Kim Penner

Kim Penner is a pastor with a passion for connecting our lived experiences of God in the church to bigger questions and conversations about who God is. It might come as no surprise, then, that she began her career as an academic, writing and teaching about the Bible and ethics. No matter how big the questions or topics became, she has always been concerned with what difference it might make for the actual experiences of people in the church. Questions she loves to ask include, for example: Who is God? How do we know when we see/hear/feel, God in scripture and other parts of our lives? What is the role of the church in working for peace and justice? Does God’s love include justice? How does power exist in the church and how to we avoid abuses of power?

As a pastor, Kim is grateful for the gift of seeing these questions and concerns being engaged and wrestled with regularly and implications for congregational life. She is grateful for the opportunity to walk with and to learn from others – including all our eco-social relations (isn’t God present there too?). For her, faith does not exclude doubt. Instead, as writer Cole Arthur Riley says, “Doubt is not a threat to faith; it’s faith that has finally taken off its mask.” So, feel free to bring your authentic and curious self to visits with Kim!

Kim grew up in Elmira, Ontario and calls Winnipeg, Calgary, Toronto, and Red Bay other places that feel like “home”. She currently lives in Kitchener with her partner Dylan, their children Jackson and Ethan, and their two cats (Hannah and Max). She is very close with her parents and two sisters (and their families). In addition to spending time with her loved ones, Kim enjoys a good cup of coffee, yoga, campfires, and fish tacos.

Email contact: kim@stirlingmennonite.ca

Glenda Ribey Rozomiak

Glenda is a pastor deeply committed to creating relationships and deepening connections at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church. She believes in creating a space where everyone can feel that they are a child of God and will be treated that way. Glenda considers herself someone who revels in everyday theology. For example, where do we see God while we do laundry, wash dishes, take care of our families. How do the ancient scriptures remain relevant today? An ongoing question and learning process. 

It is an honour to journey with older adults as they discover and rediscover spirituality later in life. Glenda is grateful for the opportunity to focus on older adults and provide pastoral care, meeting people and their families where they are on their spiritual, life and death journey. Glenda is quick to establish trust and connection with people to create a safe space especially in times of crisis.

Glenda is excited and proud to be part of a community that recognizes our responsibility to serve as stewards of the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Kitchener today.

Glenda grew up in Waterloo, lives there with her partner Andrew, and their three children: Amelia, Thomas and Sara and their dog Piper. Glenda loves to spend time with family and friends. You can often find her out for a walk, grabbing a cup of coffee or relaxing with a favourite tv show and crochet hook in hand.  

Email contact: glenda@stirlingmennonite.ca

Laura Enns

Mission, Peace and Justice Coordinator

Laura Enns has served communities in Waterloo Region and around the world through creative leadership and engagement at the intersection of faith, community arts, culture, and activism. As Mission, Peace and Justice Coordinator, she brings together local and global approaches to peacebuilding to support and develop initiatives that engage the diverse gifts of Stirling members, and empower collective action toward a regenerative future. In her role, she nurtures long-term relationships with Stirling's community partners and seeks opportunities to create new connections. Current areas of focus include: Indigenous relations, land stewardship, and climate action.

In the wider community, she nurtures peace and spirituality through artistic expression with people of all ages through supporting the Grebel Gallery, Inshallah community choir, and Peacemakers Camp. Previously, she been on staff at Waterloo-Kitchener United Church, Ontario Mennonite Music Camp, and The Working Center. She has also volunteered with many non-profits, intentional communities, and projects, including Pastors in Exile, Sing Fires of Justice, Taizé UW, the Community Music School of Waterloo Region, the Iona Community (Scotland), Corrymeela (Northern Ireland), and the Centre for Black Peruvian Women’s Development/World University Service of Canada (Peru).

In addition, Laura, her partner Joshua, and their two young kids serve as hosts of Brubacher House at the University of Waterloo. As museum host, Laura enjoys taking care of the beautiful 1850s fieldstone house and traditional garden, and interpreting Mennonite history and culture through museum tours, community events, artist residencies, and Home Routes folk concerts. 

Laura holds a Master of Arts in Community Music from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Honours International Development from the University of Waterloo.

Email contact: laura@stirlingmennonite.ca

Brandon Leis

Music Director

Brandon Leis is a versatile and passionate performer, conductor, educator, workshop facilitator and church musician. As a singer he frequently performs in Ontario and the northern United States as an opera, oratorio and concert, tenor soloist.

 Brandon regularly serves as an adjudicator, clinician and conductor for young/amateur musicians and has taught locally at Eastwood Collegiate Institute, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Heritage College and Seminary and the Renaissance School of the Arts. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has served as a church musician, choral scholar, and church music director for over 18 years and recurrently serves as a workshop facilitator with church groups in southwestern Ontario.

 Brandon teaches in the music faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, where he holds a Master’s degree in Community Music, an Honours degree in Vocal Performance and an Opera Diploma.

 Brandon has been serving as half time music director at Stirling since 2003.  

email contact: brandon@stirlingmennonite.ca