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About Us

Staff

Ministers

Rev. Renee Bridwell

The Rev. Renee Bridwell joined the staff of the Christian Church in Kansas in March 2008. As Associate Regional Minister, her responsibilities include:

  • District Minister for the 30 congregations in the South Central District
  • Staff consultant for the New Church Priority
  • Editor for the Kansas Messenger, the bi-monthly newspaper for the Christian Church in Kansas
  • Maintaining the web site for the regional church
  • Oversight of finances and supervision of personnel in the South Central District office
  • Board member, Kansas Ecumenical Ministry

Renee is a native of Kansas, and was active participant in Kansas regional camp and conference programs. She earned the Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at Phillips University and the Master of Divinity at Phillips Graduate Theological Seminary.

After ordination in 1992, the family moved to Illinois where she served a co-pastorate in Marion then a pastorate in Rock Island. While in Oklahoma then Illinois, she served in a number of regional leadership capacities, one general  church task force and was on the Board of Directors of Church Finance Council.

Renee is married to Steve, also a Disciples minister. They live in Wichita. They have two adult children Mike and Sara, both married, and two granddaughters.

Rev. Dr. Paxton Jones

The Rev. Dr. Paxton Jones became Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kansas on May 1, 2007 having served as Deputy Regional Minister since October of 1998. His responsibilities prior to that time included serving the region as treasurer, giving oversight to the committees then comprising the region's Ministry Commission, and ministering to the 32 Disciple congregations and the pastors who reside in the Central and High Plains Districts of Kansas.

As Regional Minister, his responsibilities now include:

  • District Minister for Northeast District
  • Care and nurture of congregations and pastors in the Region
  • Consultation with congregations in search of ministerial leadership
  • Oversight of regional personnel, finances and property
  • Representation and communication between congregations and the wider church
  • Relations with ecumenical partners
  • Serves as regional treasurer and gives oversight to the Permanent Fund
  • Staff Consultant for Revitalization Ministry

A native Texan, Paxton earned Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. Ordained in 1975, he served as an associate minister in Lubbock, Texas, for two years prior to moving to Kansas. During the 21 years prior to being called to the regional staff, he served the regional and general church in a variety of leadership capacities while serving pastorates in Topeka and Salina.

Dr. Jones and his wife, Janie, reside in Topeka. They have two grown daughters and a granddaughter.

Ken Marston

A life-long member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) I was born in Fort Worth, Texas and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I returned to Fort Worth for College at TCU (1984) and Seminary at Brite Divinity School (1988). My wife and I have two children. Before coming to Kansas in January of 2008, I served congregations in Missouri and Oklahoma. I have also completed training as a Spiritual Director. I am the Associate Regional Minister charged with the pastoral care of the clergy and congregations who live and serve in the Central and High Plains Districts of the Christian Church in Kansas. I am the pastoral liaison to the Clergy Care Ministries, the Spiritual Priority Committee, and to the Regional Disciples Men's Ministry.

Steve Martin

Steve Martin has enjoyed ministry on the Kansas regional staff since 1997 when he began as the Camp Administrator and as SE District Minister. A graduate of Brite Divinity School (TCU), Steve's prior ministry in Kansas was at First Christian, Topeka as associate minister for thirteen years.

The Martin family includes wife, Debby, a long-term middle-school reading teacher. She sees middle-school as "extreme teaching". Three adult children include Sean who is a film editor in NY City;  Alan is a senior at Pitt State, studying to teach middle-school math; and Amanda, a music student at Drury University in Springfield, MO. Pets are Billie, a labradoodle, and two cats: Smokey & Fitzie.

Among Steve's favorite things are camping (duh!!), and hiking, and water (lakes, the ocean, etc.), and good food. A favorite verse is "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46). Also, favored common wisdom is "Go with the flow – trust the process!"

When asked why ministry in Kansas, the immediate response is to serve God in ways which increases the church's faithfulness in calling individuals to become faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Paul's admonition to the Ephesians, "... to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." (4:12) is the single verse which defines my understanding of ministry.