The Very Reverend Steve Lipscomb, Dean

A native of Northwest Georgia, Father Steve Lipscomb received an associates' degree (in General Studies) at Georgia State University, Atlanta, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University, Marietta, GA.

He received a master's degree in Divinity from the School of Theology at The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and was ordained in 1991. After ordination, he became deacon-in-charge, then priest and vicar, of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, Columbus, GA.

From 1993-2001, Father Lipscomb served as rector of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Sautee-Nacoochee, Georgia. Father Lipscomb became dean of Grace Cathedral on February 1, 2001.

Dean Lipscomb is married to Robyn Matthews Lipscomb. Their son, Ian, his wife, Briana, and grandson, Nate, also live in Topeka.

The Reverend George Pejakovich, Assistant to the Dean

Rev. George Pejakovich, a native of New York City, and Northern New Jersey, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1967, with a BS in Civil Engineering. After service as an Infantry Officer for ten years, during which he received an MA in English Literature from Duke U, he resigned to attend Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, OH. Ordained in 1979, Rev. George served as an Army Chaplain for another twenty years. He served units and congregations in the USA and Germany, and culminated his Army service as the Commandant of the US Army Chaplain Center and School. After serving Living Springs Lutheran Church, Columbia SC, he moved to Topeka in 2001. In addition to his ministry as Assistant to the Dean, Rev. George is a chaplain for Heart of America Hospice, Topeka.

He is married to Joyce Woodard Pejakovich, and their blended family includes five adult children, nine grandchildren and their standard poodle Ritter.

Deacon Donald A. Chubb, B.Sc.

Deacon Donald Chubb grew up in Grace Cathedral and has become Topeka's own historian, charming church and community with tales of our past. Ordained in 1978, a business broker and commercial realtor with Griffith & Blair, Don can be seen regularly visiting in the hospitals. Married to Janet, an attorney who is currently the Assistant Secretary of State, the Chubbs have a grown daughter, Molly.

Steve Burk, Organist-Choirmaster

Steve Burk began his duties at Grace Cathedral in January of 2002. As the director of music activities, he is responsible for planning Cathedral worship services, conducting five choral ensembles and the handbell choir, managing the GREAT SPACES Music & Arts Series, and is principal organist.

A native of California, Steve has lived in Lawrence, KS, since 1986, when he came to work for Reuter Pipe Organs as their Vice President for Sales and Marketing. After marrying and starting a family, Steve returned to school where he completed a degree in Music Education with a Minor in Organ Performance from the University of Kansas.

From 1993 to 2001, he taught in public and private schools and was the Director for Youth Music at Trinity Parish, Lawrence. While at Trinity, the children’s choir developed a reputation for excellence such that they were invited to sing in concert at the National Cathedral, Washington DC, and other locations. He has served churches, synagogues, and a community choir as music director and/or organist in Kansas City, upstate New York, and California.

In addition to his church work, Steve is a clinician and enjoys being the Choral Assistant at Southwest Junior High School, Lawrence, where he works with their 120-voice auditioned choir of 8th and 9th grade students. He is retired from the Kansas Air National Guard as the Commander of the 190th Maintenance Operations Flight, Forbes Field.

Steve is an active member of the Royal School of Church Music in America and the Residential Manager for the King’s College RSCM Summer Course in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He is also and active member of the American Choral Directors Association and is on the Board of the Kansas Choral Directors Association as the Kansas Repertoire & Standards Representative for Music and Worship.

He is married to Sally Burk who works at the World Headquarters for Payless ShoeSource, Topeka. They have twin daughters, Katie and Maggie.

Sylvia Hamilton, Assistant Organist

Sylvia Hamilton completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance in 1995 at the University of Kansas where she studied with James Higdon. She was awarded honors for her dissertation, “Catharine Crozier Gleason, Virtuoso Organist: A Documentation of Her Performing and Teaching Career.”

Sylvia holds the B.M. summa cum laude from Augustana College in Illinois, and her M.M. in organ from New England Conservatory in Boston. During a residence in Europe, Sylvia studied organ with Lionel Rogg at the Conservatoire de Genéve, Switzerland, and Louis Robilliard in Lyon, France.

Syliva has been a church musician for over 30 years, and most recently served as organist and choir director at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Topeka, where she directed the adult, children’s, and handbell choirs and served as principal organist.

