Clergy & Staff
The Reverend Doctor Cheryl McFadden
Rector
The Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden serves as Rector of Church of the Ascension, joining the parish in September 2024.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership in Higher Education and spent two decades teaching and publishing in the field of educational leadership. In 2017, she completed her Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School along with a Diploma in Anglican Studies and a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Ministry.
Before coming to Ascension, Cheryl served as Senior Associate Rector at Christ Church Greenwich and as Associate Rector and Director of Family Ministry at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cheryl and her husband, Patrick, raised three now-grown children—Sean, and twin daughters Devin and Cailin. She treasures the outdoor life and can often be found hiking, skiing, or biking.
She brings a spirit of joy and dedication to her ministry among us and welcomes the chance to walk with parishioners of all ages through every season of life.
Contact The Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden.
Tina Clark
Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
Christina “Tina” Clark guides Ascension’s ministry with children, youth, and families. She grew up between New York City, Connecticut, and Denver, returning to Colorado after college and early years in the Washington, DC, area.
Tina has spent her career nurturing young people and the adults who care for them, serving previously at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and, most recently, Saint John’s Cathedral. She will complete her Master’s in Spiritual Development in 2026. She has a long-time family connection to Ascension, her parents were married here by Father Thayer.
Alongside ministry, Tina is a writer, traveler, and devoted animal lover. She makes her home in Denver with her partner, Ray, along with their blended household of teenage boys and rescue dogs.
She brings a deep sense of calling to this work and delights in walking with families as they grow in faith.
Dr. Cindy Lindeen-Martin
Director of Music and Organist
Dr. Cindy Lindeen-Martin has served as Ascension’s Director of Music and Organist for more than five years, establishing and overseeing a full and vibrant music ministry. She plays the organ, directs the Parish Choir, Ascension Ringers, and SONshine Singers, and teaches private organ students.
Cindy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music and both Master and Bachelor of Music degrees from Colorado State University. Her studies also took her to the Conservatoire Nationale de Musique in Rueil-Malmaison, France, where she earned distinctions in organ performance.
Her concert work has taken her across the United States and abroad, and she recently joined the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver as Adjunct Faculty in Organ.
Cindy cherishes the musical life of this parish and warmly welcomes anyone interested in joining a choir or exploring church music.
Contact Cindy Lindeen-Martin.
Cathi Long
Parish Administrator
Cathi Long brings deep roots in Colorado and the Episcopal Church to her work as Parish Administrator. After leaving Kentucky 35 years ago, she settled first in Summit County, worshiping at St. John the Baptist in Breckenridge for two decades while running a restaurant and property management company.
She and her husband, Paul, moved to Denver in 2010 and are active members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where Cathi serves on the Vestry. She has held administrative roles at St. Luke’s Denver and St. Stephen’s Aurora, and most recently served as Assistant Administrator and Event Coordinator for Denver’s Historic Eisenhower Chapel.
Cathi offers steady leadership, a warm presence, and a deep commitment to parish life, supporting the many ministries that keep Ascension thriving.
Lori May
Celebrate Musician
Lori May serves as the musician for “Celebrate,” Ascension’s Sunday evening worship service. A gifted pianist and vocalist, she leads the congregation in prayerful singing each week.
Lori spent 25 years as a music educator in the Cherry Creek School District and continues to share her gifts as a collaborative pianist for the choral program at Rangeview High School in Aurora. She worships at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Parker.
With a lifelong passion for music and a heart for worship, Lori brings joy and depth to Ascension’s evening service.
Carol Bradsen
Communications Associate
Carol Bradsen serves as Communications Associate at Church of the Ascension, joining the staff in November 2025. She produces worship bulletins and the weekly e-news, maintains the website, supports the livestream ministry, and designs media that share the parish’s life with members and those seeking a new church home.
Carol earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, a Master of Divinity from Episcopal Divinity School, and certificates in Frontend Development and User-Experience Design. Before coming to Ascension, she served as Digital Evangelist at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco and worked with Northside Episcopal, a church-plant in Houston, as a communications consultant and designer. She has also been a newspaper reporter, editor, and longtime freelance writer and designer for nonprofits, universities, and schools.
Carol has lived and worked in Oklahoma, Texas, Massachusetts, and Arizona before settling in Aurora. She shares life with her spouse, the Rev. Kate Bradsen, their three school-aged children, and their lively household of pets. Carol is a professed member of St. Hildegard’s Episcopal Community and worships at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Aurora.
She approaches communications as a ministry of sharing good news and building community, and looks forward to helping Ascension offer a warm welcome to all. She welcomes your feedback.