Our Team & Affiliates

The Reverend Dr. Elias D. Burgos resides in Sacramento, CA, and is a member of The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour.

His academic and theological formation includes a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Divinity from his home country of Chile, a Master of Theological Studies from the Iliff School of Theology, and a Ph.D. in Religion and Social Change from the University of Denver. Dr. Burgos is a Board-Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor with the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) and a Board-Certified Chaplain with the Spiritual Care Association (SCA).

Dr. Burgos received his Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) in 1999 at Porter Adventist Hospital (Centura Health) in Denver, CO. He served for several years as Director of Pastoral Care Services at the Hospice of Saint John in Lakewood, CO, the first hospice west of the Mississippi, where he clinically supervised and managed a diverse interreligious team of 15 full-time clinical chaplains.

His work in higher education includes teaching at the University of Denver, the Iliff School of Theology, and Regis University (Jesuit), with courses in philosophy, ethics, comparative religions, and interfaith eco-theologies.

Currently, Dr. Burgos serves as the Spiritual Care Manager-Clinical at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, where he supervises acute care chaplains, CPE interns, and spiritual care volunteers.

Fluent in Spanish and English, Dr. Burgos brings a bilingual and bicultural lens to his work and offers CPE bilingual courses. He is also a multi-instrumentalist and enjoys playing soccer in multicultural settings.

CH Spletstoser presently serves as the Senior Chaplain for Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro, GA. His responsibilities with Ogeechee Area Hospice, where he has worked for 12 years, include pastoral care training, grief counseling, end-of-life care, and the We Honor Veterans program. He also teaches martial arts as a fourth degree blackbelt in taekwondo and trains in hapkido and BJJ.

CH Spletstoser and his wife, the former Deena Renee Sanders, have been married for over 20 years. They reside with their three daughters Jonina, and Colette, and Trinity in Statesboro, GA.

Angella Allison-Davis, Psy.D., M.Div., BCC, is a Board-Certified Chaplain, Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor-Educator, ordained minister, instructor, and certified Christian Life Coach. She has more than 20 years of experience in chaplaincy, pastoral care, behavioral health, crisis intervention, healthcare, education, and community ministry.

She earned her Doctor of Psychology in Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy from the Graduate Theological, a Master of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School, a Master of Health Administration with a concentration in Gerontology from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Angella is passionate about educating and mentoring emerging chaplains as they discover their pastoral voice, grow in self-awareness, and develop the confidence and clinical skills needed to provide compassionate spiritual care. Her teaching emphasizes cultural humility, reflection, ethical practice, and respect for people from diverse religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds. She also has a special heart for encouraging women and others who may struggle to recognize their voice, gifts, leadership, and sense of calling.

Angella facilitates workshops and trainings focused on mental wellness, suicide awareness and prevention, grief, crisis intervention, and spiritual care. She also serves on the Congregational Care Team at her church. Angella is married, part of a blended family of eight sons, and has recently become an empty nester. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Cindy Dwyer is a Board-Certified spiritual care professional through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), with over a decade of leadership experience in spiritual care, grief support, and related services. As the Spiritual Care, Grief & Bereavement Services Lead Saint Elizabeth Foundation (Social Impact program SE Health), Cindy is guiding a national model of holistic, trauma-informed care.

Her efforts focus on integrating spiritual care into SE Health’s digital transformation and fostering strategic partnerships to broaden the reach and impact of spiritual care, grief and bereavement services across SE Health’s Canadian health care service areas.

Cindy completed her Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Joseph’s London Regional Mental Health Centre in Ontario, Canada and Beaumont Health (now Corewell Health) in Michigan, USA. Her clinical background includes spiritual care roles at Hotel Dieu-Grace Hospital, Chatham Kent Health Alliance, and Journey Home Hospice, complemented by leadership positions at St. Joseph’s Elliot Lake General Hospital, the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, and as Director of International Virtual Chaplaincy Services Inc.

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI) in establishing the Saint Elizabeth Foundation as an affiliate Clinical Pastoral Education program. This initiative aims to expand virtual access to CPE training and supervision across Canada.

Lisa Marie Gramlich is a board-certified chaplain with the NACC. She has been blessed with the opportunity to provide pastoral care in a diverse range of settings- from the NICU to Oncology, and from Trauma to Hospice. She is now the Manager of Chaplaincy Services at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, IL. Lisa is passionate about expanding and deepening the role of Pastoral Care at St. Joseph’s and in the community.

Lisa is a native of California and has three grown children. She moved to Illinois in 2021 for CPE, and she and her little dogs, Zoe and Stella, are still adjusting to the four distinct seasons here. When not walking her dogs, Lisa enjoys baking, gardening, reading theology, and brushing up on her foreign language skills.

