Plymouth Church Staff

Don Olsen

The Rev. Dr. Donald Olsen was called by the congregation as Senior Minister on Sunday, October 7, 2007. Dr. Olsen most recently served as Dean of the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies, the educational Division of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. He also served the Association as an Associate Executive Secretary for the Division for Ministry, the Missionary Society and the Division for Congregational Church Development. Dr. Olsen was trained by the Alban Institute to provide support and counsel to churches and clergy in conflict. Dr. Olsen is a graduate of: Bethel College, Arden Hills, MN, BA Philosophy and Theology; United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, MN, M.Div. and The Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, D.Min. Dr. Olsen has served churches in Manhasset, New York and Lathrup Village, Michigan.

Don's wife Penny is the Marketing and Product Development Director for the Clocks Division of Chaney Instrument in Lake Geneva, WI. They enjoy reading, gardening, sailing, working on the restoration of their home. Don has four grown children and two grandchildren.

Lisa Dembkowski

The Rev. Lisa Dembkowski joined the staff on Feb. 1, 2008, to serve as Associate Minister. Rev. Dembkowski has most recently served as the senior minister of Wyben Union Church in Westfield, Massachusetts. Prior to that, she was part of the ministerial staff of the Florence Congregational Church in Florence, MA, serving as the church's Christian education coordinator. She has served on several committees of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches including the Church Services Commission and the Communication Services Committee. Lisa earned her Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She is a graduate of the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies.

Lisa worked as a full-time staff writer and office manager for the Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton, MA. She also worked for a publishing company of the Episcopal Church as a writer, editor, and production manager and as the parish secretary of a United Methodist Church.

Lisa's two grown sons live in her home state of Massachusetts. She enjoys traveling, writing, cooking, appreciating the arts, taking day trips, and watching baseball.

Karen Robu - Director of Faith Formation

The Rev. Karen Robu began teaching children's Sunday School at Plymouth Church in April 2011 and moved into the position of Director of Faith Formation on Aug. 1, 2011. Her local ordination was held at Plymouth on Aug. 28. Karen attends Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK and will recieve full ordination after she completes her Master of Divinity degree in May 2013. Before coming to Plymouth, she worked for seven years as Director of Children and Youth Ministries at University Congregational Church in Wichita, Karen received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. She continues to be involved in theatre and performs around town when she has time. Her favorite roles include Emma Goldman in Ragtime, Rose in Gypsy, and Ursula in Disney's Little Mermaid, all performed at Music Theatre of Wichita. Karen lives in Newton with her husband Tim, their daughters Katie and Francie, and a number of horses, dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks.

Howard Webb - Director of Music, Administrative Assistant to the Sr. Minister 

Howard Webb has actively contributed to the advancement of music throughout the community for more than 25 years. He currently serves as the Music Director of Plymouth Congregational Church, where he was instrumental in establishing the Plymouth Chamber Concert series and planned the programming for each season. As one of the co-founders of the Wichita Chamber Chorale, Howard served that organization as President, Board Member and/or Performing Member. He currently is a founding member and Director of the Heart of America Men's Chorus. His career as a musician has found him on both sides of the podium. He has held positions as a tenor soloist with the Wichita Choral Society, St. James Episcopal Church, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, and College Hill Methodist Church, among others. Howard's conducting career began at the age of 15 when he began conducting a choir in his home church. While serving in the United States Army, Howard conducted the US Army Oratorio Society at Ft. Leonard Wood. He has also served as the director of the choir at St. James Episcopal Church. Although his primary focus is choral work, Howard enjoys a close relationship with the exceptional community of instrumentalists throughout Wichita, and frequently takes the opportunity to collaborate with one or more of these artists in planning the worship calendar at Plymouth. As a pivotal member of the team during Plymouth's restoration efforts, Howard has devoted countless hours of research towards the instrumentation and acoustics of the rebuilding process.

Chris Shaw - Organist

Christopher Shaw is a 2011 graduate of Wichita State University with a Masters of Music Education degree with an emphasis in choral conducting, including one year of organ study with international recitalist Lynne Davis. Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance and Teacher Certification from Bethel College. He has also studied organ with Ken Rodgers, Shirley Sprunger King, and Roseann Penner Kaufman. Shaw spent a month studying with David Cherwien, focusing on service playing and hymn arrangements. Shaw is currently the 7-12 Vocal Music instructor for the Moundridge school district and will be teaching group piano and private piano lessons in the Prep School at Tabor College. In addition to serving as organist at Plymouth, Chris is often found in the Wichita Metro-area as an accompanist and church musician. 

Will Root - Youth Director

Corrine DePew - Parish Nurse

Corinne Depew, RNC, MSN, received a BSN from Wichita State University in 1992. She obtained her Masters of Nursing in 1991 from WSU as well. She has worked in labor and delivery at Wesley Medical Center since 1983 as a staff nurse, nurse educator, and clinical nurse specialist. She is also an adjunct faculty member at WSU and has been a maternal-child instructor in the WSU nursing program. In May 2010, Corinne completed the Parish Nursing program.

Corinne is married to Clifford and they have two sons, Henry and George. With her husband, she has enjoyed being part of mission trips to Argentina, Uganda, and soon the Dominican Republic.

Sue Martin - Finance & C. E. Assistant

Juli Burke - Nursery Director

Kitchel Woods - Wedding Coordinator

Don Tillotson - Building Maintenance

Bill Berry - Lead Custodian

Christina Bell - Custodian