Clergy
The Rev. Rachel Petty, Rector
Rachel Petty is a West Texas native who grew up in a clergy family. Her first career balanced her interest in law enforcement with her love of a good story. She served for 28 years as an adult probation officer and most recently as the Director of the 110th Judicial District probation department. She retired from that position in May 2021.
Rachel was ordained to the Transitional Deaconate in May 2021 and was called as Vicar of St. Christopher's at that time. She was ordained to the priesthood on December 16, 2021.
Rachel loves people, especially the quirky ones.
When she needs to recharge, she often spends time in nature - winter camping, taking photographs, reading, drawing or chasing her uncooperative canine.
Rachel is excited to be a part of the ministry and outreach of St. Christopher's. She's also thrilled to be living in Lubbock along with her dog, Parish. If you ask, she's sure to explain she didn't choose his name - it's one of those barely believable coincidences that make life entertaining.
The Rev. Melissa Wafer-Cross, Deacon
Melissa was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and is grateful for the legacy of the city's cultural diversity; the wide-open spaces of the desert; the rugged Franklin Mountains, and the spice of her sister city, Juarez. Melissa came to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech; after graduation, she served in the Peace Corps in Peru and Brazil. Her teaching career began in Pecos with the Texas Child Migrant program and continued for many years as she taught English and Spanish in public and private schools.
She was ordained to the vocational diaconate in 1999 and has served at St. Christopher's since her ordination. After ordination, Melissa became a mentor in the diocesan school for deacons and continued in that role in the School of Ordained Ministry until 2017. Retirement means she has more time for walking, writing, reading, photography, and thinking about travel—and not grading Hamlet essays.
Melissa is married to David Cross; they have one son. Matt and his wife Shalyn and their two delightful boys, Jake and Luke, live in California. Melissa always has lots of new photos on her phone—just ask her!
The Rev. Dr. Dann Wigner, Deacon
Dann was born at a very young age in Lubbock, TX, and seems always to come back here despite moving away multiple times. Some might say that Dann likes school, and they would be right. He has done various jobs around academia including being an academic librarian for fifteen years and bouncing around various areas teaching in the last twenty years including English, education, theology, religious studies, philosophy, sociology, and library science.
Currently, he is teaching at Wayland Baptist University and for the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas’ School of Ordained Ministry (Iona Collaborative).
He was ordained to the vocational diaconate in June of 2025, and he is excited to be at St.Christopher’s after many years of productive lay ministries at St. Stephen’s here in town. Dann’sacademic expertise is in mystical theology, and he spends a lot of time in ministries of spiritual direction in one-on-one and group contexts. He also spends a fair amount of time writing, and his most recent book is Word Song: A Mystical Theology. You’ll usually find him praying or stirring up trouble.
When he’s not working, Dann is usually sleeping, but he also enjoys reading, sketching, yoga, and coffee. Dann is married to the Reverend Leann Wigner, who is the chaplain for the Canterbury Campus Ministry at Texas Tech (Dann volunteers over there too). They have one son Clark, one dog Pavlov, and an assorted number of cats.
Organist and Choir Master
Jordan Langehennig
Jordan Langehennig comes to St. Christopher's as organist and choir director after earning degress in music and English from Texas Tech University. He is a professional highland bagpiper, competitor, performer, instructor, and clinician. He specializes in wind, string, percussion, electronic instruments from across the globe, percussive kitchen ware, and instruments of obscure nature and historic significance.
Jordan has played oboe and harp in concert and symphonic ensembles, as well as a variety of folk instruments in the TTU Celtic Ensemble/Elegant Savages Orchestra, TTU Balkan Ensemble, TTU BalFolk/RattleSkull, and the Caprock English Bagpipe Consort.
Mr. Langehennig is a leader, performer, wit, theology enthusiast, knitter, cheese maker and urban rancher. He also takes "Bring Your Kid to Work Day" very, very seriously.
Parish Administrator
Sharon Mitchum
Our parish administrator is evidently a participant in the Federal Witness Protection Program and will not allow us to take her photo. Her name may, or may not be, Sharon Mitchum. Regardless of her previous life of crime, she is an asset to this community and we are happy to have her.
Sexton
Marty Cottenoir
St. Christopher's maintenance guru and problem solver is Marty Cottenoir. Marty is a recently retired mad scientist who is using his powers for good at the church. You'll find him engaged in all sorts of generally non-nefarious activities around the building and grounds. We are pretty sure that he is an agent of the criminal syndicate that the parish admin. is hiding from. We will be grateful for his contributions to the parish up until such time as he is arrested on federal charges and/or recruited by the CIA.