Pastor Mario Phillip hails from the Spice Island of Grenada. He is an ordained minister who has pastored in several countries, including Grenada, Trinidad, the Philippines. He has completed two Masters degrees, one in the area of Missiology, and a second in the field of Philosophy. Additionally, he holds a PhD in New Testament Biblical Studies. He is also currently undergoing training in clinical pastoral and clinical pastoral chaplaincy.

Prior to migrating to the UK in 2018, he served the University of the Southern Caribbean as a lecturer in the theology department. He also served as the Sabbath School, Personal Ministry, Community Services, ADRA, Communication & Special Needs Director in the Grenada Conference of Seventh-day Adventist.

He has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate levels at the University of the Southern Caribbean, and as an adjunct professor for the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (Philippines). Currently he serves as the senior pastor for the Willesden and Emmanuel churches in the South England Conference. He also serves an adjunct professor of Andrews University, extension campus in Romania.

He has published several articles, and is currently one of several authors of the New Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary (soon to be released) by the world church. He is the author of the volume on 2 Thessalonians for the New Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary.

Pastor Phillip is actively engaged in mission projects. He is the founder of iCare so iShare International, a humanitarian charity that is currently serving in India, Pakistan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Myanmar, and the Caribbean. He is also committed to integrating his church into the community in which it is planted. Additonally, he leads a Community Action Team (CAT) which comprises of community activists and champions, from communities surrounding his local church at Willesden.

He served as the chair of the Brent Multifaith Forum which constitutes over 600 faith bodies in Brent, which seeks to work across cultural, denominational and ethnic lines in making structural and transformative changes to the lives of residents in the community.

Over the last two years Willesden church collaborated with their local community in sending humanitarian relief to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption. Containers were also sent to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. Even more recently to Ukraine.

In an effort to address the food crisis in its community, the Willesden SDA church collaborated with the local community to launch a community kitchen that cooks food daily for the community. The local council in recognizing the importance of this work, recently granted the church a grant to upgrade its kitchen to an industrial kitchen and to purchase a vehicle for the delivery of food to the community.

Pastor Phillip is married to Dr. Krystal Phillip (a molecular biotechnologist), and together they have two children, Kairós and Kardía. As a family the Phillip’s enjoy doing missionary work, travelling and experiencing different cultures. But most importantly, they follow the will of God wherever He leads them.

Paula Payne is a retired Air Force chaplain with thirty-five years of service. She is an elder in the Global Methodist Church and served as a pastor in the local church for 13 years. Paula is currently in training as a clinical pastoral education supervisor educator. She serves as a supply pastor for the denomination, a mentor for ordination candidates, an ecclesiastical board member, and a certified spiritual director. Paula lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her twin sister, also a veteran, and three cats.

Paulette A. McPherson, M.Div., BCC-APC, is the Assistant Director of Chaplaincy Services at Sibley Memorial Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine) and a board-certified chaplain with extensive clinical experience in acute care, palliative care, behavioral health, hospice, and staff support. She is the creator of the PEACE Spiritual Assessment Tool, a trauma-informed, spiritually inclusive framework designed to strengthen clinical documentation and whole-person care. Paulette has served in ministry for 40 years. She is completing her doctoral degree in Strategic Leadership at Lancaster Bible College & Graduate School, focusing on system-level innovation and chaplaincy integration. Originally from England and shaped by her West Indian heritage, she now proudly calls herself “Anglo-Jamerican.” She is the mother of two adult children and enjoys traveling, cultural exploration, and bringing a broad global perspective to her work and ministry.

Darrin R. Kissinger, M.Div., BCC (NAVAC, ACCC), is a dual board-certified chaplain and supervisory candidate formed through service in the Veterans Affairs system. He has provided spiritually sensitive care to Veterans and families in palliative care, mental health services, inpatient rehabilitation, post-surgical recovery, and medical-surgical units. He supports patients, loved ones, and care teams through crisis, grief, moral injury, and meaning-making. Darrin has had the honor of leading memorial services for Veterans at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

He is committed to training chaplains who combine steady presence with cultural humility, strong clinical listening, and clear documentation. His approach is spiritually inclusive and attentive to each person’s story. His pastoral identity has been shaped by a serious illness during his U.S. Navy Reserve service, the care he later received through the VA, and caring for his dying grandfather in 2020. Married to Reyah Masalunga Kissinger, originally from the Philippines, he brings cross-cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to compassionate service.

Chaplain Wainman is originally from Detroit, Michigan. He holds a

Bachelor of Science in Math and Computer Science, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. Chaplain Wainman was ordained in 2004. His denomination is theSouthern Baptist Convention. He is currently a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in both Tennessee and North Carolina.

