Joan Bell-Haynes is the Regional Minister for the Rocky Mountain Region. She is an alumna of the Disciples Divinity House and the University of Chicago Divinity School. Rev. Bell-Haynes is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). After earning her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Albany State College she worked as Assistant Dean of Academics, College of Health Sciences, Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.

Jacque Compton was born and raised in San Diego, CA, completed her undergraduate degree at Dowling College in NY and graduated with her Master of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary. She served as the Director of Youth as well as the Director of a children’s ministry program called St. Andrew’s Kids at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ashland, KY, served as an adult representative for the X-Committee regional youth council for the region of KY, and the Associate Minister and Minister of Youth at Madison Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in W. Huntington, WV.

Ken Cottrell is an Optometrist serving in Lexington at both Nathanial Mission and Mission Lexington. Ken is a long-time supporter of LST @ LTS (Lay School of Theology @ LTS) and Lay Ministry School. He is married to The Rev. Dr. Jan Cottrell, an Episcopal Priest, Licensed Pastoral Counselor, LTS graduate and member of the Infinite Table Campaign Committee.

Joe Gardner is a principal of Gardner Spencer Smith Tench & Jarbeau Architects, PC, founded in 1983. Joe holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University. He is a life-long member at Peachtree Christian Church and has served as an elder there since 1990.

Leslie Geoghegan’s professional career spanned almost twenty-five years in information technology, operations improvement, strategic planning, and project management. The majority of her career was spent as a management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She has an undergraduate degree in mathematics from University of Kentucky and an Master of Business Administration from The University of Louisville.

Leslie has utilized her professional experience to serve the local community for the last twenty years, especially in the areas of fundraising, strategic planning, financial oversight, construction management, and board leadership, through a variety of organizations, including: Beargrass Christian Church Official Board and Endowment Board, University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College External Advisory Board, Kentucky CAN campaign leadership council, Louisville Arena Authority, World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana, and Louisville Collegiate School. Leslie and her husband Ron are members at Beargrass Christian Church.

Brian Gerard currently serves as Senior Minister of Middletown Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He began his ministry at MCC in February of 2021 after serving as the Senior Minister of First Christian Church of Louisville for just over 18 years. Brian also served First Christian Church of Montgomery, AL from 1998-2002.

Brian received his bachelor’s degree from Phillips University (’94) and his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School (’97). As part of his seminary education, he served as a chaplain at Connecticut Hospice, completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Methodist Hospitals of Memphis and three units at Yale-New Haven Hospital. While in seminary, he also edited the book, Common Passages: Devotions for Seminarians by Seminarians (Chalice Press).

Brian is married to Carrie Gerard, who is ordained in the Christian Church (D.O.C.) and is the Executive Director of Eastern Area Community Ministries in Louisville. Brian and Carrie have two sons. Ethan, 21, is a Senior at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Graham, 16, is a Junior at North Oldham High School.

Donald K. Gillett, II has devoted tremendous service to the Kentucky region. He has served as senior pastor at East Second Street Christian Church in Lexington for 22 years. Then June 2017, he served as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches for over four years and is a contingent faculty at Lexington Theological Seminary.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, TX; a Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago; a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lexington Theological Seminary.

He is currently the chair of the UCMS Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is the immediate past President of the National Convocation Board of Directors for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has been the Chair/Co-Chair of the Division of Overseas Ministries Board of Directors of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Co-Chair of Global Ministries of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ and the United Church of Christ. He is also a former Moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) In Kentucky and President of the Kentucky Christian Missionary Convention.

He began his ministry as Regional Minister of the Christian Church in Kentucky on August 1, 2021

Richard Griffith is a Member in Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Lexington office and has practiced since 1983 and has been with the firm since 2002. He is the chair of the firm’s Workplace Law department a member of the Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits and the Class Action practices. Rick’s practice regularly includes counseling employers and litigating all types of employment law disputes.
For his many legal accomplishments, Rick is a 2014 BTI Client Service All-Star, is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, recognized by Chambers USA and is honored as a Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyer.

Larry L. Jackson is the former regional vice president of Advocate Aurora Healthcare, South Chicago/Suburban. Larry serves as the pastor of Jackson Boulevard Christian Church in Chicago, IL. He holds an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and History from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary and received a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education. Larry and his wife, Rev. Cheryl Jackson served as ministers at Park Manor Christian Church, Chicago, IL.

