Mid-Term Leadership Elections
Jr Warden
Our elected junior warden, Carl Pyle, has stepped down from his position on vestry. He was professional, enthusiastic, and had a great eye for details. He also organized the Mens’ Breakfast group that meets monthly. We will miss him.
Our bylaws indicate that when a vestry position opens up before the term is completed, then vestry votes for the replacement member. This is different than filling an expired term when the cathedral as a whole votes at annual meeting.
At its meeting this weekend, the Vestry agreed that the person elected to fill Carl’s term (which ends in December 2025) should expect to serve as junior warden. That election will take place at the April vestry meeting in executive session.
If you are interested in serving as the junior warden, please reach out to any member of the vestry before April 26th. The person elected will begin their responsibilities in May 2024.
Here is information for your consideration:
The person elected to fill Carl’s term will serve through December 2025 and would be eligible to be elected to a three year term at the annual meeting. The junior warden position is a one year term but the person occupying that job can be re-elected by vestry more than once during that member’s time on vestry.
The junior warden is charged with oversight of the physical property of the parish, serves as the people's warden, and acts as chairperson of the vestry if the dean and senior warden are unavailable.
In practice, the junior warden is a project manager who works closely with our facilities manager, Don Grunden, on projects that are prioritized by the vestry. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work easily with the staff are essential.
Flexibility of schedule is a plus. The junior warden needs to be present when contractors are on campus or immediate/urgent work issues need to be addressed.
Attendance at monthly vestry meetings is vital. Meetings are held on Sunday afternoons, usually on the last Sunday of the month and, with some exceptions, are an hour long. Ours is a working vestry, so some additional time or effort may be required from time to time.
All members of the vestry are expected to 1) serve lunch at the Welcome Table at least once during their term, 2) visit/assist the Montessori School while it is in session at least once during their term, 3) make the financial report to the vestry at least once during their term, and 4) participate in vestry calls to the entire community annually.
If you are interested in discussing this position further, please contact a member of the vestry.
Dear Friends:
At its March 24th meeting, the vestry learned of two positions which have come open in recent days: an unfulfilled vestry term, and the treasurer. In both cases, our bylaws require vestry to vote on these replacements (as opposed to the whole parish body voting at annual meeting).
All members of Christ Cathedral in good standing are eligible to apply for these positions. “Member in good standing” is defined in the bylaws as an adult who has been confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church and attends here regularly. Preference will be given to candidates from households not already represented in the leadership of the cathedral and persons who have never or not recently served in leadership at the cathedral.
Vestry will vote on both positions at the April 28th meeting. Elections are always held in executive session to protect the privacy of the candidates. Those elected will begin serving immediately.
If you’d like to run for the treasurer position or to fill the unexpired vestry term, contact a member of vestry (contact information below) by April 26th.
Details about each of these positions are attached to this email. You can also find them on our website and at the cathedral office during regular office hours.
The bylaws of the cathedral were revised in 2023 and approved at the annual meeting in January of 2024. A copy of the bylaws is attached to this email or or can be picked up at the office during regular office hours. The bylaws, as well as monthly vestry minutes and the year-to-date budget are always on display in the glass cases in the breezeway.
If you have questions or would like to run for one of these two positions, please contact a member of your vestry. The deadline for consideration is April 26th.
Wayne DeBey: 785-827-6693 fleurman@sbcglobal.net
Barth Crouch: 785-452-0780 barth.crouch@gmail.com
DeMay Grunden: 316-640-2882 demaygrunden@gmail.com
Jennifer Higgins: 785-787-2278 catzfavre@yahoo.com
Steve Hoffman: 785-502-0099 hoffyart@gmail.com
Ginger Wooten: 785-643-5337 gingerwooten@outlook.com
Treasurer
Our treasurer, John Ryberg, is stepping down from that position. John has served faithfully for a very long time and we are so grateful for his service! John is the rare and wonderful mix of fiscal responsibility, sparkling repartee and sartorial splendor. Crissy and I will miss him in the office.
Vestry will elect a new treasurer at the April 28th vestry meeting in executive session. The person elected will begin their responsibilities in May 2024. If you are interested in running for treasurer, please contact any vestry member before April 26, 2024.
Treasurer Job Description
The bylaws state: “The Treasurer is elected by the Vestry for a three year term and may not succeed themselves. They shall have the care and custody of all funds of the parish under the direction of the Vestry. The Treasurer shall be subject to such bond as the Vestry may require. The Treasurer will serve as a member of the Finance Committee. If the Treasurer is not a Cathedral member, they will be granted a seat and voice and bonding as required.”
In practice, these are the expectations for the treasurer:
Does not need to have a background in finance or accounting, but needs to be detail oriented, curious and willing to ask questions.
Attends quarterly Finance Committee meetings. The Finance Committee closely scrutinizes the Cathedral’s budget, spending, investment, etc. It is an advisory body to the Vestry.
Flexibility of schedule and ability to stop in on short notice is essential in the role of Treasurer.
The treasurer reviews, approves and signs checks issued to pay Cathedral bills. This takes place twice a month, in the morning, during business hours and takes between 30-45 minutes.
From time to time, the Treasurer may be called on short notice to sign a check for a bill that for some reason needs to be signed outside of the regular schedule.
The Treasurer is required to be present both at the Annual Meeting of the Cathedral and the Budget Pre-Meeting, both held in January every year.
