MEET OUR TEAM

Wendy

Executive Director, MDiv, DMin

Wendy VanderWal-Gritter is a passionate advocate for those who have been hurt or marginalized by the church. She believes that the church is impoverished if any voices are missing from the conversation. Wendy is grateful to have learned so much from the courage, capacity for grace, and tenacious faith of the many LGBTQ+ Christians she has… read more >

Wendy

Executive Director, MDiv, DMin

Wendy VanderWal-Gritter is a passionate advocate for those who have been hurt or marginalized by the church. She believes that the church is impoverished if any voices are missing from the conversation. Wendy is grateful to have learned so much from the courage, capacity for grace, and tenacious faith of the many LGBTQ+ Christians she has… read more >

Michiko

Program Assistant 

Michiko Bown-Kai is an ordinand with The United Church of Canada who is passionate about social justice and creative expression. Michiko studied Social Justice and Peace Studies and Political Science at the University of Western Ontario before attending Emmanuel College for their Master of Divinity program. Over the past decade Michiko has engaged in ministry in many forms: as a Sunday School read more >

Beth

Director of Community - West, MDiv

Beth Carlson-Malena's life has been transformed through friendships with people on the margins. She learned hospitality growing up as the daughter of a Baptist pastor in Saskatoon, where her family would often welcome refugee friends and assorted neighbourhood kids to join their meals and celebrations. After completing her BSc in Biology, she moved to Vancouver to… read more >

Becca

Director of Community - Ontario, MTSD

Becca Sawyer has an academic background in international development with a BA from Trent and a Masters of Theological Studies in Urban and International Development from University of Toronto, Toronto School of Theology. Throughout her life, Becca has found herself a part of Pentecostal, Anglican and Anabaptist communities of faith and has worked… read more >

Holli

Digital & Social Media Coordinator

Holli Durost is a singer-songwriter, worship leader, Sudoku and Skyrim enthusiast, and long time admirer of Xena (Warrior Princess) and dykeblanchett on Instagram. As the overly observant offspring of two Pentecostal pastors, Holli spent the majority of her childhood outside building shelters and preparing for the End Times. At night she would sweep the perimeter of her family home to confirm non-rapture status of her parents and younger sister... read more >