Our Staff & Vestry

Our Clergy

The Rev. Greg Warren

Rector
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Greg has been at Saint Peter’s since his ordination in October of 2018. He holds a Masters of Divinity from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. A native of Southern Indiana, Greg spent most of his life in Chicago working in Advertising and Marketing. He also called Mexico City, San Francisco, Miami and New York City home during those years. Just before ‘retiring’ and heading off to seminary, Greg was in Bentonville working in marketing and diversity and inclusion at Walmart. He’s glad to be home in Arkansas.

Greg lives with his husband, Mark and three dogs: Lucky, Lilly, and Lady Charlotte.

The Rev. Brandon Haynes

Curate
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Northeast Arkansas has been my home for most of my life; my early years were spent in the small town of Pocahontas. After graduating high school, I attended Welch College in Nashville, Tennessee, and finished my undergrad career at Andersonville Theological. Moving to Jonesboro afforded me the opportunity to start and grow a career serving in various business analyst roles. It also gave me Matthew. Matthew and I have been together since 2011 and will be celebrating our 10th marriage anniversary in 2022. We get to spoil two pups, Ryker and Skylar.  I am a lover of art and music, especially when they intersect with spirituality, faith, and liturgy. My grandmothers instilled in me a love for gardens and food. Family is an anchor in my life. I will never turn down iced coffee. Historical-based novels are an escape. Mexican food is a weakness. I am a liturgy nerd and a connoisseur of incense. I am a fierce advocate for those of us who live in the margins. The verse I try to pattern my life by is Zechariah 7:9, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

 

 

 

Chrissy Cavender

Parish Administrator
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Chrissy Cavender started working for the church as the Parish Administrator in June 2021. Chrissy has lived in Conway since 2013 with a small interruption of moving to Washington state and working in Portland, Oregon (twice).

Chrissy, her wife Melanie and two hound dogs, Molly & Major moved back to Conway for Saint Peter’s and recently purchased a Conway home!

Patty Oeste

Music Director

Patty Oeste is the Music Director at Saint Peter’s. She directs the choir and handbells, plays the organ and piano during our services as well as bringing in guest artists to enrich our worship. The joy of music is alive and well at Saint Peter’s!

Kathy Schmeltz

Finance Manager
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Kathy Schmeltz has worked with Saint Peter’s as the finance manager since October 2019. Kathy recently moved to her home in Washington state but still works remotely with Saint Peter’s. Kathy enjoys listening to podcasts and reading as well as spending time with her two daughters, Kelly and Stacey and fur baby, Cairo.

Tammy Heffington

Sexton

Tammy Heffington is a Conway native and has been our Sexton for Saint Peter’s for over 20 years! Tammy and her husband James have been married for 38 years and they have two sons, Shawn & Brandon. Tammy enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with her dog, Joplin!

Kay Henry

Sexton

Kay Henry is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin moved to Conway, Arkansas over 40 years ago! Kay has three children, two sons and a daughter. Kay has a wide range of experience including retirement from being a nurse. Kay is a part time sexton at Saint Peter’s – she is here only on Monday morning but also cleans Camp Mitchell in Morrilton the rest of the week. Kay enjoys reading and watching the Green Bay Packers win!

Our Vestry

Kris Noah

Kris Noah

Senior Warden – 2022

My name is Kris Noah and I am excited to serve as Senior Warden this year. I am a Conway native. I have been a member of St. Peter’s since the early 1990’s after marrying a cradle Episcopalian. This is my first time serving on the vestry, but if there is a named committee at St. Peter’s I may have been on it at one time or another.  My late husband, John Burford, and I were very involved in Christian Education and served as Sunday school teachers for more than a decade. I have helped plan a picnic or ten and foraged every dollar store in the county for plastic eggs for many a St. Peter’s Easter egg hunt.

I am mom to Jay and Anna Burford and mom-in-law to Kayley Burford. I am also the pet parent to an elderly yellow lab named Hollie and two kitties named Waldo and Emmerson (I know I need a Ralph). In June 2021, I married at St. Peter’s and started a new adventure as a wife to John Noah. If you ever want to hear a crazy story, I will share with you how a picture sent from the 2019 diocesan convention led to my marriage.

