The Rev. Dr. Phil Snider (he/him) has been the senior minister at Brentwood Christian Church since 2003. His main responsibilities include teaching, preaching, congregational care, and faith-based community organizing. Phil believes that the life of Jesus shows that spirituality and justice are intricately woven together, and he’s committed to the idea that the good news expressed in Christ (but not confined to Christ) calls us to work for justice, dignity, and equity for all.
With a focus on the intersection of faith and public life, his writing has appeared in collections alongside Barack Obama in the U.S. and N.T. Wright in the U.K. (You can read about Phil’s books here.) His religious commentary has been featured in The Kansas City Star, MSNBC News, USA Today, The Daily Mail, The Huffington Post, Religion Dispatches and numerous other local and national media outlets, including NPR affiliates and nationally-syndicated radio and television programming. He once had 15 minutes of fame when a speech he gave on equal rights went viral (but it won’t make sense if you don’t watch it to the end).
Phil went to grad school at Phillips Theological Seminary (in Tulsa, OK) and Chicago Theological Seminary (at the University of Chicago). He teaches religious studies courses at both Missouri State University and Drury University and co-hosts the Flipped Table Theology podcast with Shurita Thomas-Tate, Christie Love, Rue Lohn and Holly Madden.
Click here if you’d like to contact Phil or if you’re in need of pastoral support.
The Rev. Emily Bowen-Marler (she/her) has served at Brentwood since October of 2001, and became the associate minister in 2004. After growing up in southern California, she moved to Indianapolis to attend seminary, then moved to Springfield to work for Brentwood. Her primary responsibilities include the cultivation of vibrant, rich expressions of worship, music, and the arts, as well as offering oversight to children’s ministries and assisting with congregational care. An accomplished singer and musician, Emily has led worship at the Disciples of Christ General Assembly and was the music director for the 2010 Disciple Women’s Ministries event Quadrennial. She holds degrees from Phillips Theological Seminary (MDiv), Christian Theological Seminary (MA), and Chapman University (BM). She is the co-author with Phil Snider of Toward a Hopeful Future (Pilgrim Press, 2010).
Click here if you’d like to contact Emily or if you are in need of pastoral support.
The Rev. Alyssa Spradlin (she/her) is the Pastor of Digital Ministries and Director of Communications, expanding Brentwood’s relational capacity through non-traditional platforms. She also serves in an administrative role, with the ability to provide both pastoral and administrative support on Sunday mornings and during office hours.
The role combines Rev. Spradlin’s professional and educational backgrounds, and her deep commitment to continuing Christ’s example of loving and relating to people, at whatever point they’re at in life’s journey.
Alyssa wore a variety of hats in the newspaper and not-for-profit worlds before answering the call to ministry. She has served as the associate minister at our sibling congregation, Central Christian Church, and as the Director of Advancement at Phillips Theological Seminary.
Rev. Spradlin earned degrees from Phillips Theological Seminary (MDiv), Drury University (MA, Non-profit Communication), and Milligan University (BS, Communication – Journalism). She is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Pacific School of Religion.
She is a member of the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness Executive Committee and the Drury School of Religion Board, and is a former member of the Greene County Domestic Violence Board. She has served the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a member of the Week of Compassion advisory committee, which supports church-wide disaster recovery efforts around the world.
Click here if you’d like to contact Alyssa or if you are in need of pastoral support.
The Rev. Sarah Stephenson (she/her) directs our children’s ministries at Brentwood. Her Bachelor’s degree is in Elementary Education from MSU and her Master of Divinity degree is from Brite Divinity School, TCU. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She’s served in a variety of ministry positions for over 20 years. Sarah loves to make homemade cards and enjoys paper crafts, reading, writing, and a whole list of other activities too long to name. She lives in Springfield with her husband, Rick. In addition to her work at Brentwood, Sarah is a seventh grade English and Reading teacher at Pleasant View Middle School.
Click here if you’d like to contact Sarah or if you are in need of pastoral support.
Rue Lohn (they/them) leads the Springfield Collaborative Youth Group for middle school and high school students, in which Brentwood youth are invited to participate (learn about all of our youth ministry programs here). They have worked with families in a personal and professional context for approximately four years. Rue has an Associate of Science in Behavioral Health Support and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Community Behavioral Health at Drury University. They have worked as case manager at Burrell Behavioral Health where they offered support to parents with co-occurring disorders and open children division cases. Prior to their professional career, they worked in children’s and teens’ ministry, advocating for marginalized students by encouraging social and theological language modification. Rue’s experience working in ministry and mental health has cultivated their passion for meeting the needs of youth and families in our community. When Rue is not working, they enjoy going on runs and spending time with their dog child, Sunday.
Click here if you would like to contact Rue.
Andy Sun (she/her) considers herself privileged to be able to serve Brentwood as a sacred musician. A Springfield native, Andy first learned piano from Mrs. Connie Osgood and studied Piano Performance with Dr. Peter Collins at Missouri State University. She’s had experience as a church music director, a piano teacher, an accompanist, played in indie rock bands, and is an accomplished solo performer herself.
She prides herself on being able to channel her own spiritual, compassionate practice into her music, “I really believe God has given me a gift with music, along with the opportunity to cultivate that gift, and I am glad to be able to share it with this church.”
The Rev. Charlie Bahn (he/him) joined Brentwood’s staff in April of 2005 as part-time Minister of Congregational Care. He focuses on overall pastoral care within the congregation and makes lots of visits to hospitals and nursing homes. Charlie holds degrees from Brite Divinity School (MDiv), Washington & Lee University (JD), and Southeast Missouri State University (BS).
Click here if you’re in need of pastoral support and would like to contact Charlie.