Pastoral Experience:

CH Wainman served as Pastor of North Hills Baptist Church in Marietta, OH, from 2005-2006. He then worked at the Pittsburgh VA Hospital while working in their Clinical Pastoral Education Program, 2007

Military/Chaplaincy Experience:CH Wainman’s military education includes Chaplain Officer Basic Course (Army (2008) and Air Force (2006)); Squadron Officers School (Air Force (2008)); Combat Medical Ministry Course (2009); Airborne School (2012); Chaplain Captains Career Course (2014); Command and General Staff Officers Couse (2018) and Operational Religious Support Leaders Course (2018).

CH Wainman entered the Air Force in August 1990. He attended Basic Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, and Technical School at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS, as a Communications Computer Systems Operator. He served at Patrick AFB, 21st Combat Communications Squadron (1990-1993), Melbourne, FL; Langley AFB, 1st Communications Squadron (1993-1996), Hampton, VA; and then transferred to the Tennessee Air National Guard, 228th Combat Communications Squadron (1996-1999), McGee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, TN.

CH Wainman re-entered the Air Force as a Chaplain Candidate in December 2004. From December 2003 to June 2004, served as a Chaplain Candidate. Served as Chaplain to the 911th Air Lift Wing (2005-2008) at Pittsburgh International Airport.

In August 2008, he transferred from the Air Force Reserve to active duty in the Army as a Chaplain. His assignments include Battalion Chaplain for 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (2008-2011), Fort Stewart, GA; 14th Combat Support Hospital (2011-2014), Fort Benning, GA; 3-227 Air Assault Helicopter Battalion (2015-2017), Brigade Chaplain for 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Hood, TX, Garrison Family Life Chaplain for Fort Bragg, and Brigade Chaplain for 165th Infanty Brigade Fort Jackson, SC. He retired from the Military in May 2025 after serving for over 30 years. He currently resides in Tennessee where he practices as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

CH Wainman has been married for 26 years to the former Melissa Parsell, of Dickson, Tennessee. They have two children: Timothy Edward, 18, and Asher Nathaniel, 16.

Professor of Practical Theology and Chaplaincy, Columbia Biblical Seminary,Columbia International University (CIU).Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, ScotlandDoctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Bethel Theological Seminary.Master of Arts (M.A.), The Naval War College.Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.Bachelor of Science (B.S.), University of Louisiana.

Dr. Langston was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. In 1973, he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on a football scholarship. In 1975, he entered the USMC’s PLC Officer Commissioning program while still playing college football for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He graduated from UL with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Education in 1977, and was subsequently commissioned as a 2 nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps. In 1983, then Capt. Langston, USMC, resigned his regular active-duty commission and accepted a reserve commission, subsequently serving Marine Corps Reserve units in Raleigh, NC, and Greenville, SC. Dr. Langston is a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate with a Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.) in Theology and Pastoral Care. In 1986/7, he completed a year of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency at Baptist Medical Center in Columbia, SC. In 1987, he was invited to become the Pastor of Cherryfield Baptist Church in Brevard, NC.

Dr. Langston was recalled to active duty from the Navy Reserve as a United States Navy Chaplain in June of 1988.His service as a U.S. Navy Chaplain includes tours with Marine Aircraft Group-29, MCAS New River, NC; Marine Wing Support Group-27, MCAS Cherry Point, NC; Air Combat Element Chaplain, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm on board USS Guam (LPH 9); Command Chaplain, USS Chosin (CG 65), Pearl Harbor, HI; Command Chaplain, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Yorktown, VA; Deputy Command Chaplain/Command Chaplain, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Keflavik, Iceland; Deputy Division Chaplain, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC;student, The Naval War College, Newport, RI.; Advanced Course Officer, Naval Chaplains School, Newport, RI.; Director, Operational Ministry Center, Norfolk, VA; Theater Chaplain, Combined Forces Command–Afghanistan (CFC-A), Kabul, Afghanistan; Division Chaplain, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC; the Force Chaplain for II MEF (Fwd.) in Al Anbar Province (Fallujah), Iraq; Commanding Officer, Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, Ft Jackson, SC; and Executive Director of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center, Ft Jackson, SC. He retired fromActive Duty on September 1, 2011, after 36 years of service. Dr. Langston recently retired from the South Carolina State Guard, serving as the Deputy Commanding General (BG).He has two earned Doctorates, a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen (2019), Aberdeen, Scotland, and a D.Min. from Bethel Theological Seminary (1996), Saint Paul, MN, with a concentration in Military Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. In 2003, he graduated from the Naval War College, Newport, RI, earning a Master of Arts (M.A.) in National Security and Strategic Studies. Dr. Langston has also earned the Navy Designator, Master Training Specialist for Naval Education. Additionally, he completed the Marine Corps Command and Staff JPME Seminarcourses at Camp Lejeune, NC.His personal awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Expert Rifle Medal, Expert Pistol Medal, and various unit citations and campaign ribbons.Dr. Langston joined the faculty of CIU’s Seminary & School of Ministry in 2011. In the 15 years as a Seminary Professor, he built the Chaplaincy program (18 Chaplaincy courses) and taught Chaplain Ministries. In Practical Theology, he designed the PTH PhD program. One of the leading aspects of the PTH Degree is that it is the only PhD program in the United States offering a Chaplaincy concentration. Additionally, he is building a Concentration in CPE.

