Christ United Methodist ChurchWelcome - Christ United Methodist Church Plano

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Events

Join us for one of our many weekly and seasonal events! We can’t wait to connect with you.

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Groups

We would love to have you in one of our many groups and classes.

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Off-Campus Ministries

Join our online and local community of neighbors.

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Adults

Connect, study and grow along with our Adult Ministries.

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Children

Play, create and grow with our Children’s Ministry! Ages 0 – 5th grade.

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Youth

Fellowship, study and become disciples of Christ in our Youth Ministry! Ages 6th – 12th grade.

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Care + Counseling

Receive and give support to our community through our Care Ministries.

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Serve

Serve, support, and connect with communities in need here and abroad through our Serving Others Ministry.

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Music

Sing and worship with us in the Music Ministry.

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Meet Our Ministry Team

Rev. Chris Dowd

Senior Pastor

Reverend Chris Dowd, the Senior Pastor, is a native Texan whose family moved to Maryland when he was 7 years old. Raised Roman Catholic, Chris graduated from the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!), before serving as a Supply Officer in the US Navy for four years. After the Navy, he moved back home to Dallas, working as a consultant and then as an operations manager in the logistics industry.

After hearing a call to ministry, Chris attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, earning a Master of Divinity degree Summa Cum Laude.

Chris and his wife Whitney have two sons, Max and Sam.

Rev. Raegan Gilliland

Pastor of Adult Discipleship

Reverend Raegan Gilliland, our Pastor of Adult Discipleship, and a native Kansan. Born and raised in Salina, KS. During her last year of college at Missouri State University, where she earned a Bachelor in Speech and Theatre Education, she started to feel a call to ministry.

She served previously at Lovers Lane UMC in Dallas, TX, where she met her husband, Scott. She graduated in 2016 from Perkins School of Theology and was ordained as an elder in June 2018.

Raegan loves a great cup of coffee, Parks and Recreation, making people laugh, and having people over in her home for a meal that Scott prepares. More than anything, Raegan loves being with her family and raising three incredible kids, Andie Jane, Jude, and Morgan with Scott.

Rev. Julie Henson

Pastor of Modern Worship + Director of Children's Ministries - Interim

Reverend Julie Henson, our Pastor of Modern Worship + Director of Children’s Ministries – Interim here at Christ United. Julie is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a Religion minor. She graduated cum laude with a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at SMU. She brings 12 years of experience, having served four different United Methodist churches in North Texas and Tennessee.

Julie has a passion for modern worship, and for pastoring a younger generation to encounter Christ in new and different ways. She has experience in children’s ministry, young adult ministry, small group ministry, and worship. She is thrilled to be joining Christ UMC during this exciting time in the life of our congregation. Julie is married to Kyle, and they have one son, James, who will turn three years old in June.

Kenzie Ericson

Director of Youth Ministries

Kenzie Ericson is our Director of Youth Ministries. Kenzie was born in Upstate New York and moved to Plano in 2008. Since being in Plano, Kenzie has been an active member of this church community. She attended Oklahoma State University and received a Bachelor of Music Education. After teaching middle school choir for two years, Kenzie was called to Youth Ministry. She loves leading the program she was a part of as a youth herself.

When not at work, Kenzie spends her time with her family and friends and particularly loves to spoil her nephew, Oliver. Kenzie loves cooking, reading, traveling, playing board games, and being surrounded by the people she loves.

Ben Turner

Director of Music + Youth Choir

Ben Turner is our Director of Music Ministries and a native Mississippian. Ben is a graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. He brings 17 years of experience, having served four different churches in Central Mississippi and DFW.

He has also served as the Assistant Director of The Allen Symphony Chorus, Director of The Heritage Ranch Chorale, and on the Dallas Chapter of Choristers Guild Board of Directors. His sanctuary choirs have accepted invitations to sing in Carnegie Hall (New York), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), and Le Abbaye Aux Hommes (Caen, France), and his youth choirs have toured all over the continental U.S.

Ben and his wife, Audra, have a daughter and two dachshunds.

Rev. Mike Flynn

Pastor of Care Ministries

Reverend Mike Flynn is Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at Christ United. Mike is a former 30-year employee at EDS/HP, where he worked as a project manager for sales development programs. Mike followed his calling in pastoral care in 2010 and has been active in congregational care ministries, most notably the Stephen Ministry. He graduated Perkins School of Theology, where he received his Master of Divinity in 2016. During his seminary years, Mike also served as a chaplain at multiple local hospitals, the most recent being Texas Health Presbyterian-Dallas.

Mike joined the staff of Christ United in July 2016 and currently directs the church’s care ministry activities.

Welcome To Christ United

Loving God, Serving Others, Transforming Lives

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Meet Our Ministry Team

Rev. Chris Dowd

Rev. Raegan Gilliland

Rev. Julie Henson

Kenzie Ericson

Ben Turner

Rev. Mike Flynn