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 Canon for Spirituality The Reverend Canon Susan Joplin has served on the clergy staff of St. Paul's Cathedral since 1991, first as Curate and then as Cathedral Canon. Mother Susan sees her own faith development as having been strongly influenced by the give and take of many years of Cathedral life. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts followed by a Masters of Music degree earlier in life, she was also graduated from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest with a Master of Divinity degree in 1991. Mother Susan has lived happily with her husband, Larry Joplin, for many years. She has a special interest in Liturgy, Outreach and in finding new ways of opening the Cathedral doors to the burgeoning downtown Oklahoma City community.
Canon for Youth and Families 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 NurseThe Very Reverend Katie Churchwell, Dean
The Reverend Canon Susan Colley Joplin
The Reverend Canon Tim Sean Youmans
The Reverend Gerald Butcher
The Reverend Marilyn Robertson
The Rev. Canon Eric Cooter
The Rev. Bude VanDyke
Staff
A native Houstonian, H. Scott Raab has served St. Paul’s Cathedral since
1978. He holds the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from
the University of Houston and the Master of Music degree in Organ
Performance from the University of Michigan. He is Chair of the Diocesan
Music Commission and has been Dean of the Oklahoma City Chapter of the
American Guild of Organists. Mr. Raab is also a member of the
Association of Anglican Musicians. In 2002, Bishop Robert M. Moody
appointed Scott as Canon Musician for St. Paul’s Cathedral and awarded
him the Distinguished Ministry pin. Joseph received the prestigious Artist Diploma in organ from the Oberlin Conservatory where he studied with James David Christie and holds Master of Music degrees in piano and organ performance from the University of Kansas and completed a second master's degree at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where he studied with Martin Jean. Joseph has won several prizes nationally and internationally including first prize in the 2008 Dublin International Organ Competition and the 2008 Fort Wayne National Organ Competition, and was a finalist in the Prague, Nijmegen, Erfurt, and Agati-Tronci competitions. He is also an active international recitalist having been engaged for performances at St Paul’s London, Bavo Kerk Haarlem, Oude Kerk Amsterdam, Kings College Cambridge, St George Windsor, Magdalene College Oxford, and St Patrick’s Dublin among others. 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. www.josephripkaorganist.com Jack has worked at St. Paul's since 2008. He grew up in Midwest City (Go Bombers!), graduated from OU and lived for 15 years in New England, learning skills in Yankee frugality that serve him well but annoy his friends, family and colleagues. His background is in management and communications, which served him in his work in the Central Administration at Harvard University for more than 12 years. Jack is interested in Ignatian spirituality, contemplative prayer and simple living. Jack does not like to talk about himself in the third person 17 years ago a little feral cat came to the Cathedral doors, and made the grounds of the Cathedral her home and charge. She takes her role very seriously! She likes attention and pets, but best not to try and pick her up. 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. David, a native Oklahoman, describes himself as "A simple man, with a simple life." What you will notice about him is his smile, friendliness, and willingness to help. When he is not spending a weekend having fun at the local markets finding treasure and trading, he might be on the road to Tennessee to visit his children.H. Scott Raab
Canon Musician
Joseph Ripka
Canon for Music Designate and Diocesan Music Missioner
Jack Wise
Parish Administrator
Bootsie
Cathedral Cat
Ashley Ozan
Children and Family Minister
David Bradley
Sexton
Office Coordinator
