Presenter Biographies
in alphabetical order
Rev. Janet Anstead
Rev. Janet Anstead has been the Pastor of Mapleton since June 2005. Janet enjoys the traditional responsibilities of a clergy in a rural congregation and has provided leadership in such diverse areas as Camp Program, Mission Trips, Vacation Bible School, Christian Education, local outreach and ecumenical partnerships.
After a career as a Family Law Lawyer in Ontario in the 1990s, Janet discerned a call to Ministry. She completed her Master of Divinity at Huron College, University of Western Ontario and, later, returned to complete her Master of Arts (Theology). In addition to coordinating the Licentiate in Theology Program at Huron University College from 2013-2020, She is also an instructor in the program teaching Systematics, Church History, World Religions, and Ethics courses.
Janet’s commitment to the Disciples of Christ extends beyond the congregation as she serves in leadership roles with both the Ontario Assembly of the Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada. She is also currently the denominational representative on the Canadian Council of Churches’ World Council of Churches Relations Committee.
Janet has accepted an expanded call to ministry and will be resigning her role at Mapleton at the end of August 2026. She is the incoming General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches.
Rev. Doug Avram
Rev. Avram was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario, baptized as Greek Orthodox, then chose to belong to the United Church and later to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is married to Lynda, has three children, and lives in Aylmer, Ontario.
He is fascinated by many things including politics, music, theatre (acting and directing), philosophy, reading, and food - healthy food, junk food, good for you or not, as long as it’s tasty or edible.
He is also a big fan of art. Art, in its various forms, has been one of his hobbies and interests. He has painted in oils and acrylic, drawn in charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink. Since the Covid pandemic, he has fallen in love with watercolours. He hopes his future workshop students will love watercolours just as much as he does!
Rev. Dr. Ron Dakin
Pastor Ron was ordained in May of 1956, 70 years ago! He describes his journey as adventurous, with many evolutionary developments both in his theology and in his personal development.
He has served in many different situations including regular ministries, part-time supply ministries, pastoral and educational counselling settings and just plain community involvement.
He is married to Carol Dakin and has experienced the challenges and many, many joys of family life. He expresses gratitude to all those who have patiently taught him, and tolerated his evolutions, with a big emphasis of gratitude to his beloved family.
He believes deeply, and has always been appreciative that God is his companion and guide in this journey - especially because he cannot know, and is often surprised by, what is around the next corner. He believes purpose is defined by gifted abilities and, whatever the task, the gifting is supplied. . . and thus, his life continues to evolve.
Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly A. Heath
The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly A. Heath is the 45th Moderator of The United Church of Canada. She was born in Lusaka, Zambia, where her parents taught school, but grew up in small towns and cities in Canada.
After studying history at McGill University, she earned her Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College, before being ordained in 1999. Her Doctorate in Ministry studies focused on preaching, particularly where it can affect transformation, within ourselves and in the world, through small steps and minor shifts.
She began her nearly three decades of active ministry with the people of Claresholm-Stavely Pastoral Charge in rural southern Alberta. Since 2007, she has served the people of Wall Street United Church in eastern Ontario. She lives in Brockville, Ontario, with her husband, the youngest of her four children, who range in age from 16 to 28 years, and Salty, the dog. She enjoys reading, sailing, and open-water swimming.
Rev. Wesley King
Rev. Wesley King supports New Church Ministry by helping to create programming for our IMPACT webinars, planning events such as our Leaders’ Retreat and Leadership Academy, and with administrative work. He also works closely with our partner denominations. In addition to NCM, he serves as the Associate Minister at Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville, TN. In addition to ministry, Wesley is very active in the music and political scenes in Nashville. He serves as Chair of the Faith Caucus for the Tennessee Democratic Party and as Artistic Director of Nashville in Harmony.
Sarah Leitch
You may recognize her name as the Registrar for this 2026 All-Canada Convention. In addition to this role on the Convention Planning Committee, Sarah has been on the Management Team of the College of Churches of Christ in Canada as Secretary since 2025. She is a third year seminary student working toward her M.Div. at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. An active member of Mapleton Church of Christ (Disciples), she will be taking on a larger role behind the pulpit beginning this fall. Sarah is also a first term municipal councillor in the Township of Malahide hoping for re-election this fall to continue to serve her community. In addition to her church and community commitments, Sarah operates a cash crop farm with her brother and mother. Closer to home, she and her husband Wes, are parents to three adult children, Shannon, Ashley, and Erin.
Rev. Awit Marcelino
Awit is a second-generation Filipino-Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and a third-generation Disciple. She has a B.A. from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College in the University of Toronto. In 2022, she was ordained in her home congregation of Broadway Disciples United Church in Winnipeg.
As a youth and young adult, she was involved in youth and young adult ministry at her local church and at Encounter. She volunteered as a Disciples and Canadian representative on ecumenical women's councils. She is the pastor of St. Thomas Christian Church, a facilitator for the National Benevolent Association's Peer Learning & Wellness Group for Asian and Pacific Islander young adults, and she was recently called to serve as the National Youth & Young Adult Pastor. She also volunteers as the treasurer for the College of Churches of Christ in Canada.
She lives in London, Ontario, with her partner.
Dr. Russ Moncrief
Russell and spouse Lesley have attended Mapleton Church of Christ Disciples since moving to the area in 1983. Russell is an elder in the Mapleton Church and retired veterinarian.
