Morning Prayers

For the second year, we’re excited to offer morning prayer as a feature of Annual Meeting. Last year, many gathered virtually each morning to start their day in community with one another, praying for ourselves, our communities, and the world. Join us again this year each morning at 7:30 am. You’ll receive the link to join in your daily e-mail.

Prayer Leaders

Tuesday, October 5th: Rev. Chris Moore

Chris is no stranger to the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference as he was ordained in KO in 2009 and is the pastor of Fellowship UCC in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he has served since late in 2013.  Born and raised in Oklahoma, Chris’ first career was in the I.T. Management industry. He states that that he waited to enter seminary as he was heeding the advice of every spiritual mentor he had ever had as they said, if you can do anything else; do it. He went stating; he didn’t think he could do anything else any longer and he headed to seminary.  

Chris is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. Prior to his current call to Fellowship, Chris served at the United Church of Norman and Mayflower Congregational UCC in Oklahoma City. He is President of the board of JustHope, working collaboratively in Nicaragua, he serves on the Board of Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry and of The New Sanctuary Movement in Tulsa. Chris is also increasingly engaged and committed to interfaith work.  And last April, he received the 2018 Rev. Russell Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award as Oklahomans for Equality, stated what we know to be true about Chris: “he is a true advocate for social justice, not just within the church, but within the larger community as well.” 

Wednesday, October 6th: Julia Gaughan

Julia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies in 2002 and with a J.D. in 2008, both from the University of Kansas. Professionally, Julia works in facilitating mental health and trauma-informed care workshops, and organizing educational and prevention programming for a community mental health center.

After growing up in more conservative denomination, Julia joined the UCC in 2009 via Plymouth Church in Lawrence, Kansas. She has served as the Moderator of the congregation, led the congregation  through a strategic planning process, and served on the senior pastor search committee. Julia joined the United Church Board of Directors in 2019  is the new Vice-Chair of the Board for the biennium.

Over the last six years, Julia has been extensively involved with racial justice work at Plymouth and with Conference. Julia was one of trained facilitators for the Let's Talk: White Privilege curriculum. She has taught all module components and several train-the-trainer workshops for the program. Julia is also a vetted facilitator of the UCC Sacred Conversations to End Racism led by Dr. Velda Love and is working through a train-the-trainer component for this program.

Julia is in the M.Div Program at Phillips Theological Seminary and serves as the Consultant for Equity and Inclusion for the Conference.

Thursday, October 7th: Rev. Gage Church

Gage was born and raised in Fremont, Nebraska, where his parents, sister and her family still live. Gage attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and mass communication. He worked for more than 20 years as an editor and manager at newspapers, including The New York Times, USA Today, St. Petersburg Times and Des Moines Register. Gage is second career pastor attending United Theological Seminary where he earned his M.Div in 2009. He served as a Chaplain Resident at the Mayo Clinic from 2009-2010 as Pastor at Ogden Congregational UCC in Ogden, Utah for seven years before accepting the call to serve at Central UCC in Topeka in 2018.

Friday, October 8th: Rev. Kelly Hansen

Kelly (Miller) Hansen is originally from Helena, Montana.  She grew up attending, and was confirmed at, Plymouth Congregational Church in Helena. After graduating from Montana State University with a degree in Business Management, Kelly moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.  Kelly’s spouse, Mark Hansen finished his education at UNLV; and Kelly took the opportunity to attend the College of Southern Nevada in pursuit of a culinary arts degree.  Living and working in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas provided many unique experiences.  Kelly and Mark moved to Kansas City in 2004 and began attending a United Methodist church with family.  After discerning a call to ministry, specializing in chaplaincy; Kelly attended Saint Paul School of Theology from 2012-2016 and pursued ordination within the United Methodist Church. 

During that time, Kelly also pursued certification as a Spiritual Director through Souljourners, in Atchison, KS.  Kelly pursued her clinical pastoral education (CPE) immediately following seminary at Saint Luke's Health Systems in Kansas City. Kelly returned to the UCC in 2019, requesting to pursue ordination within the denomination that had offered such inclusion and freedom of theology during her formative years. Kelly currently serves part-time as a chaplain at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, MO.  Kelly serves as a prn chaplain in the Spiritual Health Department as well as part-time in the RISE (Responsive Individualized Support and Early Intervention) Program, a program established to serve the practical, mental, and spiritual health needs of nonfatal gunshot victims. Kelly’s passions include family (including her greyhound, Charlie), reading, and volunteering with a retired greyhound adoption group.