The Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred upon Rev. Don Heath upon his graduation from Phillips Seminary.
Eula Hledik received her Master of Divinity degree from Phillips Seminary. She was also recently approved for ordination by the Commission on Clergy.
January 2026 was a tense month for our neighbors in Minneapolis, MN, and other places where Immigration officers were met with protests about their tactics and practices in carrying out their duties and responding to protesters and bystanders. In response to a call for clergy to travel to Minneapolis, MN, two of our clergy, Rev. Kelley Becker (Disciples Christian Church, Bartlesville) and Rev. David Wheeler (New Covenant Christian Church, OKC), traveled with a group of Interfaith clergy from Oklahoma to stand with our neighbors and be our eyes. Our Regional Minister asked Rev. Becker to write a short reflection about the experience.
By Rev. Kelley Becker
Rev. Davison asked me to write a few paragraphs about the trip to Minneapolis, MN Rev. David Wheeler and I took with an interfaith group of clergy in January. Here is a bit of what I learned and experienced.
We met on a Thursday morning at a large church in downtown Minneapolis. The speakers talked about what life is like in their neighborhoods. We heard about the store and restaurant owners who keep their business doors locked because they are afraid ICE will raid their businesses. Some people carry their passports and other identification to prove they are citizens or have the correct documentation. And sometimes it doesn’t matter. People are afraid, and rightly so, that they will be among the people who disappear. Families keep children home from school because they fear they will be detained or used as bait to trap the parents. Some people are not going to work, either because they are afraid or because their workplaces are closed.
Amid it all, I saw sacrificial neighborliness. Neighbors are going out of their way, at great risk to themselves, to take care of their neighbors. Many people have been trained to ICE Watch. I had a taste of what that is like. We set out two by two to walk a neighborhood, watching for ICE. Each pair was given a whistle and instructions on how to use it and when. We saw for ourselves that all the stores and restaurants were locked. Some had lights on and were clearly occupied; others were dark. We stopped to talk with a woman standing on the corner watching for ICE. She told us that almost every day, at least for an hour or two, she stands watch.
Organizers in the cities that have been hit hardest by ICE, L.A., Chicago, and Minneapolis, have been clear: ICE isn’t going to stop with them. In the words of one of the organizers, “You may not be seeing ICE in your cities and towns yet, but ICE is coming. They will be there, and we want you to be prepared.” While we were there, we got very fast training in community and neighborhood organizing, non-violent resistance, non-compliance, planning, and leading protests and sit-ins.
In addition to admiration and compassion for the people of Minneapolis, I took away the idea that because this organizing is based on building community and taking care of each other, if we do the work and prepare, and we never have to resist ICE in our communities, nothing is lost, and the gift of community is gained. And the reality is, there will be a moment when we need each other. Maybe it will be a weather event, a community tragedy, or another pandemic. Whatever it is, community will save us. Love and know your neighbors, dear ones. We are better together.
by Rev. Bill Hemm
We are so pleased to have Rev. Shannon Cook as our new Associate Regional Minister! As the chair of the search committee, I could not be more proud of the work the committee members did as well as how the process unfolded. We looked through the ministerial papers of interested candidates and chose to interview two people via Zoom. The committee prepared several questions and facilitated fruitful conversations. It was determined that we would extend a second in-person interview to one of the candidates to further our dialogue and to see if this was going to be a compatible match for our region.
Rev. Cook was inviting, engaging, lively, and ready to hit the ground running. The search committee voted unanimously to offer her a call. She was presented to the regional executive committee and then to the regional board, who voted on January 31st to officially call her as our new Associate Regional Minister!
I want to thank the wonderful committee members for their sacrificial work and dedication to this process. Julie Gillett, Ramona McPherson, Brooke Waldrip, Jonah Dew, Kathy Standridge, and Joshua Bell made up a fantastic team!
So excited to see what the future holds…
Shannon will begin on April 11th. Her ministry portfolio includes the Commission for Children, Youth, and Young Adults, which will provide leadership and support to the Region’s ministries serving children, youth, and young adults. Shannon will also provide encouragement and resourcing for congregations in their ministries with children, youth, and young adults. She will work with the Commission for Laity to create and plan intergenerational educational opportunities. Relationships are at the heart of meaningful ministry for Shannon, and she hopes to continue cultivating connections between congregations, pastors, and the Region.
