The Rev. Kenneth L. Chumbley has been rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Mo., since 1995. He moved to Springfield from Johnson City, N.Y., where he served five years as rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church. Before that position, he served as assistant rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Bowling Green, Ky., and as Episcopal chaplain at Western Kentucky University.
Ken is a graduate of the University of Louisville, where he earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1976, and of The General Theological Seminary, New York City, where he earned his master's degree in divinity in 1986. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1986 and to the priesthood in 1987.
Before seminary and ordination, he worked in banking in several capacities and in university and agency public relations. He has written articles, essays and reviews for many national, regional and local publications. Ken's Blog: http://onepriestsblog.blogspot.com/
The Rev. Jonathan E. Frazier, Assistant Rector
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Jonathan Frazier grew up in St. Joseph, Mo., the son of a farmer and a school teacher.
Originally a Presbyterian, his exposure to the Roman Catholic church in high school and college led to him find the Episcopal Church. Its Protestant theology and Catholic liturgy make for "a shoe that fits," he said.
Jonathan is a graduate of Rockhurst University and the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He and his wife Ann have teenage sons, Evon and Connor.
Kathy Sheppard, Children’s Christian Education Director
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Kathy has been the Christian Education Director for Children and Young Families at Christ Episcopal Church since November of 2001. She has attended Christ Church for 20+ years and has been involved with many ministries. Kathy has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Masters in Special Education, with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities. Kathy taught in public school for 10 years, in addition to teaching Sunday School & Bible School.
Donya Newport, Youth Minister
Donya has been helping with the Youth Group since she moved to Springfield and joined Christ Episcopal Church in September of 2005. She has a bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Before becoming the full time youth minister at Christ Episcopal Church, she owned her own photography studio in downtown Springfield for over three years.
She was very involved in her church and youth group while growing up and always felt God leading her to share that experience with others. She is very passionate about her ministry with youth and young adults, and looks forward to helping that ministry grow here at Christ Episcopal Church.
Sheila McGinn, Communications Coordinator
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Sheila is the Communications Coordinator at Christ Church. She has held this position for 4 1/2 years. Sheila has a B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She has held positions in Outside Sales in the broadcast industry and Inside Sales and Training Coordination for a printed circuit board manufacturer. She came to us after almost 25 years of continuous employment at Northrop Grumman.
She has been married to her husband, David, for 29 years and has one son and two daughters ranging in ages 20-27 years. She says, “My family is my life!” She enjoys family outings and trips, music, art, sewing and shopping.
Allin Sorenson, Music Director and St. Gregory Choir Director
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Allin Sorenson, a native of Quincy, Illinois, is the Chair of the Department of Music and has been the Director of Choral Activities at Drury University since 1988.
He holds bachelor and master degrees in Music Education from Truman State University. In 1988, he completed a doctorate in Voice Performance from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, where he participated in developing curriculum for undergraduate Class Voice and Vocal Pedagogy courses. He has appeared as tenor soloist with the Springfield Symphony and Mid-America Singers and as a recitalist throughout Missouri and the upper Midwest.
Allin's choirs have performed throughout the United States and in Europe, including frequent performances at the Missouri Music Educators Conference and at the Southwest Division of the American Choral Directors Association. In 1994, his choir, the Drury Singers, performed in Carnegie Hall. They returned in 1999 under his direction to perform the FauréRequiem with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.
He made his European debut in 2003 with performances at Sint Nicolaaskerk in Amsterdam, Cathédrale Notre Dame and Eglise de St-Sulpice in Paris and at Memorial Day ceremonies at the Normandy-American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. More recent tours included performances in Munich, the Dachau Memorial and Betzigau, Germany, as well as Salzburg, Bad Ischl, Matzen and Vienna, Austria. In 2007 Allin toured England and Scotland with choral performances in Edinburgh, Stirling, Leeds and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Allin is an active church musician clinician, adjudicator and church musician, and is known throughout the region as an expert in vocal pedagogy. He is married to Ruth, a music teacher in Nixa and they have two daughters, Deanna and Lora.
Mary Gates, Organist
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Mary began her training as a church organist at age 15, after years of piano lessons, in a small Episcopal church in Illinois. She has been playing ever since, in churches large and small. She continued her studies at Carthage College and the University of Iowa, and later with Dr. John Obetz. In addition to playing the organ and piano in churches throughout the United States and in Europe, she has been a recitalist on the large organ at the Auditorium in Independence, Missouri. She feels blessed to be part of the fine music ministry at Christ Church.
Teaching has also played an important role in Mary's life, as she taught music and English in the public schools a number of years and now maintains a private piano studio.
When she isn't playing the organ or teaching, Mary visits with her four children and four grandchildren, scattered from Quebec, Canada, to Miami, Florida.
Tricia Zinecker, St. Cecilia Choir Director
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Tricia directs the St. Cecilia choir at Christ Episcopal Church. She enjoyed directing both the St. Gregory and St. Cecilia Choir for six years, but is now sharing her position with Dr. Allin Sorenson, Music Director at Christ Church.
Tricia has been a music educator for over 17 years in both public education and in the private sector. "Mrs. Z," as the children call her, is currently a music educator in the Republic R-III School District. In past years, she has worked at Drury University as a Private Voice Instructor and with the Children's Choirs of Southwest Missouri as Associate Director of Choirs. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Drury University and a Master of Music Degree in Opera Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Tricia has three children who are involved in Christ Church as Junior Choir members and Acolytes. Her husband of 17 years is also a music educator with the Springfield Public Schools and a professional trumpeter. The entire family enjoys being a part of the growing Christ Church congregation.
Mary Christiano, Bell Choir Director
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Mary received her Bachelors in Music Education from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 1972 and earned her Master of Arts from Hofstra University in 1978. She taught Elementary Strings/Orchestra in the Public Schools at Seaford, NY from 1972-75.
Mary moved to Springfield in 1978 and has been involved with volunteerism in many organizations over the years. She married in 1972 to David, and they have 4 children.
Mary is active in church activities including Bell Choirs, Altar Guild, Vinton, St Mary's, past Senior Warden, Vestry, and Sunday School Teacher.
John Pokrant, Sexton
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David McGinn, Sexton
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David works part-time as the Sunday morning Sexton at Christ Church and enjoys knowing parishioners and helping out where needed.
He has been married to Sheila for 29 years and they have three children ranging in ages from 20-27.
He has held various positions in the radio broadcast industry for 35 years as a DJ, Radio Talk Host, and News Director. He currently reports and delivers the news on KTTS and KSGF.
