An ordained United Church of Christ Minister with partner status in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Jeff came to Webster Groves Christian Church in March of 2008. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Leadership from Aurora University, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Eden Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. His Doctor of Ministry work focused on the question of “Christian Connectedness,” and explored this from biblical and liberation standpoints. Jeff’s PhD dissertation focused on Theological Education in the Lesotho Evangelical Church, and presents a descriptive study following a three year program of ethnographic and theological research in Lesotho, southern Africa.
Jeff has served churches in Mascoutah, Illinois, Darmstadt and Biddleborn, Illinois, and Pana and Dollville, Illinois. He has served as Director of Outdoor Ministries in the Rocky Mountain Conference, UCC, and from 2003-2007 served, along with his spouse, Susan, as a Common Global Ministries Missionary in Lesotho. While in Lesotho Jeff taught at Morija Theological Seminary and the National University of Lesotho; served as the HIV and AIDS Coordinator for the Lesotho Evangelical Church; and served as Interim Pastor for Maseru United Church – an international, nondenominational congregation. Upon his return to the United States, Jeff lived and taught on campus at Eden Theological Seminary, where he was Missionary in Residence during the 2007-2008 academic year. Jeff has continued to teach as an adjunct to the Eden faculty.
Jeff and Susan have three children – Abigail, Daniel, and Khotso.

Steve is from St. Louis, MO, and comes to us with over 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience.  He is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and had previously served WGCC as a Student Intern in 1997, and as Associate/Youth Minister from 1999-2003.   He is also currently serving on the Budget and Bridgeton Fund Teams of the Mid-America Region of the Disciples.  When he is not working at the church, Steve teaches private music lessons out of his Kirkwood home, and enjoys riding his motorcycle.

Lisa Cripe has served as Organist at Webster Groves CC since 2013. She was previously Director of Music at Hillcrest CC/Crossroads CC near Belleville, IL for 20 years, and has served various Indiana Disciples congregations as organist, children’s choir director, handbell director, and Minister of Music. In addition to her church work, Lisa is an Instructional Aide at Carriel Jr. High in O’Fallon, IL, has worked many years as choral accompanist for Jr. and Sr. high schools, and maintains a small piano and Musikgarten studio.

Lisa received degrees of Bachelor of Music (Keyboard Area Performance) from DePauw University, MA in Church Music from Christian Theological Seminary, continued organ studies with Dr. Douglas Reed at University of Evansville, IN, and is a Certified and Licensed Musikgarten Early Childhood Music and Movement Instructor. She is a member of the Association of Disciple Musicians, American Guild of Organists, Choristers Guild, Metro East Community Chorale, Masterworks Chorale, and the Masterworks Children’s Choirs Summer Youth Choral Experience faculty. Lisa was Hymnal Project Assistant for The Chalice Hymnal, and served as one of the music copy editors for Chalice Praise.

Gary Smith spent most of his life living and farming near Memphis, Missouri, where he cared for his parents until their deaths. Gary and his father also provided care for a local cemetery and other community projects.

Gary now lives in Maryland Heights with his brother and sister-in-law, John and Shah Smith, and enjoys being a great-uncle to their four children, three spouses, and four grandchildren.