Shannon is a Hoosier by birth and was raised in DeLand, Florida. She is a third-generation Disciples of Christ. Shannon was a double major in Mathematics and Politics at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. In 2001, she graduated from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a Master of Divinity degree. She is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. She was ordained into Christian ministry in July of 2001 at First Christian Church in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Before coming to Oklahoma, Shannon served congregations in Paris and Mount Sterling, Kentucky. She served First Christian Church of Norman for twelve years before joining the Regional staff.
Shannon is married to Barton Hanna, who works in the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma. She enjoys reading, watching/attending sporting events, and hanging out with her cats. Shannon and Bart enjoy traveling together as much as possible!
Rev. Kelley Becker holds an AA from Heartland Community College, Normal, Illinois, and an MDiv. from Phillips Theological Seminary (2014). Kelley served First Presbyterian Church in Normal, Illinois, as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries and First Christian Church in Bloomington, Illinois, as the associate minister before her call to Disciples Christian Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in January 2017.
While in Bartlesville, Kelley has served on numerous non-profit boards, including Family Promise, Oklahomans for Equality-Bartlesville, Ray of Hope Advocacy Center, and the PTS Alum Association Board. In 2018, she led Disciples Christian Church through the discernment process of becoming an Open and Affirming congregation. Disciples Christian Church remains the only Christian congregation in Bartlesville that fully welcomes everyone.
Kelley has served the Oklahoma Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by serving on the Commission on Clergy, the Regional Board and Executive Committee, and counseling and directing church camp. She currently serves as the Northeast Area Moderator.
For 19 years, Kelley has been married to John who is an exercise physiologist at Oklahoma Heart Institute in Tulsa. They have two sons (Christopher and Andrew), two grandsons (Kane and Bair), and another grandchild on the way. Kelley and John have two labrador retrievers, Porter and Scout. The Beckers enjoy long distance road biking, traveling, and anything dog related.
The Phillips Theological Seminary Advancement Office established the Dr. Mary Ruth Bedford Award for Individual Giving as a way to recognize longtime giving to the seminary.
The individual award was presented to Kim Clements Hames. Her heavy involvement in CCC revealed to her a love for teaching about the faith and at her Pastors’ encouragement, she attended Phillips Graduate Seminary (MDiv, 1979). During seminary, she also developed an interest in chaplaincy and went on to receive an STM at Yale Divinity 1980, with a later Chaplain Residency in Boston.
Her 40 years of ministry included positions re: Youth, Singles, Associate, Senior, and Chaplaincy. She has served in Oklahoma (Tulsa, Cushing, Lawton, Bartlesville); New Haven; Boston; and Kentucky.
Over the years Kim was a “first” for people, e.g., “You don’t look like a minister;” first female minister at several churches; first pregnancy leave for two churches. Kim now enjoys her involvement at Harvard Avenue Christian Church as she has transitioned into retirement.
Rev. Paul Ragle received the Honored Minister Pin from Regional Minister Michael Davison on November 15, 2025. He has retired as senior minister at Christian Church of the Covenant, Enid. Paul has also been a very integral part of the Region’s youth and church camp ministry program. Well done good and faithful servant!
His church honored him with a reception, surrounded by his family.
Northwest Area congregations sponsor a clergy retreat during the fall. This year’s retreat, Sept 21-23, was held at Roman State Park. The retreat is designed for active clergy in the area, and when space is available, invited active or retired colleagues beyond the area. The retreat includes continuing education, a completely free afternoon, vespers, and conversations with persons who share a call to ministry. This year’s retreat focused on clergy mental health and featured a presentation by Kayla McClain, MCP, LADC/MH, who is a member of First Christian Church in Alva. Rev. Kelsey Cobbs (The Federated Church of Weatherford) led the vespers each evening.
The retreat welcomed clergy from the Northwest, Central, and Southwest areas.
Pictured L-R: Joshua Bell, Linda Jones, Sondra Ladd, Dave Jones, Marilyn Merle, Diane Morgan, Vera Porter, Gary Mitchell, Chris Muse, John Wheeler, Ronnie Fields, Kelsey Cobbs, Drew Kirtley and Ronnie Hopkins.
