From Dax Franklin-Hicks, Pastor:
Greetings, beloved Southwest Conference! My name is Dax Franklin-Hicks, and I use he/him pronouns. I am a Member in Discernment in the Southwest Conference since September of 2025. This August, I began serving as Student Pastor at Church of the Painted Hills (CPH) as part of my Supervised Ministry through Pathways Theological Education. I have entered a congregation marked by generosity, creativity, and a gracious sense of welcome - not only for the people of God, but for the formative work we will share.
CPH understands that formation is not something happening only to its student pastor. We are listening together for the voice of the Still Speaking God, making room for that voice to challenge, enrich, and change each of us. This season is not a pause in the church’s mission; ministry happens while we are learning, because none of us is ever fully prepared or perfectly certain. Like all faithful ministry, this is a process of becoming: the congregation forms the minister, the minister forms the congregation, and the Spirit moves through the relationships between us as we love our neighbors, respond to our times, and welcome fellow seekers along the way.
CPH has a rich history of joining creative presence with loving response. I already see that knowing and loving them will change me, and I am grateful to serve among people who seem equally open to the ways the Spirit may move among us. What a blessing to have a season intentionally set apart for this sacred work - not only preparing for ministry, but living it together.
From Nancy Traviola, Moderator:
As moderator of Church of the Painted Hills, I want the Southwest Conference to know how blessed we at CPH feel to have Dax serving as our Student Pastor. Dax has served several times as pulpit supply for CPH, so we have had the opportunity to hear his messages and to get to know him on a personal level.
Being able to support Dax in his journey towards ordination while, at the same time, he is supporting CPH in our search for a settled Pastor is a rare opportunity and one that our congregation gratefully and joyously embraces.
I truly believe that God brought us together for a reason; and we look forward to the coming months with Pastor Dax, and thank God for bringing us together at the right moment in time for each of us.