Gary Kidwell is president of the Christian Church Foundation, first joining the staff in January 1998. Gary is a graduate of Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, KY, and Campbellsville College, Campbellsville, KY. He holds a certificate in nonprofit management from the Harvard Business School. Prior to joining the Foundation, Gary since 1991 had worked with the Board of Church Extension, serving as a general consultant and vice president of field services.

Gary in 1985 launched the Twin Pines Christian Church in Lexington as a new church pastor/developer. He was pastor of Walton Christian Church, Walton, KY, from 1980 to 1985. He and his wife, Judy, have two adult children living in Dallas, TX, and belong to Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN.

William Kirkland is an attorney that practices general litigation in the areas of insurance defense, administrative law contract law and commercial law. He also frequently handles wills, trusts and estates along with related issues of guardianship and conservatorship. He holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Centre College and Vanderbilt University J.D. He attended LTS for professional study.

William Lee is a retired minister after serving Loudon Avenue Christian Church for nearly 40 years. Bill is the CEO/Owner of Devised Visions, LLC. He holds an undergraduate degree in Special Education from Virginia State University, a Master of Divinity Duke Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. Bill has served on the boards of the Pension Fund, the General Board, the Black Disciples Endowment Fund, National Convocation and Greenwood Cemetery. Bill and his wife Dana are members at Loudon Avenue Christian Church.

Doug Lofton was raised in Keokuk, Iowa where he attended First Christian Church as a third-generation member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Doug Lofton has recently retired after forty years of active ministry. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa and Master of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary, Doug served churches in Packwood, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Nashville, TN and most recently Tapestry Church (formerly Southport Christian Church) in Indianapolis, IN. Doug and Barb, who reside in Greenwood, IN, have been married for forty years and have six grandchildren. As Barb has recently retired from a career in nursing, they are both looking forward to spending more time with grandchildren and family, following the Iowa Hawkeyes and traveling.

Jeannie May grew up in Florida. She graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY and attended medical school at the University of South Florida. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Kentucky. She is currently practicing at Carolina Pediatrics. Jeannie is a member of First Christian Church, Wilmington, NC. She is married and has two daughters. Her father and sister are graduates of LTS.

William H. McConnell has been the Senior Minister at Hillside Christian Church since November 1, 1990. He is a native of Kentucky and pastored congregations in Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas prior to corning to Wichita. Bill graduated from Campbellsville University with a Bachelor of Science and Lexington Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He received his Doctor of Ministry from Lexington Theological Seminary in 1988.

Bill has Chaired the Board of Directors for Disciples Home Missions, served on the Kansas, Arkansas and Indiana Regional Boards, Kansas Committee on Licensed Ministry, Kansas Stewardship Committee, Arkansas Stewardship Resource Team, Commission for Higher Education, Campus Ministry Boards, and even on the President’s Delta Commission to Combat Poverty. Bill also served on the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

Kyle McDougal joined the staff as Associate Minister at First Christian Church Bowling Green in 2015 after completing her Master of Divinity degree at Lexington Theological Seminary in 2013, and upon ordination, served as Resident Minister at Central Christian Church in Lexington, KY. Kyle is married to Chris Rowe, and they have one child.

Elizabeth (Libby) McManis is a lifelong Disciple of Christ. She holds a Bachelor in Sociology from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Public Affairs from Kentucky State University and earned a Master of .Divinity from LTS.

She served Kentucky state government as Executive Director of the Office of Public Employee Health Insurance, Deputy Commissioner in the Personnel Cabinet, Director of Administration and Financial Management for the Dept. for Mental Health Retardation, Director of Finance for the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the Director of the Community Development Block Grant Program in the Department of Local Government.

Nathl Moore currently serves as the 14th Pastor of First African Baptist Church and in May 2011 received his Master of Divinity Degree from Lexington Theological Seminary and received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio in May 2017.

