Clergy & Staff
Clergy
Dean Churchwell came to St. Paul's in August of 2020 (hello Covid lockdown!), proving she believes that God's presence is with us always, especially when we take big risks for God and neighbor! A life-long Episcopalian, Dean Churchwell has served in churches in Arizona, Oregon, Virginia, Texas, and Florida before making St. Paul's her spiritual home. As Dean of the Cathedral, Dean Churchwell is responsible for the spiritual health and vitality of the cathedral, serves as Head of Staff for clergy and laity, chairs the Vestry (the lay leadership team of the Cathedral), and spends equa time bent over the Bible as she does spreadsheets. For fun Dean Churchwell spends time with her family; husband Logan and their three children Addison, Crawford, and Collins. She reads, naps, and enjoys the ritual of a good cup of coffee enjoyed with a side of good conversation. You can find her cheering loudly at swim meets, roaming the aisles at Trader Joe's, or jogging downtown between meetings. Want to schedule a meeting with Dean Churchwell? Click here Curate Sarah
is a sixth generation Oklahoman. Growing
up in northwest Oklahoma City, she attended Heritage Hall High School. Sarah
was recruited to play softball at the
University of Notre Dame. She played left field for the
Fighting Irish and completed a degree in Catholic Systematic Theology. After undergraduate studies, she completed a master's degree in Sports
Administration at the University of Northern Colorado and worked as an administrator in the Notre Dame Athletics Department in the Office of Student Welfare and Development. Sarah
completed a master's in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt University
with a Carpenter Certificate in Religion Gender and Sexuality in May
2016. Sarah served as seminarian intern at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Nashville for two years funded by the Arcus Grant. Her ministry focus was homelessness. She assisted in the creation of Launch Pad—grassroots shelters in urban churches—for young adults experiencing homelessness in Nashville. After, Sarah served as the Director of Media & Technology for
the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma and the Head Softball Coach at Casady
School. In November 2017, she started the Theosophia Podcast, a
platform for women's voices in theology. In
December 2021, Sarah was ordained to the transitional diaconate. She
completed a diploma in Anglican Studies at the Seminary of the Southwest
in May 2022 and immediately started her curacy at St. Paul’s Cathedral
in OKC in June. She was ordained to the priesthood on June 24th, the
Feast Day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Sarah was selected to be a part of the first cohort of the Trinity Wallstreet Fellowship Program. This executive MBA style curriculum is designed to help young clergy and lay people become innovative, values-driven and faith-inspired leaders in the contemporary world of the Church. In her role as Curate at St. Paul’s, Mother Sarah will oversee adult formation, community outreach and assist in all liturgical and pastoral responsibilities of a priest. In her role with the Diocese, Sarah leads a chapter organization of a new community in the Episcopal Church called the Order of Naucratius. Naucratius Oklahoma is a hunting and fishing Creation Care ministry that strives to bring protein to those in need. Clergy Canon Father Tim Sean Youmans serves as the Vicar of St. Edward the Confessor
Chapel and Chair of the Religion Department at Casady School.
Additionally, Father Tim Sean is the Bible Instructor for the Diocesan
Iona School for Ministry. He serves the Cathedral as Canon for Youth and
Families, bringing experience, joy, ad creativity to our community. A
native of Wyoming, Father Tim Sean is married to Dr. Karen Youmans,
Honors Director and Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma City
University. Tim Sean came into the Episcopal Church after 20 years as a
Baptist youth pastor. He earned a degree in English and History from
Oklahoma Baptist University in 1991, a Master's of Divinity at
Southwestern Baptist in 1994, and Anglican Studies at Nashotah House in
2011. He is the author of Blessed to Bless: An Introduction to the Bible,
a survey of the scriptures geared toward teenagers and the biblically
uninitiated. Tim Sean is a folk musician and songwriter, and tinkers at
the banjo. Tim Sean and Karen have a son in college, Noah. Deacon Gerald Butcher was appointed by the Bishop to serve St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2013. Gerald's primary service is Community Outreach. A native Oklahoman, Gerald is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and has worked for Western Farmers Electric Cooperative for nearly four decades as an Environmental Regulatory Affairs Coordinator. His wife Debra is a registered nurse (BS, BSN, MSN, CHN) and is employed at Mercy Hospital. Gerald and Debra have three adult daughters who also work in the health-care industry. Daughter Catherine is a radiation therapy clinic and technical manager at the University of Texas Medical Center in Dallas, Rebekah is a nurse supervisor for Mercy Home Health and Jennafer is a dietitian supervisor at the OU Medical Center in Edmond. Five grandchildren light up Debra's and Gerald's lives. Deacon Butcher loves working in the community where he has served as a coach for youth soccer, softball and basketball, serving on the board of directors for Chickasha Youth Soccer. Additionally, Gerald served on the National Rural Electric Environmental Association board and as a Grady County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Today, he continues to serve on the Environmental Federation of Oklahoma board of directors and is a volunteer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Recently, the Bishop appointed Gerald to the Oklahoma Prison Commission.
