Southeast City Church

Our Pillars (Who We Aspire To Be)

Jesus: We want everything we say and do to be because of and for Jesus. We don’t want to be a church full of good, religious folks, but full of people who know they are loved by God, are captivated by His grace, and who want their lives to count for His glory and Kingdom—people who want to obey, please, and emulate Jesus every day of their lives with every facet of their lives.

Family: We want to be a church that is more than an event or social club or service provider, but that is an actual family where we’re involved in each other’s lives, love each other as Christ loves us, and help each other become more like Jesus, and we want to extend that community and family to others.

City: We want to be a church that doesn’t fear, neglect, withdraw from, or merely tolerate the city, but one that blesses our communities and city. We want to be the very best neighbours and citizens, actively, tangibly, and sacrificially loving our neighbours, especially those experiencing poverty, hardship, and marginalization, and praying and working for the flourishing of our city at every level.

Mission: We believe Jesus is the hope of the world and we want to help people discover, know, believe in, and follow Him. We want to be a church that creates safe spaces where anyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey, can explore the claims and teachings of Jesus and experience God and the power of the gospel. We also want to be a church that equips Jesus-followers for our cultural moment to be gracious, humble, winsome disciplemakers where they live, work, and play; a church that makes disciples who make disciples.

Our Leaders

David and Diana Hood have been in vocational pastoral ministry since 2012. They were working with Ottawa Young Adults, when, in 2016, they felt the call to start a church in Ottawa’s diverse and growing Alta Vista ward where they lived. They wanted to plant a church that acted like a family, welcomed people from hard places, positively impacted the community, especially those experiencing marginalization, was mission-minded in its discipleship, and that kept the gospel of Jesus Christ at the forefront in everything. With the help of the C2C Network (now Collective) and Sequoia Community Church, a like-minded church in Barrhaven, they set out to fulfill the dream God gave them and by His grace, their small mission team grew and Southeast City Church was officially launched in September 2019. They are joined in their calling by their three children: Micah, Leah, and Jonah. 

David is a graduate of Tyndale Seminary (MDiv) and is credentialed with the Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

What we Believe

We are affiliated with the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. This is their Confession of Faith. While we affirm this Confession, we do not expect people to affirm it to be family with us. We know we’re all coming from different places and experiences and we’re all learning and growing in our understanding. We welcome questions and the journey. We do require affirmation from our teachers and leaders, but there are many ways to participate in our church’s life and serve that do not require affirmation. 

https://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/summary-of-the-confession-of-faith

Other Leaders and Staff

Deacons: Jason and Samantha Malone

Samuel and Lauren Hadwen

Ministry Coordinator: Samantha Malone

Media & Production Coordinator: Glen Scammell