Pastor Peter Noteboom
Peter Noteboom was born and raised in Orange City, Iowa, and now resides in Toronto with his wife Jeanette Romkema and his two sons. He is the outgoing General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, advocating for religion in a pluralistic society and in Canadian public life. He is a member of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy and the Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada.
Peter has been with the Council since 1999 beginning as Associate Secretary, Justice and Peace. In 2011 he became the Deputy General Secretary with additional responsibilities in finance, administration, and organizational restructuring and in 2017 became the Acting General Secretary.
Active in his home church, the Christian Reformed Church in North America, he was ordained as a Commissioned Pastor in November 2019.
Rev. Jean-Daniel Ó Donncada
Pastor Jean-Daniel is the national pastor for Canada and represents Canada in the College of Regional Ministers for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. He is the youngest regional minister in the denomination and the first Francophone to lead any mainline Canadian church.
He holds undergraduate degrees from Harvard University, a master of divinity at Yale University, and has begun, and sincerely intends to complete, doctoral studies in practical theology at Université de Montréal. Prior to this call he was a university and children’s hospital chaplain.
Lori Ransom
Lori Ransom serves as Indigenous Consultant to the World Council of Churches and as a Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator with the United Church of Canada (balancing her time between these two, part-time positions). Lori is a member of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation (near Eganville, Ontario, Canada) who has lived off-reserve for all of her life (Toronto, Ottawa, and Regina). Lori deepened her knowledge of and passion for the work of healing and reconciliation between settlers and Indigenous peoples after being appointed as the first Healing and Reconciliation Program Animator for The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) and later as Senior Advisor, Church and Interfaith Relations, for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada. Lori previously served in various leadership positions with the Canadian federal government’s Department of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development, at both the national level and in the regional office for Ontario.
Lori has had significant experience working with churches locally, nationally, and internationally. She is an ordained Elder of The Presbyterian Church in Canada who has served as Clerk of Session, representative Elder at presbytery, and a commissioner to the General Assembly (PCC). Lori currently serves as a member of the Canadian Council of Churches Executive, and the Aboriginal Education Council of Centennial College, Scarborough, Canada. She resides in downtown Toronto with her brother James and beloved Cockapoo, Finnegan.
Carrie Shea, RD
Carrie Shea has over 25 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian at St Joseph’s Health Care in London, Parkwood Institute Site. She works in the Specialized Geriatrics Program. Her main areas of focus are malnutrition, helping seniors meet their protein and energy needs for the best change of muscle rebuilding, nutrition and digestive health and nutrition and brain health for prevention of dementia. She is also a member of the Mapleton Church of Christ (Disciples), chair of the Ontario Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Vice-Moderator of the national church.
Elder Mary Lou Smoke
Mary Lou Smoke, who is an Anishinawbe Kwe from Batchawana Bay, began to sing publicly at the age of 2 years old! Over the years she has gone from singing folk, country and middle of the road songs - she has been traditionally drumming and singing for the past 4 decades. Learning how to play the guitar at the age of 19 enabled her to be able to accompany herself.
In the early 1970's Mary Lou was a featured performer in many, many events that were held by and for the Indigenous peoples and supporters of the communities of Turtle Island. In 1973, she represented Canada traveling to Germany and Holland with a group of other Indigenous people who danced in our Traditional way. Mary Lou sang songs accompanied by different orchestras who could play the sheet music she brought with her. That led her to becoming more independent by learning basic guitar skills.
She sang at the 1976 Olympics and was very busy traveling to perform at various concerts and gatherings where she would sing her heart out! It's been said that Mary Lou has been gifted with her voice to sing to the Ancestors and to invoke their healing presence in Ceremony.
In 2013 she received the Women of Excellence Award from the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario. In an article written about this event - it stated "Mary Lou is the most visible and prominent Native Woman within the community and displays great dedication to her culture. Her teaching skills, sincerity and humbleness are what make her an inspiration to others".
She has received many other awards and accolades as well as a PHD in 2014 in Natural Law for her teachings of the culture and traditions of her people. In 2022 she received her Doctorate of Law from the University of Western Ontario.
She's still singing, playing her guitar, drum and shakers - 8 decades later!
Sarah Wicks-Potter
Sarah, originally from South Windsor, Connecticut, was last working as a commissioned pastor for Chapelle Ste-Marthe which is an ecumenical ministry which works with young adults aged 18-35. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Theology from McGill University and a Master of Divinity from the Montréal Diocesan Theological Seminary. She is currently looking for her next call while doing pulpit supply for the United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
She first felt called to ministry at age 13, imagining how sermons could be more engaging. What she appreciates most about her ministry journey, and what she also finds most distressing about this journey, is the underlining call to speak truth to power.
She lives in Montréal, Québec with her husband, Scott, and their blind hedgehog, Horatio.
Katie Wilson
Katie Wilson is looking forward to participating at the upcoming All Canada Convention! She has been a member of Mapleton Church of Christ (Disciples) her entire life. Over the past year, she has become an elder and has enjoyed preparing meditations for her church. Outside of church, she teaches math and science at a local high school. She also enjoys travelling, playing baseball, and baking.
Keith Wood
Keith Wood is a 3rd year M.Div. student at Huron University College Seminary in London, Ontario, and attends St. Thomas Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in St. Thomas, Ontario. He was born and raised in Guymon, Oklahoma, where his grandfather was a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister. He has been with our denomination for 54 years and is passionate about ordained ministry and chaplaincy. Outside of church, Keith enjoys music, reading devotionals, and spending time with his family. Keith is grateful to be part of this year’s convention and looks forward to serving and fellowshipping together.