Meet Our Leaders
Full Time:
Rev. Holly McKissick
Pastor
Holly is the visionary founder of Peace Church, which from its start in 2011, has been a workshop for reimagining traditional worship. Holly’s inimitable style of sharp and thought provoking preaching (always with a dash of Texas wit tossed in) is the centerpiece of services at Peace. Before pivoting to Peace, Holly served for 21 years as founder and senior pastor of a progressive suburban congregation. Throughout her ministry, the hallmarks of Holly’s work as a congregational pastor have been a progressive, open, justice-oriented faith, and rich, meaningful worship, striving to show what an open-minded, open-hearted Christian community looks like.
Holly was ordained into the Christian ministry in 1987 after graduating from seminary at TCU’s Brite Divinity School. A native Texan, she completed her undergraduate studies at Texas A&M and TCU. A mother to two young adults, Eden and Ben, and a marathon runner, Holly is an enthusiastic booster for her adopted hometown of Kansas City. When she is not pounding the pavement for Peace Church or progressive politics, she is rooting for the Royals with her husband Joe and spending time with her family, here and around the country.
A longtime community activist and spirited voice for progressive causes, Holly is also an accomplished writer and speaker. She has been a contributing religion writer for the Kansas City Star, and the the author of two books–a Hallmark gift book, You Are Blessed: Prayers for Checkout Lines, Ice Cream and Other Simple Moments and one on leadership, Tall Poppy: How to Lead Without Losing Your Head, which was released by Abingdon Press. Holly is a mentor at Operation Breakthrough, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Lead to Read. Her work with StandUp KC, Missouri Jobs with Justice, and MORE2 is an extension of her commitment to racial and economic justice. Past community involvements include service on the Board of Directors for Midwest Innocence Project, Planned Parenthood, and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. You can feel Holly’s passion as she shares God’s justice and delight in every moment and every thing.
Rev. Paula Lafferty
Pastor
Part-Time:
Born and raised in Kansas City, KS, Paula is a 2010 graduate of Chapman University, a Disciples of Christ University in southern California where she studied film production and storytelling. She graduated from St. Paul School of Theology with a Master of Divinity and is now one of the Pastors at Peace Church.
Paula lives in Overland Park with her husband Mike and their incredible daughter. You might catch her around the neighborhood walking their dog Otto, on a run with friends, or slipping books into Little Free Libraries.
Paula is a talented communicator whose ability to navigate and explain a world where people create community and engage one another through social media gives her an outlook that is current, refreshing, and hopeful. It also led her to writing a publishing her debut novel (an Arthurian fantasy), The Once and Future Queen.
Paula feels called to walk alongside people on their faith journeys and help empower them to find their creative core, make change (internal and external!) and cultivate peace in the world.
“Paula’s preaching is just so lyrical and powerful, and we're blessed to have someone who is not just an up-and-coming author but a person of deep passion and faith!” - Rev. Holly McKissick
Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn
Pastor
A native of Kansas City, Catherine began her career as a public elementary school teacher—and subsequently served on the staffs of several child- and youth-focused nonprofits, including Partnership for Children and YouthNet. Catherine then returned to the classroom herself, completing her Master’s in Divinity at St. Paul School of Theology.
Ordained into the Presbyterian Church USA, Catherine’s experience ranges from faith formation with adults and more recently with children and families. Her ministerial role also included outreach and mission, where Catherine’s passion for social justice became the heart of her ministry--from engaging the congregation in service to advocating for systemic change.
Catherine is the Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator for Urban Produce Push which bridges gaps in the food supply chain, partnering with local farmers and food distributors to deliver fresh, nutrient-dense produce directly to food pantries and local communities in need. Married to Brian for over 35 years, they have two sons in their twenties and are long-time residents of north Hyde Park in Kansas City. Tending to her native garden, reading and being manipulated by her dogs fills moments in her day to day.
“I’ve been privileged to know Catherine for more than twenty years. She’s the wise and rare pastor who is both radiant and relatable. It takes about a minute to feel connected to her. Every time I’m in her presence, I come away with a sense of hope and deepened commitment to creating a world where all can flourish.” —Rev. Holly McKissick
Alex Holsinger
Music Leader
Alex and his family have lived in Overland Park since 1999. Since then Alex has worked with local, state and Federal correctional agencies, improving rehabilitation practices and working toward a more just prison system. In addition, for the last several years Alex has been an active musician, playing (along with Eli Chamberlain) in the band On The Record at many local and regional venues. More than just about anything, Alex loves coordinating music and helping to lead worship at Peace – since doing so ties together EVERYTHING he loves – family, friends, music, and worship in a community dedicated to justice!
Alex’s parents always made sure music was a big part of his life — years and years of violin lessons, piano lessons, trumpet lessons and involvement in choirs, orchestras and symphonies throughout childhood, high school, and college. “To help with the provision of our music programming at Peace is an incredible privilege, that often surpasses my own understanding. Playing and singing both explicitly sacred music, as well as searching for an incorporating the sacred pieces from the secular world, is without question the best part of my week. Peace Church has literally brought new meaning to the term ‘worship’ for me, and I look forward to every single service, and every single song as we come together as a community of peace, love, and justice.”
Eli Chamberlain
Music Leader
A Kansas City native, Eli is firmly rooted in the heritage of her Cuban emigre parents. Eli grew up with the rich spiritual and musical tradition of a racially integrated Southern Baptist church, building a deep faith and a real love of music and ritual. Staying close to home for college, she completed degrees in music and English at William Jewell College. Serving at Peace is the perfect opportunity to blend Eli’s passions for singing and writing. Eli describes worshipping at Peace, with so many others who are on a spiritual journey that is defined by a vision of God’s justice and peace for everyone as a gift and a privilege.
Along with Alex Holsinger, Eli leads singing at Peace and describes her role as a dream job. “Every week at Peace is a delight,” she says. “Collaborating with the staff and Alex to find music that enhances the message and illuminates the week’s theme is an incredibly creative process and deeply satisfying.” Eli and Alex founded On The Record, a local Americana band, and still play as Undercurrent (there’s a story there) at private parties and at events like First Fridays in the Kansas City Crossroads. Eli and her husband are the parents of two clever and compassionate twenty-somethings, and one very curious rescue dog.
Julia Chamberlain
Children’s Programming
Except for a brief four-year period pursuing her undergraduate degree in Springfield, MO, Julia is Kansas City born and raised, having lived on both sides of the state line and currently residing in Overland Park. She received her undergraduate degree in Strategic Communications from Drury University in December of 2023.
From being in tow at many staff meetings to participating in church events in her childhood, Julia is firmly rooted in the Peace community. She feels beyond lucky to offer her excitement for children’s programming combined with her passion for community building.
She affectionately describes Peace as “not your average hippie church” and credits it for her interest in progressive politics, her drive to stand up for those who stand alone, and her college minor in Environment and Sustainability.
Julia feels God most at work in her life when she is with children, from her time teaching Sunday School to counseling middle school summer camps at Tall Oaks with her brother, Christian, and many of their friends from their days as campers.