'Different from being a pastor'

MC Manitoba executive director reflects on the role of leadership

Ken Warkentin has been sitting in the executive director's chair of Mennonite Church Manitoba for eight months now. He swivels that chair comfortably from the desk to a table where he invites people into conversation, or to his guitar that is always within arm's reach.

"It's very different from being a pastor," says Warkentin, who has served in pastoral roles almost continuously since 1981. "Here, there is more distance from the people. In church, you are much closer to the itchy spots. Here, you are often guessing where the itchy spots are."

The New Directions document, which was prepared by the MC …