Dr. Langston has served as a Law Enforcement Chaplain with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Dept., Brevard, NC, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. in Columbia, SC, a Sports Chaplain with NASCAR’s Motor Racing Outreach (MRO), a Healthcare Chaplain at Baptist Medical Center, Columbia, SC, a Disaster Relief Chaplain with SC State Guard, and as a Military Chaplain in the United States Navy. He is ordained and endorsed through the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. He is married to the former Kathy Lee Jones, PhD, Greenville, SC. They have been married for 40 years and have three grown children and three grandchildren. They reside in Blythewood, SC.

Quill J. Brabham, M.Div., D.Min is Board Certified Chaplain candidate with Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI) after completing 1600 hours with Spiritual Care Chaplain Network (SCCN). He is a Chaplain Coordinator at West Tennessee Healthcare. Pastor Brabham has served as a seminary professor for six years. He has been serving as a Senior Pastor at a local church for the past 16 years. He also serves on the Pastoral Advisory Council for SCCN as well as numerous local boards throughout the community. He is a retired Air Force Veteran and is married with two adult children.

Phil Reeves is a National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) accredited Board-CertifiedChaplain and an honorably retired law enforcement officer. He currently serves as a patrolchaplain with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s / Des Moines (WA) Police Departments and iscommitted to advancing professional standards in public safety chaplaincy.

Phil holds a Master of Theology and is a Doctor of Ministry candidate, focusing his research onbest-practice models for embedded law enforcement chaplaincy in the United States. He iscurrently in training with CPEI toward certification as a Clinical Pastoral Education supervisor /educator, with a concentration on developing CPE pathways for public safety chaplains.With experience in both pastoral care and policing, Phil is especially interested in the intersectionof spiritual formation, trauma-informed care, and officer / community wellness. He believeschaplaincy, at its best, is a ministry of presence – rooted in contemplative depth, professionalcompetence, and compassionate service.

Fr. Mike Chitwood, M.Div, MBA, is an Anglican Priest and seasoned leader with a diverse background in spiritual care and professional development. With twelve years of service as a U.S. Army Chaplain, Mike has also extended his ministry into the sensitive fields of hospice and corporate chaplaincy. His unique blend of theological depth and business acumen allows him to navigate both the sacred and organizational aspects of pastoral care with ease.

Currently, Mike serves as a Coaching Instructor for Air University and is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), specializing in equipping others for high-level servant leadership. He is also advancing his clinical expertise as a CPE Supervisory Candidate. Whether he is instructing military leaders or providing pastoral care within the Anglican tradition, Mike remains dedicated to the intersection of spiritual formation, professional coaching, and compassionate service.

Rev. DeAnna Smith, D.Min is the Director of Pastoral Care at UAB Medical West, an ordained minister, Certified Grief Educator and Certified Mentor. In She holds a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

In addition to her professional and ministry roles, she is the founder of Held & Healed, a ministry that equips and encourages individuals through Christ-centered mentoring, spiritual formation, and healing relationships. She and her husband have three sons.

Jared is a chaplain and parish pastor in Minneapolis. His partner, Candace, and he have two sons: Sebastian and Oberon, as well as a dog and a few backyard chickens. His theology of pastoral theology is deeply rooted in Luther’s Theology of the Cross and Sacramental Union. That is to say, spiritual care is compelled by the Christian’s Union with Christ through the backwards nature of the Cross in service to the neighbor. He enjoys spending time in the kitchen, water sports, and Muay Thai.

Heather has been in ministry for over 30 years. She has served in multiple denominations and filled many roles to include children’s pastor, youth pastor, missionary for an international Church plant, several summers working in church camps and most recently she serves as a Military Chaplain. Heather has been in the military 26 years and 17 of those years have been in the Chaplain Corps. She presently serves as a State Chaplain in the Army National Guard. She is married with one adult child and a beautiful granddaughter.