Church Staff, Vestry, and Treasurer

Rector

The Rev. Darlene Kuhn (aka Mother Darlene) accepted a call to serve The Episcopal Church of the Mediator beginning January 27, 2020.  Mother Darlene is married to Jonathan “Jon” Kuhn and they celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary May 22, 2020.  They have not been blessed with children but have a Welsh Pembroke Corgi named “Corki” and two cats, Marmalade, a buff colored tabby, and Safari, a feisty Siamese mix.

Darlene and Jon grew up in Canada. Darlene is the oldest of five girls.  She lived in a farming community in Ontario near Georgian Bay on a mixed dairy farm and then her father moved to custom home building.  Darlene was active in the Anglican Church of Canada from birth.  Jon has a younger brother and sister.  Jon was born in Alberta, moved to Saskatchewan, to Toronto and then to Kanata (Ottawa), Ontario.  Between us we have 15 nieces and nephews and 9 great nieces and nephews.  Darlene’s mother lives on a small farm in Ontario with 25 ewes, a ram, numerous lambs depending on the season, a Great Pyrenees sheep guard dog and a cat.  Her beloved father died at Easter 2015.  Jon’s parents now live in Manitoba near Jon’s brother’s family.

Darlene’s first degree is an Honors Bachelor of Mathematics and Jon has a Bachelor and Masters in Systems Design Engineering  We met at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Darlene worked as a Systems Programmer Analyst for an Insurance Company in Waterloo, married Jon in her home church and then they moved to Cambridge, England where she worked for a Software company working on Home Education software while Jon completed a Masters in Operations Research at the University of Cambridge.  On our return to Toronto Jon worked on his PhD in Statistics at the University of Toronto and Darlene worked as a Systems Programmer Analyst and Project Lead at the Yellow Pages for many telephone companies in Canada including acting as the Project Manager for setting up White Pages and Yellow Pages online working with people from Israel, across Canada, India and the Philippines.  Collaboration, teamwork and welcoming diversity were necessary to the success of our projects.

When Jon completed his PhD he worked as a Contract Lecturer for University of Michigan and University of Minnesota before accepting a position with Purdue University North West, Indiana where he has tenure and teaches Statistics including Online Courses.  Darlene joined Jon at this time and started working as a Global Information Systems Programmer Analyst and Project Manager for Whirlpool in Benton Harbor working with people from around the world:  Brazil, Argentina, India, Pakistan, Canada, and across the United States.  We have lived in St Joseph, Michigan since 1998.

Early in the first decade of the 21st century, Darlene began to feel a strong call to the church, which had been bubbling under the surface since childhood.  In 2009 Darlene left Whirlpool to go to seminary at Huron University College (Western University) in London, Ontario her home diocese with the support of the EDWM.  Darlene graduated in 2012 with her Master of Divinity and an award for Liturgy and the Old Testament.  Darlene worked as a chaplain at South Bend Memorial Hospital until she received a call to St. James’ Episcopal Church in Albion.  She was ordained a deacon and priest in 2012.  Interesting projects were starting a Reading Camp in collaboration with the Albion Recreation Department, Albion Public Library and many other agencies and churches.  A second wonderfully successful project was the starting of Albion Community Gardens, approximately five acres, throughout the community.  These projects included grant writing such as a $20,000 grant for a tractor and attachments.

Darlene currently works on the EDWM Commission on Ministry (those working towards ordination), EDWM Dismantling Racism Commission and The Interfaith Action working group “No Longer a Stranger” focused on Immigrants, Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrant workers.  Darlene is looking forward to her new ministry with The Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Harbor Country found in Southwest Berrien County.

Administrative Assistant

Candice Conley serves as Mediator’s Administrative Assistant. Her background is working as a Legal Assistance for two St. Joseph, Michigan, firms; Whirlpool Corporation as an Administrative Assistant, and most recently as a Financial/Human Resources Coordinator for a local non-profit agency. Candice’s “home church” is Harbert Community Church, and feels very fortunate to be part of the Mediator family. Candice is a “native” and forever resident of Harbert, Michigan, attended Western Michigan University, enjoys searching the beach for treasures, collecting antiques and most importantly, spending time with family.