Since 1996, Sylvia has served as Director and Instructor of Music and Movement with Miss Sylvia, a studio for children infant though age 7. The studio is located at Grace Cathedral and serves over 115 children. She is certified as an early childhood music education specialist through the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.

Sylvia and her husband, Jim, are the parents of three children, Robert, Anna and John.

Connie Vosburgh, Office Manager

Connie began attending Grace Cathedral in 1989, became the editor of The Cathedral Chimes newsletter in 1998, and joined the staff as Office Manager in 2001.

Connie holds a degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, and from 1980-1995, worked as a radio news broadcaster in the Topeka market. She also spent several years as a free-lance desktop publisher and promotions manager for a community theater.

Connie is married to Mason Vosburgh and has two children, Max and Samantha.

Kent Wingerson, Cathedral Verger & Finance Officer

A life long member of the cathedral, Kent was baptized, confirmed and married in the cathedral. He served as a boy chorister in the Men and Boys Choir, then as an Acolyte and later Master of Ceremonies until 1984, when he was appointed the first Verger of Grace Cathedral. Today, his ministries include Finance Officer, Facilities Manager, Acolyte Director, Sacrist, and Wedding Coordinator.

From 1986 until 1995 he worked as a lay professional in the areas of liturgy, finance, and facilities at the cathedral. Kent returned to the staff in June, 2001.He has completed the four-year Education for Ministry program, administered by the School of Theology, the University of the South (Sewanee, TN). Kent has participated in a number of liturgical conferences, and has been a presenter several times as well. He’s currently co-chair of the Liturgy, Arts and Music committee for the Diocese of Kansas. He authored The Verger, Tract number 15 in the Order of S. Vincent publication series. Kent joined the Church of England Guild of Vergers in 1985, and is a charter member (1989) of the Vergers’ Guild of the Episcopal Church. He has been a member of the National Network of Lay Professionals.

Kent received an Associate of Science degree from Highland Community College, and attended Kansas State University. He received a Bachelor of Arts (Communications – departmental honors) degree from Washburn University in 1978.

Kelly Wadsworth and Kent wed in 1979. Sons Jason and David also grew up at the cathedral. David serves as an acolyte, a choir member, and plays percussion for the cathedral and drums in the diocesan praise band, the Mustard Seeds. Kelly is an Altar Guild team leader, and a Daughter of the King.

Michael Massey, Youth Minister

Michael is a native Nebraskan who received a B.A. Degree in Sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1975. While a student at UNO, he was director of the student agency that sponsored rock concerts, speakers, film festivals and fine arts events for students and the community. Michael moved to Kansas in 1983 and spent twenty years in state government, where he conducted workshops and focus groups for social services staff and clients statewide. Michael left his career with the state to focus on his “passion,” youth ministry, at the Cathedral. He also works as a special education para-professional with the Topeka school district.

Michael is active in the life of the Cathedral as a teacher, acolyte, chalist, and lector. With Cathedral Campus Minister Kathy Slawson, he co-coordinates Diocesan Happening week-ends for senior high students. They have also co-directed the Diocesan junior high summer camp at Camp Wood. He serves on the Diocesan Children and Youth Ministries Committee. He is an Oblate of St. Benedict with the Cathedral group affiliated with Mt. St. Scholastica monastery in Atchison.

Kathy Slawson, Campus Minister

Kathy leads the Cathedral’s outreach ministry to the Washburn University campus. A native of Topeka, she has been active in the life of the Cathedral community as a member of the choir and leader in the congregation’s youth ministries. She serves as a member of the Board of the Washburn Ecumenical Campus Ministry and the Diocese of Kansas Young Adult and Higher Education Commission. She recently completed Peer Ministry training through the national church to use as a foundation for campus ministry.

Kathy is active in youth ministry at the Diocesan level, serving as co-coordinator of the Happening weekends for senior high students. She has also been co-director of the junior high summer camp at Camp Wood and worked with the annual MIQRA weekends at the Cathedral. A 1975 graduate of Seaman High School, Kathy attended Washburn University where she was active in music and theatre. She currently works as a meeting planner for the Kansas Bar Association.

Ben Fulton, Director of Children's Ministries

Mike Godfrey, Cathedral Sexton

Mike Godfrey has worked as the Cathedral sexton for the past 5 years. Mike and his wife, Jennifer, also owns MJ Cleaning Service in Topeka.

A native Topeka, Mike now makes his home in Holton, Kansas. He is the father of a daughter and two sons, and the grandfather of 4 boys.