Introducing Our Ministry Formation Team!
Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre is entering an exciting chapter.
For decades we have been gathering people to teach and learn from each other. Our approach to training leaders has been shaped by the visions of our elders, by land-based learning, ceremony, community accountability, and intergenerational discussions.
We are thrilled to introduce our Ministry Formation Team which will guide and expand this work in the years ahead.
The team is possible thanks to a major grant from the Lilly Foundation, as part of the “Reimagining Theological Education” project. The project will strengthen ministry formation for our students and enable us to collaborate with partners to transform how we learn about Creator and Creation across the church.
Rev. Maggie Dieter, National Vision Keeper
Rev. Maggie Dieter will lead the Ministry Formation Team in the new role of National Vision Keeper. She will connect our Ministry Program to the wider Indigenous Church, national partners, and theological institutions, and foster new partnerships across the United Church, Indigenous organizations, and broader sectors such as healing and wellness.
Maggie is a member of Peepeekisis Cree Nation in Treaty 4 territory and a graduate of the Francis Sandy Theological Centre (2001). Since January 2025, she has been our Keeper of the Learning Circle.
Rev. Wayne Monague, Keeper of the Learning Circle
Rev. Wayne Monague joins the team as Keeper of the Learning Circle. He will walk alongside students through Learning Circles, nurturing spiritual formation, teaching, mentorship, and community.
Wayne lives in Chimnissing, Ontario, on Christian Island where spirituality has always been at the centre of his life. He was raised with strong connections to both the church and traditional Indigenous teachings. His dedication to community wellness led him to roles counseling high-risk offenders and supporting high-risk youth.
Following in the footsteps of his uncle, Francis Sandy (one of our school’s namesakes), Wayne became a leader in his church and pursued ministry training at Sandy-Saulteaux. He graduated in 2024 and was ordained as a United Church minister in 2025.
Kristi Degenhardt, Keeper of the Learning Partnerships
Kristi Degenhardt got to know Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre through her work with our Hospitality Team. For the past three years she has managed our kitchen and helped create the warm, welcoming atmosphere we are known for.
She steps into the new role of Keeper of the Learning Partnerships. In this position, she will weave relationships with graduates, communities, and theological partners while nurturing collaborative and online opportunities for lifelong learning.
Kristi holds a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Canadian Mennonite University and has trained as a spiritual director with Shekinah of St. Benedict’s Monastery. A prairie girl, of settler descent, she has spent most of her life on Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg with short but formative stints in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. She now lives in Beausejour with her family.
Looking Ahead
The Reimagining Theological Education project is a way to strengthen our Ministry Formation branch and better support a wider variety of students at all stages of their learning pathway. Watch for more opportunities to learn with us – online or in-person – in the year ahead!
This new chapter will also create new opportunities for supporters. Not all costs connected to the Ministry Formation Team are covered by the Lilly Foundation grant so we will be inviting you to help make the most of this opportunity. Do you want to invest in the next generation of Indigenous spiritual leaders? Do you want to bring the wisdom of Indigenous ways of teaching and learning to more communities? Let’s talk!