Pastoral Team


Cliff Warner
Cliff has been Rector of Christ Church since 2006, coming to Austin with his wife, Christine, and four children from El Paso, Texas. For five years there he was Pastor of Community and Mission and founder of Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach, an urban mission in the downtown area. Prior to serving on the border with Mexico, Cliff completed theological studies at Regent College, served in ministry to migrant farmers and prison inmates, in a church small group ministry and on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Texas. He is excited to be back in the city of Austin and near UT where he discovered his call to ministry, fell in love with his wife, and grew into abiding love with Jesus. He enjoys the Austin outdoors, kayaking, running, hiking, reading, cooking and the adventure of life with Christine, Brendan, Cormac, Skye and Bronwyn.

Bryan Brown
Bryan has served as Worship Pastor since January 2007. Raised in Austin, Bryan attended the University of Texas at Austin where he studied Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Serigraphy. After serving for two years on the staff of Hope in the City Church in Austin, Bryan studied theology at Trinity School for Ministry outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received his Master of Divinity in 2005. Bryan and his wife Rachel were married shortly thereafter and returned to Austin to reconnect with the vibrant community of faith in the city. Their oldest daughter Beatrice was born in 2008 and youngest Leona in 2010.

Jodi Wicker
Jodi currently serves as the Pastor of Connection and Community at Christ Church. She received her nursing degree from Texas Tech, serving on Intervarsity volunteer staff with Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF) at Texas Tech and the University of Texas. After receiving her Masters Degree in Arts, Theology and Spiritual Formation from Regent College, she returned to Austin and served in the small group ministry for six years and on the arts council for three years at a local church. Her work history includes marketing, Hospice, higher education at UT and working at the Texas State Capital. She believes there is little life to be found outside of transparent, authentic community, and is enthralled with the mystery and diversity that is packaged in every person she meets.

Michele Riffee
As Children’s Pastor, Michele disciples infants through elementary children along with their families. A native Austinite, Michele accepted Christ at the age of 7, and was shaped by her experience in a children’s program that focused on Scripture and service. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with her BS in Nursing in 1995 and has worked to care for everyone from newborns to the elderly. Michele worked on staff at Hope Chapel coordinating small group ministry, served as small group pastor, and children’s ministry teacher from 1995 – 2006. She has also worked as Academic Coordinator for Perspectives on the World Christian Movement courses. Michele is married with three daughters. Her other loves include dark chocolate, coloring, and vintage finds.

Brian Murphy
Brian joined the Christ Church staff as Executive Pastor in August, 2011. He moved to Austin from Endicott, New York where he served as the Executive Administrator at Union Center Christian Church. He received a degree in History and a Masters of Arts in Education from Cortland State University. After graduation Brian taught and coached in public high school followed by five years as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Davis College. He is currently studying at Trinity School for Ministry. Brian plans to enjoy every good thing that Austin has to offer with the love of his life, Tamara, and their four children – Andrew, Alex, Kendra and Natalie.