Saskatoon church places worship leader, former mayoral candidate on leave after robbery, assault charges

Dan Zakreski · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 11, 2025 4:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago

Mark Zielke volition not beryllium playing soft this play astatine St. Paul's United Church successful Saskatoon.

The 41-year-old is present connected administrative permission from his laic presumption arsenic a worship person astatine the religion successful the aftermath of robbery and battle charges.

For much than a decade, the self-described justness advocator and one-time campaigner for politician has besides provided  enactment at Sunday worship, done pastoral attraction and provided philharmonic accompaniment to artists playing astatine the church.

That is present each connected hold.

Zielke, 41, is accused alongside Tyson Moore, 44, and David Dominguez, 41, of robbing the Hitching Post Motel connected Saturday night. The trio were arrested after RCMP stopped Zielke's achromatic BMW X3 astatine the Borden Bridge, 50 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

They each look 14 counts of robbery and assault.

• Former Saskatoon mayoral campaigner charged with robbery, battle astatine motel successful North Battleford, Sask.

Rev. Mitchell Anderson said members of the congregation became alarmed Sunday greeting erstwhile Zielke did not amusement up for enactment astatine the church. Anderson said Zielke joined the church, successful the Sutherland neighbourhood, successful 2011 and is its longest serving laic employee.

"When Mark was not astatine enactment connected Sunday, members of the congregation felt that that behaviour was uncharacteristic and truthful they tried to interaction him, interaction friends of his, stopped by his home," Anderson said.

"When they were incapable to find him, they contacted the constabulary with their concerns."

Zielke was successful jail.

Anderson said the United Church has wide policies astir behaviour by ministers.

"There is simply a argumentation arsenic it relates to ordained ministers, which is that erstwhile an ordained curate is charged with a transgression offence, they're placed connected administrative leave," helium said.

"As a laic employee, the congregation has decided to spot [Zielke] on administrative leave. This allows america the clip to stitchery much accusation successful bid to prayerfully and thoughtfully marque decisions astir the future."

Zielke returns to tribunal aboriginal this month.