Rev. Dr. CJ Koen

Elder Carol Braddack

Davis McKinney

Musician

Rev. Dr. Claudella (CJ) Koen has served in ministry for more than 35 years and now serves as Stated Supply Pastor of Carmel Presbyterian Church. She is a speaker, author, teacher, motivator, and advocate for survivors of domestic violence. Dr. Koen is the founder of Deborah Women, a faith-based nonprofit supporting women and children affected by domestic violence and crisis. Her ministry experience includes serving as Senior Pastor of Northside Christian Church in Cincinnati and Free Indeed Christian Church in Nashville, Associate Pastor of Kemper Road Christian Church, and five years of pastoral ministry in Indianapolis. She also serves on the Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Team and as secretary of the Disciples Justice Action Network. Before entering full-time ministry, Dr. Koen worked in education for 25 years as a teacher, college professor, department chair, and counselor. She earned a Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Religion from Trevecca University, and a Doctor of Theology from Covenant Bible College. She and her husband, Rev. William Koen, share a blended family of five children, fourteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her life’s work encourages others to overcome bondage, rise above adversity, and live with faith, courage, and freedom.

My life’s goal is to live in a manner worthy of God’s calling, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and using every gift He has entrusted to me for His glory. I earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati and a graduate degree in Savings and Loan Business from Indiana University. During more than 30 years in housing finance, I served with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Freddie Mac, and GMAC Mortgage, helping develop affordable housing programs across the country. My commitment to community service includes being a founding member of Women’s Alliance, Inc., and receiving the Cincinnati Enquirer Women of the Year Award and the YWCA Career Women of Achievement Award in 1981. My husband, Robert Braddock, and I have shared a lifelong devotion to faith and family, and I have been a member of Carmel Presbyterian Church since 1966. Serving Christ through Carmel has been one of my greatest privileges. I completed certificate courses in preaching and teaching through the Presbytery of Cincinnati and, since 2022, have preached monthly and served Communion on first Sundays. I have also served as a Ruling Elder, chaired the Evangelism and Finance Committees, and participated in Presbyterian Women, the Greeters Ministry, and other ministries honoring and caring for the Carmel family.

Davis McKinney started playing piano and trumpet in the 4th grade and has long known that music-making would be a major part of his life. Since moving to Cincinnati, he has enjoyed building a studio for music lessons and performing with various brass bands, orchestras and choirs around town. Davis has been on staff as brass and piano instructor at the Loveland and Lebanon Music Academy since 2010. He is also the accompanist for the Kolping Saengerchor, Sharonville Chorus, and Colerain High School choral program, as well as a trumpeter in the Mason Symphony Orchestra, Vereins Musikanten, and Mt. Auburn Brass Fellowship. After serving as substitute for a couple summers, Davis became music director at Trinity Presbyterian in Fairfield in 2015, leading their choir and accompanying worship until the congregation’s unfortunate dissolution in May 2025. He is lucky to continue praising God from the piano for worship at Carmel Presbyterian.