I have spent more than 30 years working in Higher Education. I currently serve as the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Director of Financial Aid at Hendrix College. Fall of 2022, will be the 12th “move in day” of which I have played a part. Hendrix is my alma mater and as one College President pointed out, I not only do a job here, but also I add to the positive employment numbers of those who chose an undergraduate degree in Philosophy!

Genie Davis

Genie Davis

Junior Warden – 2023

Hi, I’m Genie Davis and I’ve been a member of Saint Peter’s since my family moved to Conway in 1989. I’ve been an active member of the church for about 25 years. I’m on Altar Guild Team 1. I’m the wedding coordinator and usher coordinator. You’ll see me at the 11:00 service on the lector side 4 rows back with my mom, Jan Davis.

I’ve been the Quality Assurance Director at the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory since the middle of 2021. Yes, I’ve been on the frontlines of the pandemic since day one.

Some of my favorite things are hanging out with my cats (2 rescue kitties: Bats & Tiger Lily), spending time with my family and friends, reading (my go-to is The Hunger Games Trilogy), The Big Bang Theory (love some reruns and I have all the seasons), traveling (boo for the pandemic- Costa Rica and Banff are my top destinations) and my mom’s German food.

I’m excited to be back on the vestry and hope my talents can move Saint Peter’s towards a bright future. Saint Peter’s is incredibly important to me – this church is needed in my life, and I believe needed in this community.

Tiffany Bonds

Tiffany Bonds

2022

My name is Tiffany Bonds and I live in Conway with my wife Tiffany Matthews, and her 3 amazing kids (Mary Grace, Ellie, and Beckett). I work at Bonds & Company, CPA as an accountant. We love to travel and experience new things. Our family loves to hike and go to the lake. We started attending Saint Peter’s in 2018 and have fallen in love with it more and more each year. We are thankful for a very accepting place to call home. I am thrilled that all of my crazy questions have been welcomed by so many.

We love our small group and the relationships that have formed over the years because Saint Peter’s was willing to try something new. I am excited to serve on the vestry and serve this amazing church.

Steve Hurd

Judy Weaver

2022

After spending the first 34 years of her life in Ohio and the next 34 years in Michigan, faith brought Judy Weaver and her loyal curly cocker spaniel, Jaspur, to 34 Wilderness road in Faulkner county, Arkansas. Who knows what the next “34” will be, but she was glad to find a home and warm welcome at Saint Peter’s on her first Sunday attending on June 6th, 2018.

Judy’s work as a certified peer support specialist drew her to Arkansas where she has invested in the much needed efforts toward facilitating addiction recovery across multiple counties in the state. Soon to celebrate 35 years of sobriety herself, she is passionate about sharing her authentic, lived experience with others and supporting them as they start their own journey toward a healthier life. Having spent over 25 years working as a mental health professional/peer support specialist specializing in addiction recovery, she brought with her a love and passion for the well-being of her fellow humans. Working as a volunteer for Arkanpaws Rescue, she also has a passion and love for fellow fur creatures. Jaspur very recently crossed the rainbow bridge; he was her comforting companion for 13 years and lived a full life.

When she is not working hard to serve others, she might be found enjoying her favorite foods such as a nice glass of sweet tea, a perfectly cooked steak, mashed potatoes, and corn; or she will be focused on her hobby of maintaining and adding to her giraffe themed collection with over 200 pieces.

Dinah Reed

Dinah Reed

2023

I have been a member of Saint Peter’s for more than 50 years. My husband Danny and I have two daughters, Lisa Crowson and Brooke Melton, four grands, Reed and Cole Henderson, and Gracie and Mary Melton, who continue to put up with me and keep me young at heart.

