The Right Reverend Michael Milliken-Assisting Bishop
The Right Reverend Michael P. Milliken was consecrated as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Western Kansas on February 19, 2011, following his election in August of 2010. The Bishop was consecrated by The Most Reverend Kathrine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church at the time; The Right Reverend Dean Wolfe, Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas; and The Right Reverend Vernon Strickland, Third Bishop of the Diocese of Western Kansas.
Michael P. Milliken was born March 13, 1947, in Lexington, Kentucky. Bishop Milliken originally dreamed of becoming a physician, but the Holy Spirit had other ideas and led him into the ordained ministry.
Bishop Milliken served as both Bishop of this diocese and Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson for three years. Bishop Milliken is the first Bishop to take on a dual role in 150 years. The experiment of a dual role Bishop was a success, and this model has now been shared with other small diocese. On December 31st, 2014, Bishop Milliken stepped down from his position as Rector in order to commit himself full time to the future of the diocese. His vision for the Diocese of Western Kansas is to empower the laity to go out into their communities and minister in the name of Jesus Christ so that all may find hope and abundant life.
On November 30, 2018, Bishop Milliken retired (resigned) as the Sixth Bishop. Bishop Milliken continues to serve in the Diocese as an assisting Bishop.
The Reverend Canon Cameron Randle - Canon to the Ordinary
Fr. Cameron will serve as Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese and as priest-in-charge at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Garden City.
Fr. Randle has been a priest for 14 years. Ordained to the diaconate in January 2009 and priesthood in September 2009, both in the Diocese of Los Angeles. After 25 years as a music executive in Nashville, Los Angeles and Austin, TX. He has served parishes in Hollywood, CA; Virginia Beach, VA; and on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Fr. Randle’s family is from Liberal and Ulysses. He is a graduate of Liberal High School, Oral Roberts University, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Yale Divinity School, the University of Tulsa College of Law, and the London School of Economics.
The Reverend Canon Ashley Null - Theologian to the Diocese of Western Kansas
The Rev. Canon Ashley Null is canonically resident in the Diocese of Western Kansas and serves as Bishop Milliken's theological advisor but spends the majority of his time abroad. Canon Null is the world recognized Canon Null currently holds research post funded by the German Research Council at Humboldt University of Berlin and is a visiting fellow at the Divinity Faculty of Cambridge University and St. John’s College, Durham University. His project is editing the private theological notebooks of Thomas Cranmer, the author of the independent Church of England’s founding formularies, for Oxford University Press. This is a five-volume project. He is the first Canon of the new pro-cathedral of St. Mark's in Alexandria, Egypt.
Toni Cottrell - Diocesan Administrator
Toni was born in Castro Valley, California and moved to Ogden, Utah where she was confirmed into the Episcopal Church at the Church of the Good Shepherd at the age of 10. After high school, Toni moved to Arizona where she attended Arizona Tech and received a degree in Broadcasting and Communications. During her time in Arizona, she took a job with Ramada Inn and was eventually transferred to Taos, New Mexico. In New Mexico she met her husband, Larry. Toni gave birth to her first child, a girl, in New Mexico. The three moved to Duncan, Oklahoma and their second child, a son, was born in 1991. The Cottrell family moved to Hutchinson, Kansas in 1994 and made Grace Episcopal Church their parish home. After they moved to Hutchinson Toni secured a job with Don Scott Accounting and then, three years later, took a job at Dudley Construction as their bookkeeper. Toni was with Dudley Construction until 2011 when she became an employee of the Diocese of Western Kansas. Toni's husband Larry is a real estate appraiser and a licensed broker. Toni's daughter, Amber, is a graduate of the University of Kansas and currently works for State Farm Insurance. She is married and she and her husband reside in Fort Collins Colorado. Her son, Weston, is a graduate of Wichita State University. He is married to his wife, Megan, and have two boys, Calvin, Jackson and daughter, Hayley i Dallas -Fort Worth area in Texas. Toni and her husband together have 5 children, 10 grandchildren and a great grandson. She enjoys gardening, golf, photography, and spending time with her beautiful family.
Christine Higdon - Administrative Assistant
Chris was born and raised in Hutchinson, Kansas. At the age of 13 Chris was Baptized at First Baptist Church in Hutchinson. Following graduation from Hutchinson High School Chris attended Hutchinson Junior College and Salt City Business College. Chris married Dave Higdon in 1970. Dave worked 34 years for the Hutchinson Police Department, retiring as the Assistant Police Chief holding the rank of Captain. Together they have a son Shawn, who is the Vice President of Retail Operations for a major international clothing and shoe company in California. He and his wife, Maureen reside in Valencia, California. A daughter, Jamie Schartz who operates a local daycare, she and her husband John reside in Hutchinson. From these unions Chris has 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Chris worked as an assistant in the general dental field and then went to work for J. Konrad Rock, DDS as his surgical assistant for many years. Chris worked for Health-E-Quip as a customer service supervisor and for Hospice and Homecare as a bereavement counselor. She then used her secretarial skills to go to work as the membership secretary for First Baptist Church here in Hutchinson. Chris was the Student Services Secretary for USD 308 Vo-Tech where she eventually retired. Chris missed her opportunities to interact with the community, so she began volunteering with RSVP. She enjoys helping people sign up for their part D, RX Medicare plans, helping people during Income tax time and at the Chamber of Commerce. Chris enjoys playing with her little Bichon, Sophie. Chris was on the Board of Directors for Eastside Cemetery for many years and also enjoyed singing with Sweet Adeline’s. Dave and Chris began attending Grace Episcopal Church in 2020, however due to the unexpected Covid crisis much of the first 18 months was online. Once restrictions were lifted, they attended confirmation classes and were confirmed on June 5, 2022, making Grace Episcopal our parish home. Chris enjoys reading, cooking and family activities especially those with her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.
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