The 2025 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) took place in Memphis, Tennessee, from July 12–15, 2025. On Tuesday, July 15, the Assembly elected the 2025-28 moderator team, the non-salaried officers of the church, to serve the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.
Moderator: Cindy Kim-Hengst
Cindy Kim-Hengst has served as Moderator-Elect since 2023 and is a Korean-American lay leader hailing originally from Indiana, but currently residing in Elmhurst, IL.
Moderator Kim-Hengst has been a Disciple for just over 30 years and a charter member of the first Korean Disciples congregation in Indianapolis. She is a member at Chicago Christian Church, the oldest Korean Disciples congregation in IL, where she serves on both the senior leadership and worship teams. During her time as a Disciple, she has served and experienced the Church in a variety of ways including: camp counselor in Indiana, Disciples Women, DOM/Global Ministries, NAPAD, NBA, and as board chair of Week of Compassion. Her experience with a variety of ministries in the church has led her to appreciate and gain an understanding of all aspects of church work from congregational ministries impacting the local community to those ministries in the Church that make a difference in the lives of brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe.
She currently serves as the convener for the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Young Adult Peer Learning & Wellness Group with NBA and is a former NBA board member. Her professional life started in healthcare as a radiation therapist in Cincinnati, Ohio working at a University Hospital setting treating pediatric patients to veterans. Her work brought her to Illinois where she took a position in a busy suburban hospital where she was encouraged to pursue further leadership roles and education. Ultimately, this resulted in managing a Radiation Oncology department for eight years in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Her experience, both professionally and in the church, have provided her with a broad range of leadership, communication, and people skills. She hopes to be able to continue to use those experiences along with the gifts provided by God to serve the church in this season as Moderator.
Cindy resides with her spouse and daughter. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and downtime with family. When the weather is decent, the family can be found outdoors honing volleyball skills for her daughter. Cindy also enjoys taking her daughter to live theater for music and shows, as well as trying new foods over fellowship.
Moderator Elect: Steven Gower
Steven Gower serves on the Administrative Committee of the General Board and the Finance Committee of the Administrative Committee. He is the Chair of the Mission Finance Committee of the General Board for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is the Senior Minister of Olmsted Community Church and previously served as the Pastor of First Christian Church of Massillon and Brunswick First Christian Church. He serves on the National City Christian Church Foundation Board and the Living Water Association’s Committee on Ministry.
He has served on the Christian Church in Ohio’s Congregational Renewal Team, Commission on Ministry for the Christian Church in Ohio, as the chair of the Vision Committee for the Regional Board of the Christian Church in Ohio, and on local nonprofit boards. He is an alumnus of Vanderbilt Divinity School, the Disciple’s Divinity House at Vanderbilt, and Hiram College. Steven and his wife, Tara, have 4 children and have been a foster and adoptive family for over 10 years.
First Vice Moderator: Rae Karim
Rae Karim serves as Interim Minister at First Central Christian Church of Michiana in Mishawaka, Indiana.
She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN and recently graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Christian Theological Seminary. She has served as a pastor at a church in Indianapolis, as Transitional Pastor at a church in Honolulu, Hawaii during the pandemic crisis, and as a guidance resource for students at Christian Theological Seminary. She is the founder of Good Grief Now! (TM), a 501-c3 and full-service grief support organization helping individuals and organizations deal with grief from all sources and its manifestations.
An Amazon best-selling author, esteemed speaker, poet, and sought after writer, Rev. Dr. Rae is committed to ensuring she ignites courage on purpose for purpose.
Second Vice Moderator: Bernice Rivera
Bernice Rivera serves as New Church Ministries Associate on the regional staff of the Christian Church in Oregon and Southwest Idaho. She is a member of Murray Hills Christian Church in Beaverton, Oregon. She currently serves on the board of Disciples Overseas Ministries and has previously served the Christian Church (Disciples of the Christ) on a variety of boards including the board of Obra Hispana, the General Board, and the Administrative Committee. A long-time lay leader and anti-racism trainer, soon to be commissioned, she is bi-lingual and has a passion for innovative ministry and a heart for sharing the love of God with the whole body of Christ.