Staff

Full-Time

Matt Dampier

Matt Dampier+

Rector

Matt has been the rector at Christ Church since April 2024. Prior to which he served as associate rector since March 2018. Prior to these roles, he was serving as a Campus Pastor at Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at the University of Kentucky where he preached, oversaw a staff of recent college graduates, and helped to create the World’s Largest Water Balloon Fight. Matt had originally prepared to enter medical school while at UK but instead chose to serve in the campus ministry where he became a believer. While working at CSF, he entered divinity school at Asbury Theological Seminary and graduated with his Master of Divinity in 2011. He married Lexie, his high school sweetheart, and they have two wonderful kids, Lucy and Charlie. Nowadays, adventure for him looks like jogging, woodworking, fishing, and pick up basketball.

Wes Crawford

Wes Crawford

Worship Pastor

Wes joined the Christ Church staff in March of 2017, and as Worship Pastor he leads our team of musicians. He grew up in the DFW area and studied music at the University of North Texas in Denton. While there, Wes met his wife Melissa and worked in campus ministry after graduation. The Crawfords served as missionaries in Monterrey, Mexico from 2004 until 2008, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri to be part of a church plant in the heart of the city. Wes enjoys playing and listening to music, flipping through used record bins at Waterloo Records, and cooking. He and Melissa have four girls: Anna, Maggie, Claire, and Elaine.

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Kim Polk

Executive Director

Kim started as the Executive Director in November 2022. In this role she oversees staff, manages the property, and helps the church run organizationally. She comes from 25 years of experience in Marketing Communication for a Fortune 500 global high-tech company. In the middle of her career, she spent several months in YWAM missions which deepened her love for different cultures and the God of all nations. In addition to the learnings and leadership she brings from corporate and ministry experience, she is in deep alignment with the vision and values of Christ Church, and is formed by an Anglican Spirituality of Word, Spirit, and Sacrament. Kim started worshipping with Christ Church since 2008 and has been active in several areas of ministry including Vestry, Missions, Small Groups, the Liturgical Team, the Vocation Initiative, and Prayer Ministry. She loves the outdoors, spending quality time with people, and learning.

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Beau Pruitt

Director of Student Ministries 

Beau grew up in Hutto and is the son of a Youth Pastor. He went to undergrad at Moody Bible and then Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for graduate work. There he received his Masters of Divinity; he also began attending an Anglican Church during graduate school. He and his wife Danielle moved back to Austin in the spring of 2021 and began worshiping at Christ Church in March. They welcomed their first child, Flora, this past fall into the world. 

Beau has discerned a clear call to serve and love students. He is eager to begin jumping into the work leading our student ministries, middle school through college. Already he is working with our leadership team to plan summer activities for the youth.

Laura Smith

Laura Smith

Director of Operations

Laura came to Christ Church in January of 2010 and through those last 11 years, has particpated in the many changes that have taken place in the life of Christ Church. Laura and her husband Kendall are members of Memorial UMC where she has attended since birth. Her vocational background is heavily based in non-profit and faith based organizations. As a lifelong Austinite and Texas Longhorn, Laura loves this city and will talk college sports with anyone who will listen. She and Kendall share 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Together they love attending Longhorn sports, hiking with friends and traveling, especially to see their kids and grandkids.

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Michael Distefano

Curate

Michael has served the Church through both pastoral ministry and non-profit management. Prior to joining staff at Christ Church of Austin, Michael served as a director for Amirah Inc, an anti-trafficking organization operating in New England. Michael has served as teaching pastor and pastor to young adults at Faithbridge Church and as an associate church planter with Passion City Church in Washington D.C. Michael has degrees in Management and Entrepreneurial Studies from Texas A&M University, a Masters in Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and has completed an extended thesis on Early Christianity at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary. Michael is married to the joyful and brilliant Tate. Together, they love their dog Alfredo, the outdoors, sports, music, and story (books and movies) and prioritize lingering meals with family and friends.

Kristie Hartwell

Kristie Hartwell

Office Administrator

Kristie Hartwell serves as Fr. Cliff’s Executive Assistant. Her professional experience includes Administrative and Communications roles with corporations, a non-profit, Stanford University, and a fellow C4SO church, Resurrection South Austin. Graduating from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a degree in Political Science prepared her for working in government in Washington, DC. She reflects on her time there as a growth experience in Christian life. Conversely, she felt underprepared to see the “underbelly” of politics and was glad to escape the Capitol city to live in the “regular U.S.A.” After helping companies sell various products from software to Slurpee dispensers, Kristie is most fond of her work with Anglican churches. A former Christ Church parishioner and long-time Anglican, she is excited and honored to support Fr. Cliff and work with the Christ Church team.

Kristie loves music and relates to Johnny Cash’s song “I’ve been everywhere.” As an Air Force dependent, she lived in 22 different homes in 8 states and visited 45 states. As an adult, she traveled to two foreign countries and gratefully, finally, settled in central Texas. She enjoys Holy Yoga classes, attending writing workshops, kayaking and family time with her husband, Andrew, and children Reed (22), Ben (20) and Claire (10). Kristie considers Iced Tea, time with family and friends, sketching Texas oak trees, live Americana music and dancing as ways she experiences heaven on earth.

