Our Team
Matt Austin - Co-Pastor (left)
Matt Austin grew up in a small United Methodist church in Verdigris, Oklahoma. He has a degree in Religion from Oklahoma City University (2014). He accepted a job at Connect United Methodist Church in 2012, a church plant located in Edmond, Oklahoma. Matt and his wife Kaitlin were married in the summer of 2014, after graduating college. Matt attended seminary shortly after at Saint Paul School of Theology in Oklahoma City, where he graduated in 2018. Matt enjoys video games, spending time with his family, and he really likes Lord of the Rings. Ask him about it sometime.
Matt’s family includes his wife Kaitlin, daughter Jayden, son Hendrix, youngest son Harrison, and a dog named Benny.
Matt Patrick - Co-Pastor (right)
Matt Patrick grew up in Claremore, Oklahoma and loves the church and loves new ideas. Matt P. is passionate about taking on big challenges and inspiring people to make them a reality. He has a Bachelors in Religion from Oklahoma City University (2015) and a Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology (2018). But, when he’s not trying to fix problems, he’s usually playing video games, birdwatching, programming, or watching rocket launches. Trust us, ask him about space and see what happens.
Both of Matt Patrick’s parents live in Claremore, along with his older brother. Go Zebras!
Steve Fischer - Director of Music Ministries
Steve joined the UUMC team in May of 2024. A native of Ohio, he moved to Tulsa in 2005, where he served as Organist and Worship Music Director at Yale Avenue Presbyterian Church, adjunct teacher at Tulsa Community College, and staff singer at Trinity Episcopal Church until his move to UUMC.
He has a Master of Music Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied organ with Todd Wilson. He has a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-College Conservatory of Music, where he studied organ with David Mulbury and piano with Margaret MacNamara. Early music training included Dayton Organ Academy and Interlochen Center for the Arts.
He has performed at Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, OH), Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (New York City), Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, DC), Bruton Parish (Williamsburg, VA), Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (Rome, Italy), Saint Peter-in-Chains Cathedral (Cincinnati, OH) and at the request of Maestro Eiji Oue with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra (Erie, PA).
He and his husband, Robert, have four adult children, three grandchildren and a goldendoodle named Charlie.
Karen Cody - Preschool Director
Karen grew up in Mannford, a small town west of Tulsa. It was there she began working with children in the local Methodist Church as a preschool teacher and nursery worker. She moved to Tulsa and married her husband, Randy, in 1997. They have 5 adult children and 3 wild, but precious, grandchildren. Karen first set foot in UUMC when she was touring schools for her one-year-old. Since then, she has always been involved in the church in some capacity. She began working in the preschool as a substitute in late 2006, but quickly took a position as an assistant teacher when a spot opened. She also began working as a caregiver in the UUMC Sunday nursery about that same time. She became the director of the church’s preschool program in 2012. Karen takes pride in her work and enjoys spending time with all of the littles that attend the UUMC preschool program and the church nursery.
Tere Talley - Office Administrator
Tere Talley has been the Office Administrator for Rev. Matt Austin and Rev. Matt Patrick since their arrival at UUMC in June of 2020. She loves working at the church and it has been exciting to see the pastors’ innovative ideas and vision for UUMC come to fruition during their time here. She has been married to her husband, Gary, for over 30 years, and they have two adult sons, Brian and Daniel, and two grandchildren. After living in Rogers, Arkansas, for approximately 20 years, Tere and Gary relocated to Owasso in 2018, where they reside with their rescue dog, Harley. In her spare time, Tere enjoys spending time with family and taking day trips with Gary to explore Oklahoma.
Kendel Hall - Director of Volunteers and Newsletter
Kendel joined UUMC at her confirmation in 1970 after her family had joined the church together in 1968. She graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1977, and then from the University of Tulsa with a masters degree in communicative disorders in 1982. She worked for Tulsa Public Schools as a Speech/Language Pathologist from 1982 until the adoption of her daughter in 1998. She met her future husband, David, on Friday, December 13th, 1985 at the UUMC Parsonage. They married at UUMC. Kendel and David have two now grown “children”, Kaili and Noah. Kendel worked from 1999-2008 as UUMC’s financial secretary, and has served in the main office when needed. She enjoys being a part of UUMC’s handbell and chancel choirs.
Ethan Cooper - Videographer
Ethan Cooper is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and director best known for his short films, GETAWAY, ALBRIGHT, and STUDIO HOUSE PROJECT. While he specializes in filmmaking, Ethan also works in event photography and videography. You can view his work at ethanbcooper.com.