After teaching elementary and middle school for 32 rewarding years and retiring in June, 2004, Saint Peter’s became an even larger part of my life. I now have the gift of time to do things I had always wanted to do. More church involvement was one of those things. I have learned so much about the workings of the Church and our Church Family, and in that process, myself! Currently, I am President of our Imogene Chapter of The Order of the Daughters of the King. I also served a three-year term as Diocesan President which afforded me the opportunity to connect with Daughters in churches across Arkansas, Province VII, the United States and Internationally. Daughters of the King is an international order of lay women taking vows of prayer and service to Christ and the Church. I also enjoy working in the Food Pantry, with the Altar Guild, the Guatemala Mission Team, Community of Hope, and the Vestry. Saint Peter’s has been such a strong part of the big moments in my life, both sad and joyous. I love Saint Peter’s and am happy to serve in any way needed.

Amy Hawkins

Amy Hawkins

2024

Dr. Amy Hawkins is the Assistant Provost of Teaching and Academic Leadership at the University of Central Arkansas where she has taught for 23 years. She directs the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership, offering faculty and leadership development initiatives to strengthen teaching and learning at UCA. Amy is also an Associate Professor of Public Relations in UCA’s School of Communication. She lives in Conway with her son Paxson, a high school senior and talented French horn player, and her eight-pound maltipoo Luby, who is quite spoiled.

Amy started attending St. Peter’s in 2013 and was confirmed in 2014; she was drawn to the Episcopal Church’s value of social justice and full affirmation of women and those who are LGBTQ+ in the life of the church. In her spare time, Amy enjoys working out, reading, and cooking and feeding those she loves. She is slightly addicted to true crime podcasts and reads a ridiculous number of books on her Kindle app as a way to save space in her home and office. Amy’s deepest passion is helping others learn and grow into fully-formed, thriving human beings.

Lynne Rich

Lynne Rich

2024

Lynne Rich started school in Syracuse, New York and ended with a Doctorate from Mississippi State University. After which, she joined the University of Central Arkansas as an associate professor in Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology.  She believes Arkansas is a beautiful, self-sufficient state and a great place to live and do sociology. Additionally, she currently serves on several educational non-profit boards, including the Foundation Board of Arkansas PBS. 

Lynne has belonged to St. Peter’s since 2007. She has been seen in church doorways greeting people on Sundays, in the Fledglings writer’s group, in SPARC, and in the Servant Leadership School, where she facilitated a course on poverty and inequalities in America. Through these experiences, Lynne continues to form treasured bonds and relationships. She feels St. Peter’s greatest asset is its people. 

In her copious amounts of free time, Lynne is writing a book about homeless youth and young women in Arkansas. She enjoys reading, painting, and metalsmithing. She also relishes traveling and spending time with her family, friends, and sweet baby dog.

Chris Odom

Chris Odom

2024

A true Okie from Muskogee, Chris moved from Oklahoma to Conway to attend Hendrix College and just never left after graduating. He has worked at Conway Corporation since 2002 and currently serves as the Manager of Voice Services and is a member of the Executive Staff. Chris is a lifelong Episcopalian and came to Saint Peter’s in 2006. He has served on the Vestry twice before (once as Senior Warden), is a current member of the Choir and Handbell Choir, works on the church’s archives, and helps with SPARC. Outside of church and work, Chris continues to hone his passion for photography, incorporating fun travels with friends and family.

Chad Dixon Headshot

Chad Dixon

2024

I live in Bigelow Arkansas and have been a member of St. Peters since June 2021. I grew up in a conservative Baptist family where my grandfather and uncles were deacons in the church. After an extended absence from any religious affiliation, I found my way to St. Peters and the Episcopal faith. Since then, my spirit and faith have been renewed and I feel called to help in any way that I can. My favorite Bible quote is Ephesians 5:2 … “Walk in Love as Christ loved Us …”

I graduated from UALR in 2004 with a BBA (Finance and Economics) before moving to Phoenix Arizona for 16 years. While in Arizona, he completed his MBA degree specializing in Business Strategy & Policy. I have worked as an insurance adjuster, financial controller, and accountant.

I am married to a wonderful husband, Jose Garcia, and we have been together for 14 years. Together we have 3 dogs (Brutus, Nero, and Minnie). My favorite hobby is gardening.

I am currently the Chief Operations Officer of Central Adjusting Company in Little Rock. I look forward to serving the people of St. Peters and the community as a whole.

Vestry Notes