Staff and Leadership teams at St. John's Richmond
We are blessed with several full-time, part-time and volunteer staff whose desire is "... to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." (Ephesians 4.12). Their names, positions and bios are below, following the Position Available notice. Scroll down to see more staff photos and bios. There are many other people at SJR who manage many areas of ministry, from Junior Chapel to Sunday Coffee, who are not mentioned. At the bottom of the page, our leadership structure is outlined.
Rector: Rev. Sean Love
Sean is a Vancouverite by birth and trained in geography, high school education, and bus driving. His nickname has always been “Dr. Love” although at this time Doctoral studies are not on the horizon. Ironically, Sean is married to Penny who is a PhD chemist, and who now legitimately carries the name Dr. Love. Sean and Penny have been blessed with the high volume gift of three boys. The Loves lived in New Mexico for nine years and were involved in youth ministry and learning to eat green chili. Sean and family returned to Vancouver in 2002 and completed an MDiv at Regent College and an internship with the Artizo Institute in 2005.
Sean says, “I grew up in the church but the more I learned about God through the Bible the more I realized the coherency and sufficiency of faith in Jesus Christ. More than that: I am personally affected by the scandal of the gospel: The fact that God died is shocking; the fact that He died to deal with the consequences of my selfish rebellion is stunning; and the fact that He triumphed over death is amazing. Jesus Christ is the only credible hope we have as human beings.”
Curate: Rev. Ben Roberts
Born and raised in Ohio, there is a soft spot in Ben’s heart for Mid-Western life. Growing up, he loved cycling, running, and his part-time job at a farm (he was the cow-milker). Ben went to Wheaton College for his undergrad, where he studied Theology. More importantly, he met his wife Karyn there. After graduation Ben and Karyn spent three years in Connecticut. Karyn served as an English teacher; Ben worked as the youth minister in an Episcopal Church.
In 2008, Ben and Karyn drove to Vancouver, where Ben began work on his MDiv at Regent College. When they arrived in Vancouver, they were homeless for a month. So they camped in a tent, down by the river. This was short lived and they quickly found their footing, Ben as a student, Verger and Artizo intern, Karyn as a Grade 7 teacher at Saint George’s School. Since then, they have welcomed a daughter into their family, Adelaide Grey and are happy to be doing Gospel-work at St. John’s Richmond. Ben was ordained a priest in the Anglican Communion on February 5th, 2012.
Ben Says: “My favourite metaphor for the Christian life is gardening. It reminds me to balance the earthy and the heavenward, the lofty and banal. Gardening is a task that is both beautiful and mundane, and includes a fair bit of dirt under the fingernails. For me it holds together the mind-bending reality of new creation (both the coming new heavens and earth, and Christ formed in me, even me!) with the rich compost of daily human life. It reveals the mystery of dusty beings caught up in the stuff of new life.
Administrator: Kathryn Watts
Kathryn Watts has been attending St. John’s Richmond since she met her husband, John, in 2007. Trained as an English teacher, Kathryn has taught in Japan as well as various places around the lower mainland, both in public and private school settings. Since 2004, she has worked part time in the afternoons and evenings, so putting her administrative skills to use for SJR in the mornings fits in quite well. There is still time for gardening and spending time with John. Getting to know the people in our congregation is important to Kathryn, so don’t be surprised if she approaches you to say hello.
Youth Minister: Clinton Werezak
Clinton was born and raised in Calgary but has had many adventures since leaving the city of his birth. A few missions trips to Argentina and to the island of Grenada, a job doing video production for thoroughbred horse racing, and a solo, month long road trip across North America somehow combined to lead to a move to New York City. Somewhere in there he studied Broadcast Electronics and Religious Education. Youth ministry has been a consistent theme throughout his travels and became the focal point of his time in New York. While there he helped establish a discipleship-equipping ministry for youth leaders in local churches called Street 2 Street. It was in this context that he became aware of a need for deeper theological education for himself and for the leaders of youth ministries in general. Around the same time he met his wife Laura who was teaching middle-school Spanish, attending an Anglican Church plant in Manhattan, and planning on attending Regent College.
This set the stage for Clinton and Laura to move to Vancouver in 2008 so both could attend Regent College. Laura has since graduated from Regent with a Master of Christian Studies and Clinton has almost completed his MDiv. They also have a brand new daughter, Lucy. They are excited to be a part of the St. John’s Richmond community and are particularly looking forward to being a part of what God is doing in the lives of the youth at SJR.
Assistant Youth Minister: Laura Werezak
Part of the Werezak team at SJR, Laura assists Clint in most aspects of the youth ministry, focusing on a junior youth girls' Bible study group, and mentoring female leaders.
Laura is the daughter of a U.S. Air Force Pilot and a Commercial Artist, and she grew up mostly on the prairies of Oklahoma. She was raised in the Southern Baptist church (complete with cherry pie socials, “sword drills” and revival services) and came to Anglicanism as an adult. Ask her about her journey—she’s even writing a book about it! Addicted to learning and travel, Laura has studied at Cedarville University, the City University of New York, and Regent College, dabbling in English and Spanish literature, Medieval studies, Spanish teaching, theology and creative writing. Now—jack of all trades, but master of none—Laura is a Women@10 Bible study leader, poet, writer and blogger, novel-reader, Art-lover, chef, sometime baker, toddler-chaser-afterer (to Lucy, 1 year), and right-hand-woman (to Clint). Teaching the youth at St. John’s Richmond alongside Clint is a great opportunity for her to pull together her excitement about book-knowledge (especially the Scriptures), kids, and teaching, and it is a chance to lead our youth into a genuine and deep love for God.
Music Ministry Director: Krista Carter
Krista grew up in Kelowna but is now happy to consider the lower mainland the home of her recently expanded family. Some of the things she enjoys doing at SJR are leading on Sunday mornings from the piano, organizing musicians within the congregation to add their talents, and leading the church choir. Her ideal congregational song is one with 'meaty' lyrics, fresh imagery, and interesting melody.
Krista says, "Singing praise to God as a group of Christians encourages us in the truth of who God is and in the reality that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
Children's Ministry Leader: Kim Graham
Kim works with the youngest children in SJR's Children's Church, designing curriculum and activities, and training parents to teach their little ones.
Children's Ministry Leader: Laurie Bakken
Laurie leads the primary age level in SJR's Children's Church. She works with Kim to design and carry out an age-appropriate, hands-on, reflective curriculum, all in the context of worship.
Children's Ministry Leader: Penny Love
Penny teaches the intermediate children in Children's Church. Penny develops a custom program for this age group that emphasizes both the big story of the Bible and the theological main points that come from it. She uses crafts, drama, song, and digital media to help kids learn and reflect on the Bible.
Sunday Hospitality Coordinator: Connie Matheson
Connie diligently and lovingly ensures that coffee and tea and snacks are available after the service. She organizes teams of people to help out, and her goal is that the coffee time is a time of relaxed fellowship.
St. John's Richmond is served by two leadership groups.
Directors enable ministry, assist and give local oversight to the Rector, and protect the ministry of the gospel at SJR. Directors include Treasurer, Secretary, Rector's Warden, two Members at Large, and the Rector. The Directors ensure, under God, the vision and mission of SJR are being adhered to.
Staff plans, prays for, and promotes gospel ministry at SJR. This team of staff, paid and volunteer, is involved in overall leadership of the regular ministries of the congregation. The Staff meets every few months and focuses on one or two main areas of ministry in the whole parish.