Pastor Moore served as the pastor of the Centerville Missionary Baptist Church from August 2002 to August of 2009. He has been blessed to serve as an instructor, workshop leader and class facilitator during local, state and regional conferences such as Lifeway’s “Be the Man Conference”, the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky’s Annual Pastors’ Conference and the Consolidated Baptist District Association’s K.L. Moore School of Religion.

He is a graduate of Tuskegee University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, he was employed as a Systems Analyst from 6/1996- 8/2000 by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson in Cincinnati, OH. He served not only as a team member but also a team lead to implement various IT solutions and strategies that covered Ethicon plants from Cincinnati, OH to Juarez, Mexico and supported on-site employees as well as off-site sales representatives.

Margie Ralph is a teacher, having taught grade school, high school, college, graduate school, and adult education groups throughout the United States, in Canada, Nassau, and Rome, Italy. She worked for the Covington and Lexington Dioceses for thirty years, filling various roles.

For twenty-nine years she served as the director of the Masters in Pastoral Studies program for Catholics at Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr. Ralph is the author of nineteen books on Scripture, including Paulist Press’ bestsellers, And God Said What? and the series, “Breaking Open the Lectionary: Lectionary Readings in their Biblical Context for RCIA, Faith Sharing Groups and Lectors.”

John Reed is a CPA and founder and president of Bottom Line Services in Ft. Mitchell, KY. Bottom Line Services is a financial services company with offices in Ft. Mitchel, Williamstown and Aurora IN. His company’s clients include church congregations and clergy. John has served as moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Kentucky region and as a member of the Disciples of Christ General Board. He and his family are members of Florence Christian Church, Florence, KY.

J.J. Santos is the Quality and Compliance Manager for St. Elizabeth Physicians in Crestview Hills, KY. His wife Ria is a physician in the same practice, and they are members of Erlanger Christian Church in Erlanger, KY.

Henry (Hank) Sneed is retired from UK Housing Office, US Air Force, and as a pastor. He is a Master of Divinity graduate of LTS, former President of the Kentucky Christian Missionary Convention, former regional staff member, and member of the 2016 Dean’s Search Committee.

James Sullivan founded Kentucky Trust Company in 1995. Jim is a retired Commander in the US Navy Reserve. Jim holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Centre College and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. Jim has served as the past president for the Centre College Alumni Association, past chair of the Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce and the past director of the Christian Church Foundation. Jim and his wife Caroline are members at First Christian Church, Danville, KY.

Daniel Webster retired as pastor of First Christian Church, Gainesville, FL in 2017. Daniel holds a B.A. from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Divinity from LTS. He was also certified as a church world service domestic relief coordinator. Daniel and his wife Nel have dual membership at First Christian Church, Gainesville, FL and United Church of Gainesville.

Jim Wheeler was born and raised in Carrollton, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Carroll County High School, Transylvania University, and Lexington Theological Seminary.

He is blessed to share life with his wife of thirty-nine years, Rhonda Wiley Wheeler. Rhonda has always been very active and supportive of all ministries in the life of the church, while also having her own profession in higher education. Jim and Rhonda have three married daughters (and sons-in-law) and four grandchildren.

Jim is a lifelong member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), having grown up in the Carrollton Christian Church in Kentucky. He has served congregations in Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. He is currently Senior Minister of First Christian Church (DOC) in Lawrenceburg, KY, where he has served since 2002.

When not working at the church, he loves spending time with family and watching football and basketball, and going to UK women’s basketball games with his granddaughter.

Throughout his career Jim has served with many local agencies to help fight poverty and hunger. He has served on many boards including the Christian Church in Kentucky, Alumni Association for LTS, Ministerial Associations, Literacy Council, KY Council of Churches, Hospice, Alzheimer’s Association, Domestic Violence Council, Chamber of Commerce, and on an ethics committee for a local hospital. He has also served as a mentor for several students attending seminary during his career.

Bobby (Bob) Williams is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin University with a Bachelor in Business Administration in Accounting. He is a semi- retired Financial Advisor with Prudential Financial and Vietnam Era Veteran (U.S. Army). Bob is an Elder at the Warren Ave. Christian Church in Dallas, Texas. He is married to Linda Lampkin Williams. They have one daughter and two grandchildren. He is a big sports fan and an Avid Golfer. Bob has served the General Church in several arears including as a member of the Genera Board and the Christian Church Foundation.