. She also loves to travel. She serves as congregational financial officer in Chilliwack, where she also helps plan the chapel décor.
Gwyn is an Elder in Community of Christ.

Shannon McAdam
Mission Centre Co-President
[email protected]
877-411-2632 ext. 2

Convenes and facilitates meetings.
Supervises staff.
Encourages and supports new expressions of community and ministry such as Nurturing Spirit retreats.
With Gwyn as “hands” and Kat as “heart”, Shannon is the “head” of the mission centre president team.
Shannon has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Graceland University and a Master of Divinity degree from Vancouver School of Theology. Her full time job is in business technology. Shannon and her husband Matthew love playing board games in their spare time.
Shannon is an Elder in Community of Christ.

Kat Goheen
Mission Centre Co-President
[email protected]
877-411-2632 ext. 3

Pastor to the pastors.
A trained Spiritual Director.
With Gwyn as “hands” and Shannon as “head”, Kat is the “heart” of the mission centre president team.
Kat has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Graceland University and two masters degrees in biblical studies from Vancouver School of Theology.
Kat teaches music and is a companion to spiritual directors who are in training. She shares her love of music and laughter with her husband Jon and her two daughters.
Kat is a High Priest in Community of Christ.

Becky Middleton
Mission Centre Co-President
[email protected]

Elder in Community of Christ.
Pastor and financial officer for Senlac congregation.
Offers support and is an advisor while learning from other team members.
Retired farmer and federal retail business owner.
Becky lives on farm in Saskatchewan with her husband Doug.
Enjoys spending time with friends and family members, including 5 grandchildren.
Loves to travel in general, as well as volunteering in Honduras with World Accord.
With Shannon as head, Kat as heart and Gwyn as hands, Becky acts as the listening ears for the Mission Centre President Team.

Janine McCully
Mission Centre Recorder

Registers life events, such as births, deaths, marriages, blessings, ordinations, baptisms, divorces, address changes, and transfers into or out of congregations. These life events are then accessible for local, mission, and World church use.
Performs orders or cancellations of subscriptions for the Herald In Every Home program.

Steve Thompson
Mission Centre Historian
[email protected]

Compiles history (CWM) annual reports/Christ’s Mission
Compiles World Church related issues
Congregations (active historian) receiving annual reports for CWM records/process for World Church (Archivist) upon request
Congregations (non-active historian’s) recording basic/extensive records
Pastor contact for initializing historian/assisting appointed historian historical resume of history (request)/World Church referral (request)

Debra Donohue
Creating Connection Director
[email protected]
877-411-2632 ext. 4

Creates welcoming and meaningful activities by offering events that interest both church members and our communities.
Oversees projects in the Creating Connection division such as Coffee and Conversation, Nurturing Spirit Retreats and other events advertised on Meetup and Facebook.
To see upcoming events go to the Connections page or go to the Creating Connection Meetup group.

Sam Smalldon
Bishop of Canada
[email protected]
888-411-7537 ext. 34
519-822-4150 ext. 34

Heather Huffman
Accounting and Administrative Specialist
[email protected]
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

Jeanny Jakobsen
Operations Specialist
[email protected]

John Hamer
Canadian Strategic Projects
[email protected]
647-348-7755

Facilitates the “All Voices: Discerning Across Canada” initiative and the emerging strategic plan for Community of Christ in Canada in concert with the field apostle
Manages the “Revitalizing Canadian Congregations” and “Canadian Mission Strategies” projects
Co-directs the “Beyond the Walls” global ministry
Serves as historian for the Canada East Mission Centre

Leandro Palacios
Information Officer
[email protected]
647-348-7755

Manages the online presence of Community of Christ in Canada
Develops and implements Canada-wide marketing and communications strategies
Leads Canada-wide marketing communications strategies and information technology staff, contractors, and volunteers
Manages communications and information technology assets
Coordinates the production and publication of media resources
Co-directs the “Beyond the Walls” global ministry

Art Smith
Canadian Field Apostle
[email protected]
800-825-2806 ext. 3059

Art is a Member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of Community of Christ. Assigned to the Canada, Haiti, and Mexico Mission Fields
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
[email protected]
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