ST. JAMES WICHITA - Key Persons
Chelsea Whipple joined St. James as the Christian formation director in September 2016 and then as the program director in 2019. She coordinates the children, youth and adult education ministries as well as oversees the various programs that are run in and out of the church. Chelsea has a master's degree in New Testament studies from Bangor Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree in education from Wichita State University. She is working on a doctor of ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. She has served as a missionary in Monterrey, Mexico, and the hurricane-ravaged areas of Mississippi and Louisiana. She serves as treasurer for Global Faith in Action. She is the co-host of The Contemplative Motherhood podcast.
Chelsea is married to Brandon Whipple and has three young boys.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running, and anything outdoors.
Mother Dawn Frankfurt was called to St. James in March 2011. Mother Dawn grew up in Oklahoma City and Edmond, Okla. She earned her bachelor's degree in English at Oklahoma University and undertook a career in marketing after a few years of graduate study in creative writing. In a dozen years as a marketing professional,
Deacon Deedee Evans was born in Washington State, reared in Oklahoma, moved to Wichita from Texas, and graduated from Friends University. She has two children and five grandchildren. For several years, she was director of the volunteer center at United Way of the Plains and is retired after nearly 15 years as a staff chaplain with Hynes Memorial Hospice. She has sung in community and church choirs, played flute in community bands, and has been a singer with the 60-member Wichita Broadway Singers. An ordained deacon for more than 20 years, Deedee focuses on pastoral care, and facilitates two grief support groups, one at St. James and one at a Larksfield, a large local retirement community.
Jeff graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA in English and political science and from Wichita State University with a BA in education and a master's in English. He teaches junior and senior English (AP literature and composition) at Andover High School. In addition to teaching, over the years Jeff has coached football and girls and boys soccer.
Jeff and his wife, Vicky, have two adult children - Jonathan and Megan, and one furry chocolate lab child named Charlie Brown.
Krystal was born and raised in the Wichita area, but recently moved back from Alaska after living in Anchorage for 5 years. Krystal graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in Women's Studies, and enjoys continually learning about the various ways that our identities intersect with our lived experiences in the world. She was the administrative assistant at her church in Anchorage, and really enjoyed working out the details necessary for congregations to feel connected and organized. Krystal is married to the Rev. Jacob Poindexter, an UCC pastor. They have 2 teenage children. The family loves to spend time outside, whether hiking, fishing, or relaxing at the park with their dog.
A retired priest with 50 years of service associated with St. James as volunteer priest-missioner,
Sam Criss makes hospital calls and is an occasional teacher and lecturer.
He is married to Beth Criss, and they have three children and five grandchildren.
He is an oil painter, violinist, and weaver. He and his wife, a retired social worker,
Susie was baptized at St. James. She grew up in Wichita and has two sons. She has served as our bookkeeper since July 2020. She also is co-chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee, chaired the Olde English Tea for two years
The Right Reverend Thomas Hubbard Vail was elected the first bishop in 1864.