Deacon and Cathedral Nurse Deacon The Reverend DeaconTracy Anderson has been involved in many aspects of church life and service from a young age, including teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and leading women’s ministries. She first came to the Episcopal church in 2013 and was confirmed in 2014 by Bishop Ed Konieczny in Sapulpa, Ok. Deacon Tracy was ordained as a vocational deacon in 2022 after graduating from the High Desert School for Ministry in Cove, OR, the realization of a lifelong call to service. She feels particularly called to walk alongside the economically disadvantaged and those living with mental health issues. She is excited to see what God has planned for her in serving at St. Paul’s. Although she moved frequently during her childhood due to her father’s military service, Tracy’s family has lived in Oklahoma for generations and many still reside in the Tulsa area. She recently moved from Sisters, OR to Del City to be closer to her 4 grown children and grandchildren who live in the Dallas area. In addition to enjoying life as a grandma, she likes to crochet, bake, and spend time with her dog Jemma.The Very Reverend Katie Churchwell, Dean
The Reverend Sarah Smith
The Reverend Canon Tim Sean Youmans
The Reverend Gerald Butcher
The Reverend Marilyn Robertson
The Reverend Tracy Anderson
Staff
Joseph Ripka is an internationally respected and acclaimed organist, recognized for his virtuosity and
expressiveness. He was the rst-prize winner of the Dublin International Organ Competition, the Fort
Wayne National Organ Playing Competition, and the San Marino/ Elizabeth Elftman National Organ
Competition.
Joseph is in demand as a concert organist and has performed recitals throughout the United States. He
received high praise in a review from the Boston Musical Intelligencer for his performance at Holy
Cross College in Worcester Massachusetts on the renowned Taylor and Boody Opus 9 instrument.
Joseph has performed with the New World Symphony, the Boston Philharmonic, and the Boston
Symphony Orchestra under conductors Michael Tilson Thomas, Benjamin Zander, and Alan Gilbert.
Mr. Ripka’s recitals have been aired on American Public Media's Pipedreams several times; he was
invited by Michael Barone to be the featured artist for the 25th anniversary celebration of Pipedreams
in 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the summer of 2009, Joseph made his European concert
debut with recitals at St. Sulpice in Paris, Bavo Kerk in Haarlem, Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, and
Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden, Netherlands. Joseph has since played recitals at Westminster Cathedral in
London, St. Michael’s Church in Dun Laoghaire, St Paul's Cathedral in London, St Columb's
Cathedral in Derry, Noorderkerk in Amsterdam, and many more. Joseph’s acclaimed YouTube videos
have received hundreds of thousands of views and have earned rave comments from around the world.
Joseph holds bachelor’s degrees in both organ and piano performance from St. Cloud State University,
masters degrees in organ and piano performance from the University of Kansas, the Artist Diploma in
organ performance from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in organ performance from Yale
University. His principal teachers were James David Christie, Webb Wiggins (harpsichord), Derek
Rêmes (thoroughbass), Martin Jean, James Higdon, Charles Echols, Jack Winerock and Carmen
Wilhite, and Yakov Gelfand. He has coached with Olivier Latry, Marie Claire Alain, Wilma Jensen,
Jean-Baptiste Robin, John Scott, and Phillipe Lefebvre as well.
Mr. Ripka is the Canon Musician at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oklahoma City, OK. At St. Paul’s, Joseph
is director of a comprehensive choral and music program, including two adult choirs and the
Cathedral Chorister program, which he inaugurated in the fall of 2021. He also serves as Diocesan
Music Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.
An internationally recognized organist, Mr. Ripka is also a performing pianist and harpsichordist, He
has performed professionally as a pianist in numerous duo recitals and chamber-music concerts and as
a continuo harpsichordist in concerts and recitals with Baroque ensembles and soloists. Joseph has
conducted numerous complete performances of Handel’s Messiah and cantatas of Bach, Buxtehude
and Schutz. His repertoire as a keyboardist, conductor and teacher extends from the late Renaissance
and early Baroque to the 21st century. Joseph serves as instructor of harpsichord and director of the
Early Music Ensemble at Oklahoma City University. Ashley is the mom to Amelia, Charlotte and George. Ashley and her family usually attend the Rite I service. She has been active not only in the undercroft teaching many classes over the past years, but has also served as the Altar Guild director, Wedding Chair and an acolyte. Ashley comes to us from the First Presbyterian Preschool where she has been a teacher and manager of the preschool for over 9 years. She is looking forward to developing stronger relationships with each family and building our undercroft programs in this new season of change. Joseph Ripka
Canon Musician and Diocesan Music Missioner
Ashley Ozan
Children, Family & Cathedral Life Minister