October 9th
Introducing Executive Council Assistant Moderator: Steph Chandler Burns

smiling person with blue vest and green glasses“I have a deep love for the church and believe in what we can do when we bring many different voices to the table,” says Steph Chandler Burns, MCEC Assistant Moderator. 

Steph has been on the Executive Council since 2019, joining in their 20s with the goal of broadening their experience. They believed that by learning about this aspect of church leadership, it would be beneficial for their personal and professional growth. “I didn’t see a lot of people like me serving on church boards or committees and I was hoping to bring a unique perspective,” they said. 

“I believe the diverse community of MCEC, including voices from the margins, is already listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit."

Steph is a pastor with Pastors in Exile (PiE), a progressive and affirming ministry that focuses on empowering young adults as they explore and deepen the spiritual significance of their lives, work and activism. PiE engages with young adults who often feel marginalized by the church, and Steph finds it to be a community that actively seeks peace and justice in meaningful ways. 

“MCEC is already a vibrant community that grapples with our Anabaptist peace tradition and how to live it out in a new context,” they say. “I believe the diverse community of MCEC, including voices from the margins, is already listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit, asking how to be Good News in our neighbourhoods and show God's love to communities the world has traditionally rejected.” 

Steph is a proud Taylor Swift superfan, having ranked in Spotify’s top 2% of Taylor Swift listeners for the past three years—a distinction they wear as a badge of honor! Known for their quirky sense of rebellion, Steph once boycotted forks, just to see how long they could go without using one. “It was six months before I accidentally used a fork to eat a Taco Bell Fries Supreme!” they recall with a laugh. During that time, spoons, knives, and chopsticks were their go-to cutlery. Steph is an active member of Waterloo North Mennonite Church and a self-proclaimed "regular" at up to three local coffee shops.