Christ Church Cathedral will hold its annual parish meeting on Sunday, Feb. 4, at 11:30 a.m. in the Nave. All members are encouraged to attend and to cast their votes for new Vestry members and delegates to the Diocesan Convention.

We have several excellent members who have offered their time and talent to serve on our Vestry and to represent CCC at the Diocesan Convention. Get to know them better during our Meet the Candidates Forum on Sunday, Jan. 21, after both the 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. services and take a moment to learn more about them below:

Meet the Candidates

Dave DeSutter

Julie and I started attending Christ Church Cathedral 5 years ago in search of a more fulfilling spiritual experience within an all-inclusive environment. Knowing no one as we walked in the door, we felt immediately welcome and accepted. We were received into the church approximately two years ago and have been striving to increase our involvement since.

My personal involvement to date includes ushering at the 8 a.m. Mass, volunteering for occasional projects at the Dayspring Center and working at the Strawberry Festival (I specialize in scooping ice cream).

I grew up on a farm in the western part of the state and am an engineer by degree. Most of my career has been spent in international business where I have enjoyed the enriched experience of spending time in other cultures and making friendships around the world. Now grounded closer to home, I gained my real estate license a few years ago to further my passion of working with people.

I am pursuing a nomination with the Vestry to work hard for and with the wonderful family at CCC. Thanks for the consideration.

Isaiah Kuch

I have been a member since 2017. One thing I really like about Christ Church Catherdal is its welcoming hospitality; from the day I first attended to today, I always feel welcomed. I have served on the executive council for the Diocese since 2017 as Bishop’s appointee as well as a Finance Committee member. I would like to see our hospitality being expanded and maintained.

Sean Manterfield

I have been a parishioner at CCC since joining the choir in 1991 when I was 8 years old. Since that day, CCC has been a second home for me. Growing up, the choir quickly became a second family to me and I had so many wonderful opportunities to sing in such amazing places throughout the country and the world while making lifelong friends who I am still friends with to this day. I love that while many things have changed over the years, music is still core to our church.

I was also very active in the youth group, taking multiple mission trips and participating in many church activities. I also had the privilege of being on several Diocesan committees and seeing how things work from the inside out.

I went away for college and grad school and in both instances, I was reminded of how unique a place CCC is. While it has a “high church” feel to many, it is incredibly welcoming to EVERYONE. I frequently hear people talk about not liking organized religion and/or churches but immediately look over and say “…but not your church! Your church is amazing!”

I am so proud of how far we have come as a church and would love the opportunity to be a part of continuing to grow in our values. Our more recent embrace with our five pillars is a wonderful step in the right direction but, of course, these changes cannot happen over night. They require a great deal of self-reflection and growth and I would like to be a part of that process in any way I can be of help.

Ashley Petitt

I’m Ashley Petitt. I’ve been attending CCC since early 2022 and was confirmed this past October 2023. Having grown up in nondenominational/evangelical type churches, I was eager to find a more accepting community and learn about the Episcopal services. After an invitation from a longtime friend, I found CCC and felt like I connected with the style of service and vision of the church in a way that had me wanting more.

I was eager to get involved and get to know other parishioners. I started volunteering monthly on the Children’s Ministry Formation team as an extra set of hands for special events, and during Godly Play as a doorkeeper. I also started serving with the choir and Choir School by helping out with the choristers each week. Through this ministry, I was blessed to serve as one of the few volunteer chaperones on the choir’s UK tour to England this past July.

Finding these two ministries has deepened my appreciation and understanding of CCC and I’m eager to continue to learn and serve within the various ministries here. Professionally, I have a background in accounting and business operations. I also currently serve as vice president of the Greater Greenwood Community Band as well as captain of my competitive bowling team.

I believe my professional and personal experience would lend itself nicely to the roles and responsibilities of the Vestry. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve CCC.

Diocesan Convention Delegate Candidates

Sarah McFetridge

My husband, Adam, and I first started attending CCC in 2016. We were living downtown and fell in love with the church’s beautiful traditions and music, as well as its focus on social justice and inclusivity. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in many ministries and get to baptize our two children, Henry and Peter, at the church. I’m currently the President of Cathedral Women, Co-Chair of the Strawberry Festival, and serve on the Finance Committee. I would love to see CCC continue to grow more and more in attracting and supporting families with children, as children are the future of the church.

Orlando Pelaez

I love the diversity of this church. I am glad and blessed to belong to CCC. My spiritual ways of life have been enhanced thanks to a great church community in the heart of the city. Looking into the future, I have no doubts that CCC will continue its mission of good will and labor of love.

Philip Sowders

Philip is a native of Indianapolis and grew up on the east side. He and his family attended Woodruff Place Baptist Church, where he was baptized. Following graduate school, he did post graduate work in Washington, DC, and attended the National Cathedral. After graduation he moved to Gettysburg to begin a practice of psychotherapy. While there he obtained an STM in New Testament Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary. Philip was a member of the Memorial Church of the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church. There he served as a chalice bearer, lecturer, taught the confirmation class, and was a delegate to the convention.

Philip has been a member of Christ Church Cathedral for the past six years and attends the 10 a.m. service. Prior coming to Christ Church, Philip was a member at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on Indianapolis’s east side where he served as a chalice bearer, member of the vestry, and a delegate to the annual convention.

Philip does assessments and treatment for youth with autism and early learning disabilities as well as maintaining a small privative practice. He has three adult children, and his son Karl serves our country in the US Army at Fort Meyer in Arlington, Virginia.

Matthew Stevenson

Over the years, I’ve been a Stephen Minister, an acolyte, helped with Children’s and Adult Formation, and served on the Vestry. CCC has been a blessing for me spiritually, helping me to see and serve Christ in all people.

Milicent Wright

I became a member of Christ Church Cathedral because my mother and aunts switched membership from St. Phillip’s when I was younger. This would have been in the 1970s when Father Roger Gray, who I adored, was the Dean. You go where your family takes you for the most part when you are a child. I was baptized at St. Phillip’s as a toddler and we were members there for some time. Then the three sisters started coming to Christ Church and I went to Sunday school here when the storage closet was an actual stage, then confirmation classes and was confirmed at CCC. I sang in the Girls’ Choir for a few years until I went to Episcopal boarding school in Minnesota. I also attended St. Richard’s Episcopal school from third through sixth grade, which was the top grade back in my day! Then came my in-and-out years for many reasons. Mostly due to school, work and seeking to find what worshipping meant to me and my relationship with God. As some of you know, I work in theatre which takes me elsewhere at times.

I can say I have now found my place here at CCC, a comfort in worshipping in other churches occasionally and a desire to be a fully participating member of Christ Church Catheral. I am showing up and loving it!! I am drawn to this vibrant CCC that has expanded to serve community and parishioners without losing all the traditions. I am in admiration of the clergy, staff and the congregation’s community service and efforts of inclusion with an understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion, social justice for the disenfranchised and marginalized citizens of our city and beyond.

Going to the Diocesan Convention after decades to represent our congregation would be an honor. We will hear more from other congregations, the issues concerning the church nationally and globally, share CCC’s journey, successes, and challenges, give and consume input on broader scope issues and the concerns of this denomination and bring back issues to converse, debate, digest, and possibly act upon. There is electricity within CCC and its place working in the diocese. I need to do my part.