Ordination and the Call to Serve
Anthony Siegrist to be Ordained at the MCEC Intercultural Worship Gathering

“Ordination is an ancient practice - it connects us with the broader Christian church and with the way that God has served the household of faith for generations,” says Anthony Siegrist, MCEC Executive Minister.

Anthony Seigrist will be ordained on Saturday, April 25, during the MCEC Intercultural Worship Gathering at Shalom Worship & Healing Center/First Mennonite in Kitchener, ON.

"I believe that the intercultural reality is the reality of Christ’s church. There is no other church.”

Ordination is not merely a moment or a milestone; it is an act of discernment and trust. Through ordination, the church listens together for God’s call. The congregation, the regional church and the denomination gather as one body to recognize God’s work in a person’s life and to entrust them with ongoing leadership in the life and mission of the church. Ordination affirms a readiness to serve and a willingness to be shaped continually by the Spirit for the sake of God’s people and God’s world.  

“I feel that it is a deep privilege to be ordained in this place and in this gathering,” he says. “Time and again I am inspired by the stories of those who have come recently to Canada, created new congregations and joined our regional church. I believe that the intercultural reality is the reality of Christ’s church. There is no other church.”

Anthony began his ministry as Executive Minister in February 2025, though his calling has been unfolding for much longer. Along the way, God has used many communities to shape his life and faith. River Corner Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania was one such place, a community that nurtured his gifts and listened carefully to his emerging call. He remembers a formative conversation with church leaders when he was 18 years old, a conversation that planted seeds of encouragement and possibility.

“I hope and pray that younger folks will see the pastoral role as an opportunity to exercise their calling to care for others, to pursue justice and to cultivate a deep spirituality.”

His journey has also been sustained by students who walked with him, and at times, carried him; by a congregation in Ottawa made up of wonderful people; and by colleagues who worked persistently to care for God’s good world.

 “Experience in ministry, that conversation with church leaders, prayer, study, the example of others, the luminosity of the world and the gentle persistence of God’s Spirit – these are all pieces that have led me to this place,” he says.  

As he approaches ordination, Anthony holds a hope for the church: a renewal of a culture of call within congregations. He notes that in some circles, the creative and essential role of pastors has diminished. “I hope and pray that younger folks will see the pastoral role as an opportunity to exercise their calling to care for others, to pursue justice and to cultivate a deep spirituality,” he says.

"I value and respect the role of pastors within our church.”

“One of the reasons I am proceeding with ordination is to lift up the role of our pastors,” he adds. “The formality and the involvement of the wider church speaks to our shared value of supporting pastoral leaders and providing essential structures of accountability. While ordination is not required for my role with MCEC, I’m choosing to do so because I value and respect the role of pastors within our church.”

All are welcome to attend Anthony’s ordination, which will take place during the MCEC Intercultural Worship Gathering at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026. It will be a time of worship, prayerful listening for the Spirit’s leading and offering thanksgiving for God’s faithful calling among us.