Senior Minister
Rev. Jacob L. Poindexter
Jacob (he/him) sees his call to ministry as creating opportunities and practices of faith within communities that welcome and affirm one another as we are. The goal being that we live bravely enough to believe that such a world is possible. As a local church pastor he sees his role as inviting people to discover what grounds their faith and imagine together an abundance of hope in the way of Jesus.
Jacob is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He was called as the pastor of Wichita UCC in February of 2022. He earned his Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in 2017. Jacob previously served a congregation in Anchorage, AK, where he shepherded the process of becoming a registered Open & Affirming congregation.
Jacob’s public advocacy work is focused on the power of self-advocacy, public witness, and the building of partnerships with and as part of communities most impacted by social injustices and struggles. Jacob writes and lectures on congregational social action and communal participation in the creation of a more just society. He also has varied experience as a non-profit leader, including in the areas of interfaith dialogue and political organizing, social advocacy organizations, and was the founding co-director of an after-school non-profit partnership between his congregation and a local university to serve college students and their dependent children.
Jacob and his family are originally from Kansas, and they are excited to be back in Wichita.
Director of Music
John Goering
John has been part of the team since 2016. He can also be found performing around Wichita in various jazz, Latin, and classical settings, including leading his own jazz trio and 7-piece Cubana Bop Latin jazz ensemble and performances with the Wichita Symphony Pops Orchestra.
John is an assistant music professor in the School of Music at Wichita State University, where his courses include jazz piano, jazz arranging, jazz history, World Music, and direction of the university salsa band, Banda Hispanica. Jon also maintains a private studio teaching piano lessons for students of all ages, from beginning through advanced. John earned his Master of Music in Piano Performance from Wichita State in July, 2001. For a complete resume, click here.
Choir Director
Ryan Roderick
Wichita UCC
Church Leadership
2024-2025 Church Board
The Church Board oversees governance and operation of the congregation. They function on a consensus model and coordinate with staff on operational concerns and long-term planning in the life of the church. Board members are elected to a 13-month term and the Board elects its own officers. Board members must be active members of the congregation who have a proven track record of giving their time, talents, and treasure on behalf of the work of the congregation.
Moderator: James Rix
Clerk: Kathy Eberle
Financial Secretary: Mike West
Treasurer: Emily Little-Rix
At Large: Miguel Vasquez, Stevie Mueller, Sally Hayes, Joe Perkins, Ted Jacobs