Clergy

Clergy at Christ Church of the Ascension

The Very Rev. Daniel P. Richards, Rector

The Very Rev. Daniel Richards has spent his career teaching about the Rule of God and welcoming the children of God home. He is a passionate preacher and teacher who fell in love with liturgy in college. That love of liturgy led from a Baptist childhood steeped in Scripture to ministry in the Episcopal Church after college.

Daniel has served professionally in the church since 1995. Ordained as a priest in 2003, Daniel earned his Master of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific while serving St. James Episcopal Church in San Francisco as a worship leader and intern and at the Diocese of California as Associate Coordinator of Young Adult Ministries and Church Development. He served parishes in both Tucson and Phoenix, as curate and vicar, before heading to Traverse City, Michigan, where he served as rector of Grace Episcopal Church and dean of the Grand Traverse Area Deanery. He has led international trips for both missions and pilgrimage, consulted with both secular and faith groups about culture and leadership, and currently serves as the Chaplain to the Phoenix Fire Department. 

Daniel lives in Phoenix with his wife Amy and three children where he reads voraciously, writes, and enjoys trail running in absurd temperatures. You can find his personal writing at HiddenHabits.org and find him on social media @danieloftheway on everything. He can be reached at 602-840-8210 or click here to send Daniel an email.

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The Rev. Dr. Perry M. Pauley, Associate Rector

The Rev. Dr. Perry Pauley grew up in the Phoenix area before moving to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. He met his wife Michelle in Tucson where they played music together for their college church (Perry still plays the drums). They returned to the Phoenix area where Perry earned his Ph.D. at Arizona State University and Michelle worked as a manager for Starbucks.

As a professor, Perry has taught classes in both relational and health communication and his particular interest is the connection between relational health and physical health. Perry and Michelle spent seven years in California before returning to North Central Phoenix—now as a family of four (Elias and Alayna)—in 2016. In his free time, Perry enjoys cooking, home improvement projects, and spending time with the family. He was twice recognized as “World’s Best Coach” by the members of his coach-pitch Little League teams.

After growing up in charismatic churches, Perry came to the Episcopal Church as an adult because of its deep commitment to living out the Good News of Jesus Christ relationally. He recently completed his MDiv at Church Divinity School of the Pacific and served as Vicar at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (Sun City) prior to coming to Christ Church of the Ascension. Perry can be reached at 602-840-8210 or click here to send Perry an email.

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The Rev. Erin Cox Oney

As the Chaplain for the school, Erin has been a part of the parish for eighteen years. You will find her most weekdays leading the chapel services and teaching religion. On Sunday you will either find her serving at the altar as a deacon or playing with the kids in Sunday School.

Chaplain Erin is currently in her last year of seminary at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. She is a postulant in this diocese and will hopefully (God willing and the Bishop consenting) be ordained to the priesthood in the Spring of 2022.

Erin has been married to Rich for thirty-seven years, and they have three adult children and two grandchildren. She is a proud Gamma and is always willing to show you a photo! Consider yourself warned! Click here to send Erin an email.

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The Rev. Deacon Jean Hawkins

Jean Hawkins is a cradle Episcopalian born in Detroit, Michigan. As a child, her family moved around the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic states, moving from church to church. Jean graduated high school in West Virginia and engineering school at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She married her college sweetheart weeks after graduation and took an engineering job at Motorola’s semiconductor business in Phoenix. Mark and Jean have two grown daughters, Elizabeth and Aynsley, who live out of state. Currently, Jean works full-time for HonorHealth in Information Technology.

The family found a spiritual home at Christ Church of the Ascension where they have belonged for 25 years. Jean served two terms on the Vestry, taught Sunday School (grades 5-12) and confirmation class. After completing Education for Ministry in 2013, She became a mentor for EfM in 2017. Serving her faith community is an honor she is privileged to continue as your Deacon since her ordination in June 2021. Jean can be reached at 602-840-8210 or click here to send Jean an email.