Staff Directory

Mission Centre Leadership

Gwyn Beer
Mission Centre Co-President
gwyn@communityofchrist.ca
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
smcadam@communityofchrist.ca
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
kat@communityofchrist.ca
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.

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

Linda Klughart
Mission Centre Recorder
lylak@sasktel.net
306-922-8056

To register 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.
To order or cancel the subscriptions for the Herald In Every Home program.

Debra Donohue
Creating Connection Director
debra@communityofchrist.ca
877-411-2632 ext. 4

To oversee 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.

Sandra Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant
sandra@communityofchrist.ca
877-411-2632 ext. 6

Manage communications for the mission centre
Serve as a point of contact for members and friends of the church seeking information
Assist the mission centre president team with various administrative functions
Manage the clergy registration processes for all four provinces in the mission centre

John Hamer
Canadian Strategic Projects
john@communityofchrist.ca
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
leandro@communityofchrist.ca
647-348-7755

Manages the online presence of Community of Christ in Canada and the Beyond the Walls program
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

For additional Canada-wide staff, see the Canada East Staff Directory page

Art Smith
Canadian Field Apostle
asmith@cofchrist.org
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
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