Staff

The Christian Church in Kansas (Disciples of Christ) is led by a eleven-member staff. They operate out of three offices:

Disciples Center at Tawakoni
(Retreat/Events Center and Summer Camps)
8492 SW Tawakoni Rd
Augusta, KS 67010
Phone: 316-775-1222

Office Hours:
Call for appointment and office hours

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Topeka Regional Office (Business Office)

Rev. Tom Stanley, Regional Minister and President
Since August 2022
Regional Business Office, Topeka
Email Tom

Rev. Tom Stanley was called to serve the Kansas Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada on August 7, 2022. Prior to being called to serve the Kansas Region, Tom and his spouse Sandy Malget served three churches in the Oklahoma Region. While serving those congregations Tom provided leadership to the Oklahoma Regional church serving ten years on the board, including leading the board during the COVID Pandemic. The thing Sandy and Tom are most proud of during that time is the raising of their two children TJ and Scout.

Tom serves as the Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church in Kansas. Providing pastoral care, search and call support, and congregational support to the Northeast, Southeast, and South-Central Districts. Tom also provides support and guidance to the Kansas Bible Chair Grant Committee and the regional Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Task Force. He provides oversight of regional administration, finances, communication, and youth and camp ministries.

Outside of serving the Kansas Region, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife Sandy, playing with his grandchild Miles, and walking their dog Johnny. 

Debie Hamlin, Regional Treasurer
Since January 2025
Regional Business Office, Topeka
Email Debi

Debie oversees the region’s financials.  She reviews annual budget requests and presents budget reports to the regional board.  She liaisons between the region and Treasury Services who handles our bookkeeping.

Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her family at Lake Wilson, boating, swimming, hiking, exploring, and weather watching.  She loves being with her 3 adult sons, daughter in law, 4 grandchildren and one great grandson.

Julie Kitchener
Office Manager & Bookkeeper
Since May 2025
Business Office, Topeka
Email

Justin Sperry
Communications
Since July 2025
Communications Office, Topeka
Email

Evaluates the region’s communications practices and provides support for the region’s marketing and communications efforts, including website, social media, newsletters and other marketing and communications materials.

Justin lives in Topeka with his wife and 2 kids.

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Central/High Plains Office (Credentialing and Accountability)

Rev. Dr. David Dubovich, Associate Regional Minister
Since November 2023
Central/High Plains Office, Great Bend
Email David

David provides pastoral care, search and call support, and congregational support to the Central and High Plains Districts.  He also works with clergy care ministries regarding clergy standing, ordination, commissioning, and scholarships.  Additionally, he works with clergy, Disciples Men, and Spirituality retreat planning teams.

Outside of work, he likes to work with ceramics and painting various items. “This was one of the many hobbies my grandmother had, and she taught me various techniques to make creative items,” said David. His other hobbies are computers, the piano and organ.

Juli Reed, Administrative Assistant
Since March 2022
Central/High Plains Office, Great Bend
Email Juli

Juli provides administrative support for the Central/High Plains Office, Disciples Men ministries, and the congregations in the Central and High Plains Districts.  She assists the communications office editing promotional videos and updating the events calendar on the regional website.

Outside of work, Juli loves gardening and has a YouTube channel called Best “Buds” Gardening.  In her spare time, she knits and plays with her two-year-old Maltese, Gizmo, and her five-year old parrot, Mango, who knows how to kiss, wave, target, play basketball, and has an impressive vocabulary, which he seems to use in context. 

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Disciples Center at Tawakoni

Conita Burden, Tawakoni Director of Daily Operations
Since June 2022
Disciples Center at Tawakoni - Check out Tawakoni here.
Email Conita

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Region Wide Ministry Specific:

Rev. Luis A. Mendez, Disciples Men Coordinator
Since September 2020
Email Luis

Luis coordinates regional Disciples Men retreats and special events with the focus of connecting and equipping Disciples Men for ministry.  He liaisons with Disciples Men ministries of the General Church and assists with distributing communications. 

With the help of the Disciples Men Cabinet, he mentors established and the creation of congregational Disciples Men programs.

Luis also serves as the pastor at North Heights Christian Church, Wichita. He devotes his spare time to swimming, movies, music and his lovely wife, Carmen. 

Carla Pearson, Disciples Women Coordinator
Since November 2019
Email Carla

Carla coordinates regional Disciples Women retreats, Spirit Fest, and special events with the focus of connecting and equipping Disciples Women for ministry.  She liaisons with Disciples Women ministries of the General Church and assists with distributing communications to women across the Kansas region. 

She works with the KDW cabinet to create opportunities for women to be a part of Disciples Women programs and activities.

When not busy with Disciples Women she enjoys sewing quilts, baking, gardening, and enjoying life's journey with her husband, Floyd.