Co-Lead Pastor Announcement
This past Sunday, we shared some exciting news to share with you.
As many of you know, our church has been growing in wonderful ways. One key area of growth has been in how we lead together as a community. At Elevation, shared leadership isn’t just a model we talk about—it’s a value we strive to live out.
Before we share the exciting hiring news, we wanted to take a moment to recognize and celebrate someone whose faithful leadership has been instrumental in helping us shape this vision—our co-lead pastor, Melissa Burke.
Melissa has been in pastoral ministry here at Elevation for over six years, skillfully guiding us through two major transitions with wisdom, compassion, and grace. She has played a pivotal role in developing a leadership model that reflects our core belief: leadership is about mutuality, collaboration, and partnership, not power.
With over a decade of co-pastoring experience and 12 years of service across areas such as worship, community engagement, children’s and youth ministry, justice work, and church planting, Melissa’s influence continues to weave deeply into the fabric of our Elevation community. Her theological depth and heart for social justice have shaped not only our mission but also the core values of our church. We are thrilled to share that Melissa, originally ordained by the Vineyard Church, is now credentialed through Elevation.
We are grateful for her leadership, wisdom, pastoral care, and unwavering commitment to Elevation, and are so thankful to have her as one of our co-lead pastors!
With this spirit of shared leadership in mind, we are excited to introduce the newest member of our pastoral team who will work alongside Melissa and all of us. Please watch this special video message from the hiring team to hear more about this exciting new chapter!
As mentioned in the video, it was a privilege to be part of this hiring process. We received an impressive range of applications, representing diversity in race, gender, sexuality, age, and location. After much prayer, reflection, and aligning our decisions with Elevation’s values, vision, and mission, we are thrilled to welcome Devon Wagler as our new co-lead pastor!
Devon brings with him 12 years of pastoral experience, including his role as associate pastor and founder of the Network Church plant. Some of us have had the pleasure of serving alongside Devon as part of our teaching team, and deeply appreciate his theological insights, rooted in scripture and tradition, yet practical for our daily faith journeys. His posture of curiosity and grace has enriched our team, and it is clear that Devon embodies the shared, collaborative leadership we value at Elevation.
We deeply appreciate Devon’s authenticity and humility. He makes room for others and leads in a way that aligns beautifully with our church’s ethos, values, and vision. We are confident that his passion for nurturing both individuals and our collective ministries will help our community continue to flourish.
We are excited for what lies ahead as we continue this journey together as a community!
If you have any questions about the announcement or the process, please do not hesitate to reach out to boardchairs@elevationwaterloo.org.
With excitement and hope,
The Elevation Board of Directors and Hiring Team