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Carolyn Roman

Assistant to the Rector

Carolyn joined Christ Church in Spring 2018. Born in Venezuela to two Texas Longhorn parents, Carolyn’s family returned home to Texas when she was a child, where she continues to speak Spanish like a child. Carolyn raised her family in Austin: Coleman, David, Bailey and Lindsay (two Longhorns, one Trinity Tiger and one Aggie), and recently “retired” from her proudest achievement, being a stay-at-home mom to four Jesus-loving children. Carolyn also has enjoyed using her Bachelor of Science in Food Science from Texas A&M (WHOOP!) in her work at NASA, Baskin Robbins, and Cy-Fair ISD. Carolyn is also mom to the impish Cashew, a longhair English cream dachshund, whose adventures you can follow on Instagram #_Johnny_Cashew. She enjoys funny pet videos, reading classic books, and watching anything about history especially if it includes beautiful costumes and jewelry.

Part-Time

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Katie Fox

Arts Ministry Leader

katieofox@gmail.com

Katie Fox has been leading arts ministry at Christ Church since 2015. Katie leads with assistance from Caleigh Taylor, Billy Hollis, and Shaun Fox. In addition, she is currently pursuing an MA in Theology and the Arts at Fuller Seminary. Katie is a writer and a musician who loves artists and wants to see them flourish in the church and the culture.

Kristen Woodward

Kristin Woodward

Accounting Assistant

Kristin grew up in Nebraska and moved all over the country before she landed in Texas where the weather is nice and warm! She graduated with a degree in Communication Studies and Office Management, but fell into teaching early after graduation. After years of being a stay at home mom to
her 2 daughters, Elliana and Melia, she decided to enter back into the work force and enjoyed working in an administrative role at a Christian Preschool for 7 years. Kristin enjoys cultural and performing arts and has a heart for helping women get back on their feet after loss. Kristin enjoys traveling watching dance and volleyball, and spending time with her family and friends.

Olivia Bruner

Olivia Bruner

Children's Ministry Team Leader

olivia@christchurchofasutin.org

Olivia serves as part-time Children’s Ministry Team Leader where she gives oversight, supervision and support to the team that ministers to children from infant to 5th grade. She envisions and supports the ways the church can nurture and teach children in the faith by helping them discover Christ and his intimate love for them through worship, teaching and play. She acts as liaison between the Children’s Ministry and Christ Church staff, championing the needs of the youngest in our community. Christ Church is continually blessed by her unique perspective, creativity, and love of children.

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Jennifer Pappenhagen

Community Formation Leader

Jen came to Christ Church in the Fall of 2008, and has been an active member since then. She and her husband David met here, and they now have a 3-year-old daughter, Eleanor. Jen has served in several ministries at Christ Church, including Altar Guild, the Liturgical Team, Vestry, and the Living Waters Leadership Team. Jen has a Masters in English from the University of Texas, and has taught humanities to high school and college students for nearly 25 years. Jen enjoys theatre, cooking, hosting gatherings with friends, and reading novels and mysteries… though most of the books she reads these days are by Eric Carle.

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Cashew Roman

Office Mascot

Cashew joined staff in the dog days of summer, 2018. Born in the mountains of Colorado, he relocated to Austin as soon as he was adopted. Cashew normally lives with his mother, Carolyn, but he counts Parker and
Violet Owen as his own and frequently vacations in the Owen’s home. With his peaceful nature and gift of hospitality, he delights in making visitors feel welcome and providing the staff with much needed exercise breaks. Cashew’s hobbies include playing chase with other staff dogs: Luna, Django, Callie, Hugo, and his spirit animal, Wes. He also enjoys a more relaxing past time: pretending his bed is a pacifier in addition to his calling
as an “emotional support animal”.

Julie Chewning

Julie Chewning

Communication Manager

Julie joined Christ Church staff in the fall of 2022 as the part-time communications manager. She graduated from Texas A&M University (whoop!) with a BA in speech communication. She has since lived in Austin, working as a digital marketing freelancer - primarily serving small businesses and non-profit organizations. 

Julie and her husband, Chris, share a passion for reading and records. They are parents to two kids who bring joy and wonder to their home. Originally from Oregon, Julie loves to be outside in the garden where she grows both food and flowers. 

Dave Allen

Dave Allen

Facilities Manager (Refuge Janitorial)

Dave Allen and his team have been caring for our janitorial needs since May of 2016. In October of 2019 he joined the Christ Church team as our facilities manager. From 2007 thru 2019 Dave served Hope in the City as their facilities director. He was also blessed to serve his church as Serve/hospitality teams lead, youth small group leader, and lead multiple Christmas outreaches. He owns a commercial cleaning company and has a passion for caring for churches specifically. Prior to entering facilities management, Dave spent 14 years in the hospitality industry. After leaving restaurant management, he returned to and graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God with a degree in business administration in 2012. He lives in South Austin with his wife, Bethany and 4 children. They love road trip vacations, movie nights, board games, camping, and Hamilton.

Affiliated Clergy

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Brian Wallace (Suffragan Bishop)

The Rev. Dr. Bill Walker

The Rev. Steve Pope

The Rev. Nancy Lewis (Deacon)

The Rev. Eric Stumberg (Deacon)

Vestry

Fr. Matt Dampier (Rector)

Leslie Cameron (Senior Warden)

Nate Bruce

Clay Davis

Kyle Frazier

Sarah Hadd

Amy McLaughlin

Sara Schultz

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