How do we construct Advent? Future-oriented or Present-focused? Absence or Presence? Approaching or Arrived?
This workshop reflects on the Advent Lectionary Gospel Texts, and suggests some ways ahead for a worthy celebration that does not replicate the anti-Jewish biases that can mar the season.
Join Dr. Warren Carter, LaDonna Kramer Meinders Professor of New Testament, Phillips Seminary for this engaging FREE workshop. (Both dates cover the same material)
November 8, 2025 • 10:00 am
OR
November 10, 2025 • 6:30 pm
Patrick McKenzie was ordained into Christian Ministry on August 24, 2025 at Village Christian Church, Oklahoma City. He was awarded his Master of Divinity at Lexington Seminary in May.
Rev. McKenzie has served as a commissioned pastor of New Vessels Christian Church in Oklahoma City, where he will continue to serve his congregation as an ordained minister.
Take a break from the busyness of life and join us for a time of renewal, connection, and rest!
Date: October 14–15, 2025
Arrival Time: 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Location: St. Crispin’s Conference Center and Camp, 36302 OK-9, Wewoka, OK 74884 • 405-382-1619 • https://stcrispins.org/
Lodging: Single or double rooms available
Cost: $40 per person
Registration Deadline: September 14
Don’t wait—register today! Space is limited!
A limited number of scholarships are available upon request. Please contact Christine Pomaville for information and details (405) 248-6282.
This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to rest, recharge, and build relationships with clergy women across our Region. Bring along your favorite beverage and some games to share—we’ll enjoy fellowship and laughter together in the evening!
We are thrilled to welcome Keynote Speaker Mollie Donihe Wilkerson. Growing up in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Mollie carries a deep love for those hills that shaped her spirit. She followed a calling toward theological education, earning her Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2020.
Combining her academic interests with her lifelong love of sewing, Mollie is now a craftswoman by trade, creating clergy stoles and textile art while guiding others in creative expression as a spiritual practice. Mollie lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, son, and dog, where she serves as a commissioned Disciples of Christ minister and Spiritual Director.
By Joshua Bell, Sr. Minister FCC Perry
In the aftermath of disaster, silence often settles over a landscape reduced to debris and devastation. Neighborhoods that once echoed with laughter and routine now stood quiet, shattered by the storm. But amid this chaos, the American Red Cross emerged — a steady force bringing hope, compassion, and relief. Volunteers came from every corner of the country, each with a common purpose: to restore dignity, connection, and a sense of peace for those who had lost nearly everything.
When I arrived in Florida as a volunteer with the Red Cross for Hurricane Helene, I was assigned to the reunification team, a critical part of the Red Cross mission that works to reconnect families and loved ones separated in the chaos. Witnessing the relief on people’s faces as they were reunited with loved ones was humbling. In a world turned upside down, these moments they reminded us all of the resilience of human connections.
As my 16-day deployment progressed, I transitioned into Disaster Spiritual Care, working with seasoned chaplains to focus on a ministry of presence (pictured above l-r: Chaplains Frank Rodriguez, Kevin Foster and Joshua Bell).
In the shelters, we were there not to solve every problem or answer every question but to simply be — to listen, to empathize, and to provide companionship in a time of profound need. This presence offered solace, and for many, it was a small but steady reminder that they were not alone.
Each day in the shelters, I witnessed the quiet courage of those who had lost so much. We supported not only the guests but also the Red Cross staff and volunteers who were working tirelessly to meet physical needs, deliver meals, and provide medical care. Sometimes, our ministry was as simple as sharing a cup of coffee and listening to someone’s story. Other times, it was sitting in silence, honoring grief too deep for words. In these moments, I learned that offering hope doesn’t always mean doing; sometimes it’s simply about being fully present.
For me, this experience was life-changing. It was a reminder that we are all connected and that showing up, even in small ways, can have an enormous impact. Seeing firsthand the dedication of volunteers, the resilience of survivors, and the power of community to lift up those in pain was profoundly moving.
If you ever feel the call to make a difference, I encourage you to volunteer with the Red Cross at least once in your life. There’s something transformative about standing beside others in their most challenging moments and witnessing the unbreakable spirit that emerges in times of crisis. Through the chaos and loss, the Red Cross brought hope to many—and for me, being a part of that was an experience I will carry forever.
