Rev. Carla Aday
Senior Minister
In April 2017, the Congregational Board of Country Club Christian Church called Rev. Carla Aday as the church’s eighth Senior Minister.
Rev. Aday has served the church since 1988 in various capacities, most recently as the Executive Minister in charge of administration, finance and stewardship in addition to preaching, teaching and planning. As the Senior Associate Minister from 2004-2014, her responsibilities included developing mission partnerships, adult spiritual formation, leadership development, ministry planning and staff supervision. When she was hired in 1988, she was the church’s first female minister.
Rev. Aday holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Yale University where she was honored with the Mersick Prize for effective public address and preaching. She is an experienced teacher and trainer, holding licensing and certification with various curricula.
She has led 20 mission trips both internationally and domestically, including trips to Nicaragua and India. She is a member of the Association of Disciples Pastors in Theological Dialogue, past member of Clergy Spiritual Direction, and has previously served on the Administrative Committee and General Board for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as Moderator of Greater Kansas City Region of the Christian Church, on the Homeland Ministries Board, as a board member of the Girl Scouts – Mid America Chapter, and as a member of the MORE2 Clergy Caucus.
She has served as a volunteer at Della Lamb Community Services, Argentine Middle School, Notre Dame de Sion School, Habitat for Humanity, and Marillac Center for Children. In 2017 she spent one month as a volunteer at Mediterranean Hope, a project working to address the dramatic refugee migration by sea from North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East towards Italy.
Rev. Aday was the recipient an Eli Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant for a 2002 sabbatical program in Great Britain, has conducted independent study in theology with professors from Yale Divinity School and St. Paul School of Theology, has competed a writing course with Yale Divinity School, and has written and contributed to numerous publications.
Rev. Aday and her husband Dr. Dave Ehman have three adult children, Connor Ehman, Kyle Ehman, Karmen Ehman Major, and five grandchildren.
Rev. Bryce Bowers
Executive Minister
Reverend Bryce Bowers joined our clergy as the Executive Minister on January 15, 2023. Bryce’s roles include leading the engagement and enrichment ministry of our church. To date, his experience in this area has included creative approaches like leading the church presence at local farmer’s markets and community festivals, reimagining visitor engagement ministry at each church he has served, and creating new opportunities for connection such as hiking groups and family events. In addition, Bryce will be directing the operational life of the church.
In addition to receiving his Master of Divinity from Emory University, he also has a BS in Communication with an emphasis on conflict management from Baker University. He most recently served as the Pastor for Marion Christian Church in Marion, IA but is not a stranger to the Kansas City area. His parents and his wife’s families live in Johnson and Franklin Counties.
Rev. Dr. Mike Graves
Scholar in Residence
Mike Graves is a native Texan, who for thirty years taught preaching and worship in various theological seminaries. He has written or edited several books, including Craddock Stories; Table Talk: Rethinking Communion and Community; and is currently finishing up a manuscript titled, Your One Wild and Precious Life: What Jesus Can Teach Us about Life Before Death.
Upon retiring from Saint Paul School of Theology in 2018, he now serves as Scholar in Residence at Country Club Christian. Mike has lectured and preached all across the United States as well as internationally. Despite retiring from teaching, he remains active in the Society of Biblical Literature which meets each fall.
As might be expected of a former professor, he loves to read scholarly books, but also novels and poetry, especially Mary Oliver. He also loves golf and will gladly share about the many times he has played the Old Course at Saint Andrews in Scotland, the home of golf. He and his wife, Carol, have three grown children and six grandchildren, all of whom he plans to teach how to play golf.
Rev. Pam Bauer Nolan
Interim Minister of Congregational Care
Reverend Pam Bauer Nolan is currently serving as the Interim Minister of Congregational Care. Pam was born and raised in Kansas City. A graduate of the University of Kansas, she received her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She has served on the ministerial staffs of Asbury, Valley View and Old Mission United Methodist churches. For ten years she was on the faculty of the Course of Study at Saint Paul School of Theology and taught survey courses of the Bible at Baker University for four years. One of her favorite positions was serving as Chaplain at St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School. Upon retiring from there, she continued as part-time co-pastor of Lake Quivira Community Ministry, retiring fully in April of 2023.
Pam is married to Jim Nolan, a retired small business owner. Pam has daughter and son and two grandchildren. Pam has a delightful circle of good friends, loves to read, plays a little piano, travels some and feels quite blessed by her life.
Tulley Beard
Director of Administration/
Executive Assistant to the Senior Minister
Rachel Clement
Director of Finance
Jennifer Dye
Director of
Early Childhood Programs
816-381-9271
Shannon Gammon
Director of Communications
Sara and Alex Goering
Associate Directors of Music
Sherri Hill
Controller
Nikki Kennedy
Administrative Assistant
and Receptionist
Irvin Medina
Facilities Coordinator
Jacob Mitchell
Facilities Coordinator
Corey Scott
Director of Church Life
Leslie Tenjack
Communications Coordinator
Matthew Thompson
Director of Music and Media
Dan Warneke
Director of Production
Kymba Wiggins
Administrative Assistant
and Receptionist
Silas Williams
Director of Facilities
Rachel Wymore
Wedding Coordinator
816-381-9265