2026 Report of the National Commission on Ministry

The Commission on Ministry continues to maintain its focus on its two main functions;

Supporting our Ministers and Ministerial Candidates throughout their journey from the time of acceptance as a candidate under care to ordination, and
Manage the process of clergy standing in collaboration with the regional office.

Our team of ministerial candidates continue to work diligently towards their goals. The following provides an update of activities and candidates supported and guided over the last two years and prior.

Mike Poworoznyk, was accepted under care in 2021. While working on his MDiv, he served for some time at West Gore Disciples Church in West Gore Nova Scotia as a student minister. He later accepted a position as pastor of Halifax Metro Vineyard. He completed his MDiv this spring. Mike has since withdrawn his candidacy from DoC.

Bradley Williams was taken under care in November 2022. He continues to serve as interim minister at Freedom Church, Windsor. His gifts and talents expose him to more service for the church. He took on the role as treasurer of the Regional Executive and worked diligently in this position until recently. Bradley continues to work on his MDiv program. He was recently commissioned as minister of Freedom Church, Windsor.

Sarah Leitch continues to work on her MDiv program, while still serving at her home church, Mapleton. She has since accepted the role of secretary for the College of Churches of Christ in Canada. We continue to pray for Sarah’s as she pursues her goals.

Keith Woods has resumed his MDiv studies after a long period of critical illness. His diligence and perseverance were admired by the Committee on Ministry. The committee met with him recently, for an update on the progress of his program and studies. Together, with the submission of a glowing and encouraging endorsement from his home church, St. Thomas, the Committee was happy to accept him as a Ministerial Candidate under care. We wish Keith every success on his continuing journey towards his goals.

Sarah Wicks-Potter also met with the committee in January of this year. She completed her MDiv, and comes with an impressive portfolio. The committee had a very interesting chat with her and was delighted to learn of the various support and pastoral care services she provided to the students of McGill and other young adults in the area. She would like to be ordained. Sarah has since stepped down from St. Martha’s (student ministry at McGill in Montreal). She is no longer a commissioned minister as she does not have a supporting congregation. She is still in good standing with DoC and pursuing DoC options in the USA if one cannot be found in Canada.

Kenton Sefcik is the new minister at West Gore. He is a registered Acupuncturist and a student at Acadia Divinity College. The committee met with him in February of this year. Kenton comes with a lot of energy and credentials. The committee had a second meeting with him in June. This time he was accompanied with a robust endorsement from West Gore, requesting that he be commissioned as their minister.

Helena Epstein, the committee met with her in March of this year. She has been a registered nurse for the last 20 years, and intends to work as a mental health nurse at Collins Bay Penitentiary with medium & maximum-security inmates. She is from North Carolina, graduated from Divinity school 10 years ago, went through their standing, and ordination process and was accepted there. She worked part time in their youth ministry, which subsequently dwindled profoundly. She has been attending church intermittently for the last year with a United church of Christ in Napanee, since her nearest Disciples church of Christ is in Guelph. Rev. Jean-Daniel was pleased to hear her story and confirmed that she was not looking for employment. Her standing makes her eligible for both Disciples of Christ and United churches. She is planning to attend the All-Canada convention in August, 20 – 23, in St. Thomas.

Cole Saddler, is an American-born Disciple who finished his PhD and the MDiv., and is living in Vancouver. He would like to be a military chaplain. The committee met with him and agreed that a second meeting was necessary to support the path to proceed.

Respectfully submitted,
Hubert Reece
Chair, The Committee on Ministry