If you are interested in serving as the Treasurer, please contact a member of the Vestry before April 26, 2024.
Clergy Leadership
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The Right Rev. Mark A. Cowell- VI Bishop of the Diocese of Western Kansas
Bishop Cowell was raised in the Episcopal Church, and fell in love with the Anglican Eucharist when living in England as a child.
Bishop Cowell began his education at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1990.
He earned his juris doctorate degree from Washburn University in 1994, and graduated with honors.
The Bishop was ordained as a transitional deacon in October 2003. He was ordained as a priest in June 2004.
Bishop Cowell was elected as the the new Bishop elect in May of 2018 and Consecrated by The Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, on December 1, 2018 at Christ Cathedral in Salina.
Bishop Cowell is in a dual role position as Bishop. He serves his churches and continues to work part time as the City of Dodge City Municipal Prosecutor. He is also the Hodgeman County Attorney, and was just re-elected to his second term.Description goes here
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The Very Rev. Shay Craig, Dean
Mother Shay joined Christ Cathedral first as a Curate in 2018 and returned to be the 19th Dean in 2023. Raised in northern California, Shay is a naturalized citizen of Chicago but she has definitely come home to Kansas.. She and her husband John Houston have a blended family: six cats and three dogs.
Email Mo Shay or call her at 785-827-4440.
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The Rev. Basil Price - Assisitng Presit
Fr. Basil’s father was a Woolworth store manager and his childhood included living in many places, though he considers his hometown, Independence, Kansas. Basil started working at the radio station in Independence while in high school and worked in radio for many years.
Fr Basil holds a BA in speech from Emporia State University and an MS in communication from Fort Hays State University and attended Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. In addition to being a priest, he teaches public speaking and ethics at Salina Area Technical school. Fr. Basil serves as the Cathedral’s representative at services held in Senior Living Communities and is the settled priest at the 5PM Saturday Service.
You can Fr. Basil via email.
Administrative Leadership
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Crissy Cook - Parish Administrator
Crissy joined the staff of Christ Cathedral in September 2019. She stepped into our crazy three-ring circus with her whip and chair and almost all of us monkeys have fallen into line. In 2020 she became Financial Administrator and in 2022 she became Director of the Welcome Table. She is the wife of SFC Chad Cook. She is also the mother to Temptyann, Clarissa (Jacob), and Sierra (Jakob) and the proud Nana of Jason, Ashlynn and Kenslie.
You can reach Crissy at 785-827-4440 or email.
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Don Grunden - Facilities Manager
Donald Grunden lived in and around Wichita from birth until 2016. It took his amazing wife of 34 years and awesome grandchildren, Solomon and Rosalee, to get him to move. “Best move ever.” A member of Christ Cathedral with wife, Joann, for many years. He and Joann own and manage properties in Wichita, Salina and Abilene. He is the father of DeMay, Desiree, and Dana: his earth, wind and fire.
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Vestry
Carolyn Peterson - Sr. Warden
Dale Wooten - Jr. Warden
Barth Crouch
Wayne DeBey
DeMay Grunden
Carl Pyle
Kay Quinn
Ginger Wooten
Kathleen Crouch - Secretary
Music Ministry
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Nancy Bauer - Director of Music Ministry
Nancy Bauer has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music education with a primary performance area of organ from Bethany College and a Master’s of Music degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Nancy has played for churches since the age of 15. She studied with various teachers in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. While her husband was at seminary. she was one of the organists for Wartburg Theological Seminary chapel. She also accompanies students for solo and ensemble contest, teaches private piano and sings in the Bethany Oratorio Society.
You can reach Nancy at 785-201-4163 or via email.
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Rebecca Copley - Choir Director
Rebecca Copley has performed with leading opera companies and orchestras worldwide.
A true leading lady of the operatic stage, Rebecca has triumphed as Puccini's Turandot in Turandot (Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Carolina, Minnesota, Baltimore, Ft Worth, Knoxville), Verdi's Abigaille in Nabucco (Metropolitan Opera, South Africa, Opera Carolina), Leonore in Il Trovatore (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Metropolitan Opera, Palm Beach), Bellini's Norma in Norma (Baltimore, New Jersey, Palm Beach, Connecticut), Verdi's Aida in Aida (Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Knoxville), Verdi's Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Opera Pacific), Gerhilde in Wagner's Die Walkure with the Metropolitan Opera and James Levine/Valery Gergiev, Amelia in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (Ms Copley's debut with the Metropolitan Opera), Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni (Metropolitan Opera, Ft Worth, New Orleans), Desdemona in Verdi's Otello (operatic debut with James McCracken and New Jersey State Opera, New Orleans), Tatiana in Tchaikowsky's Eugene Onegin (Palm Beach).
In 2004, the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs honored Ms. Copley as "Musician of the Year." She also is the recipient of the Gold Award for Achievement from her alma mater, Bethany College (KS). Prior to 2014, she taught at Fort Lewis College (Durango, CO) and University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK) and Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS). Rebecca and her husband, Don Johnson, are happy to be home on their farm near Lindsborg, KS. Rebecca’s
You can reach Rebecca at 303-684-9828 or via email.
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Choir
The Cathedral Choir features three paid section leaders and a small but mighty group of volunteers. YOU are welcome to join in this ministry and make a joyful noise for the congregation. The Choir rehearses on Wednesday nights and Sundays before service. Please contact Nancy or Rebecca for more information.