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Walking a spiritual path intertwined with creativity and driven by a desire for peace comes naturally to Darren DeMelo (MTS 2017), an Anabaptist and a pastor in the peace church tradition. Darren learned the value of integrating his natural gifts into his career while enrolled in the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program at Conrad Grebel University College. “Grebel was academically rigorous, creative, and on the ground. It gave me tools, courage, and community to engage in harsh realities and work through them thoughtfully with humility, self-sacrifice, and thoughtfulness,” he reflected. 

As someone who wasn’t born into an Anabaptist community of faith, and was instead baptized into one, Darren found it “appropriate and important to learn alongside other Anabaptist Mennonite-inspired, adjacent people in a tradition that [he] was welcomed into.” This was the primary reason he pursued an MTS degree at Grebel after earning a Bachelor of Music from Brock University. 

“I was seeking a life of faith, ministry, and theological education that was socially and politically engaged. I wanted specific learning within the tradition, but I also wanted exposure to a wide breadth of Christian understanding,” Darren explained. 

Grebel presented him with these opportunities. He learned from classmates in the MTS program and from professionals such as musicians, community peacemakers, conflict resolution practitioners, Project Ploughshares, and professors and students involved in Peace and Conflict Studies. 

“I continue to be formed by a whole host of amazing, smart, thoughtful, socially engaged, and creative people I met at or through Grebel,” began Darren. “I was exposed to a wide variety of ways of thinking, like liberation theology, queer theology, feminist theology, womanist theology, ecotheology, and Eastern orthodoxy — I could go on. It has really served me well as we continue to engage in ministry and life in complicated waters.” 

Since earning an MTS degree, Darren’s career trajectory has led to him across Canada through his ministry work and volunteer experience. He collaborated with Seven Shores Community Cafe in ��ݮ��Ƶ, completed a supervised experience in ministry in Nova Scotia, worked on projects with ��ݮ��Ƶ Mennonite Brethen Church, and has been a wedding officiant. 

Darren currently lives in Delta, British Columbia, and is working at Estuary Church, which he founded in September 2022 with co-pastor, Lee Kosa. “We've got a number of people involved in many meaningful projects at the church. In a world of poly-crisis, we hope to foster a spirituality that is rooted and engaged in the world around us,” Darren shared. 

He and Lee previously worked together Cedar Park Church in Delta, but left their positions as a result of denominational and theological issues. “Leaving a faith community that's been formative for me was certainly a significant risk,” he began. “I made that move out of theological conviction, love for queer family and friends, and my growing understanding of faithfulness, love, and respect to queer siblings in Christ in particular." 

Through the grief of loss of his previous church and the family of faith, a new community emerged, creating a place of worship that seeks to ally 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and supports same-sex marriage. “As part of the birthing of a new church with a beautiful group of people, we put our heads, hearts, and minds together in hopes of fostering a spiritual community that seeks justice and peace in our watershed community where we can grieve, celebrate, and work together,” he shared. 

An aspect of Darren’s studies that prepared him for the career leap of starting a new church were the relationships he made with peers and faculty in Grebel’s faith-based community. “Anabaptists are not new to thinking on their feet, being creative, forming, and reorganizing themselves in complicated circumstances,” said Darren. 

Interacting with mentors and scholars who have previously navigated complications in church and life taught him the beauty of various faith traditions, and the importance of being hospitable to each other, which has since become important parts of his work. “Hospitality continues to seek ways into my personal and professional life and will surround my interest in spiritual care forever,” he added. 

“Learning how to think, work, and talk through pressing theological and ethical issues like sexuality, healthcare, the intersection of biblical studies, theology, and practical theology in the MTS program gave me tools and courage to face some of the harms that we’re complicit and involved in, and to work toward peace,” said Darren. 

Serving bi-vocationally at Estuary Church, Darren finds personal fulfillment through his work. He especially enjoys working with others within his church, community, and through volunteer opportunities. “I love team projects, working with others, and seeking new and renewing old ways of how we can be together,” he added. Darren is also pursuing certification as a spiritual care practitioner through a placement at Vancouver General Hospital as a spiritual care intern through Clinical Psycho-spiritual Education. 

Apart from his career, Darren spends time with his partner of sixteen years and their three children. His hobbies include gardening, raising chickens, cooking, and volunteering with a number of organizations in Vancouver, including an anti-racism cohort and a food literacy program. 

This fall, Darren will be moving back to the ��ݮ��Ƶ Region, where he has accepted the role of co-pastor at ��ݮ��Ƶ North Mennonite Church. “It is a special experience to join ��ݮ��Ƶ North and re-enter the Grebel ecosystem,” he said. “I am looking forward to learning and working alongside the good people of ��ݮ��Ƶ North as we follow the Spirit towards peace.” 

By Zoey Pearce

Darren DeMelo (MTS 2017) pursued a Master of Theological Studies degree at Grebel to learn alongside fellow Mennonite, Anabaptist, and peace tradition scholars. He is currently a co-founder of and pastor at Estuary Church in Delta, British Columbia, and works part-time at Vancouver General Hospital as a spiritual care intern. He is looking forward to moving back to ��ݮ��Ƶ with his family in the fall, where he will be co-pastor at ��ݮ��Ƶ North Mennonite Church. 

Darren’s story is part of Grebel's 60 Stories for 60 Years project. Check out our 60 Stories page for more articles in this series.