MEET OUR STAFF

I  am a third career pastor, having spent nineteen years in management  with the Kmart Corporation and eight years in residential real estate  with HER Realtors before entering the ministry. I earned my Bachelor's  Degree in Political Science from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN in 1982 and my Masters of Divinity Degree with a  specialization in Church Leadership from the Methodist Theological  School in Delaware, OH in 2009. I am an avid reader and enjoy playing  golf, doing yard work, traveling, and spending time with my wife, kids,  and grandkids. One of the things I most love about ministry is the  opportunity to help people see, hear, and think about the Gospel of  Jesus Christ in new and inclusive ways, and I do that primarily through  preaching and teaching. My wife, Lynn, and I live in Westerville, OH,  and have four daughters and six grandchildren. 

I am a child of God, a parent and wife, and an animal lover. I am passionate

about social justice and spreading the love of God. I believe that God created

and loves all living things, and that we are all interconnected and

interdependent. My first career was at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. I

have always wanted to work with animals and in ministry, which is why I am working on combining the two to create a Zoo Chaplain position (as I work through the ordination process with the United Methodist Church). I have a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from The College of Wooster (OH), and a Master of Divinity degree, with a specialization in Ecology and Justice, from The Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO). My responsibilities as the Associate Pastor are pastoral care, campus ministries, and technology. I am a link in the bridge between Church of the Master and Otterbein University. I believe that love is love and everyone is welcome at the table. My home, my office, and my heart are inclusive.

 I’m excited to help our children discover the core of God’s love in each Biblical story, and find joy in serving as the hands and feet of Christ. I am an ’02 alumnus of Otterbein with a Bachelors in Music Education, and I began my career teaching choir and directing musicals in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. While my professional path has varied since then, I’ve always been involved with education/training or educational support. My husband and I have attended Church of the Master since joining the Chancel Choir in 2004, and are blessed to be bringing our children up within this congregation. It is my prayer and goal to uphold the high quality of Christian education that is standard to Church of the Master, and to ensure that we are welcoming and inclusive place for families!  

 I have called Church of the Master my home since relocating to Westerville with my family in 1980. I have two grown children and 4  fabulous grandchildren who unfortunately (for me!) live in North Carolina and Oregon. Music has always been an important part of my life.  I love listening to music, playing music, and singing music. I have  fond memories of participating in both Jr. and Chancel Choir in the  church I grew up in, and I still remember many of the songs. These days,  I do most of my singing with the children in Cherub and Jr. Choir at  Church of the Master. I love getting to know the children and watching  them grow into the beautiful beings they were created to be. I have  always thought that I have the best job in the whole church! My hope is  that the music I choose will plant seeds of faith, hope, and love in  their hearts, and that in their young lives now or down the road, when  they are particularly joyful or sad, angry or confused, a song will come  to mind that will encourage them on their way. 

 I consider myself an amateur Biblical historian for the time  being! I am a soon to be graduate of Capital University with a degree in  History and Religion. I have experience in Children and Campus ministry while previously working as a Sunday school teacher and a PreSeminary  intern. I love being around people and sharing God’s word with one another. What keeps me going as a Christian is the statement, “Be the  Church,” and I try and stick with that daily! My goal is to help students reach their fullest potential through Scripture teachings,  culture, arts, and music. You can always find me at Sunday services! 

As a graduate of Marshall University, where I studied vocal music, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, where I studied congregational ministry, I have spent most of my life in some form of church music. I grew up in Flatwoods, KY, where my family still resides and I visit regularly. I have served United Methodist churches in both the Kentucky and West Virginia Annual conferences, before moving to Columbus, OH, to attend seminary. I find joy in many forms of music outside church music, but I have a special place for musical theatre having music directed many community theatre productions over the years. 

At Church of the Master my time is shared between worship planning with Pastor Jay, the organ console, and our Praise Team and Chancel Choir, all the while looking for ways to expand our music ministry for our congregation and our community. My philosophy of church music has always been that there is a place for everyone in the music ministry of our church, and that I am happy to help you find that place. 

 I  come to the Church of the Master as a retiree from the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks System. I worked for Metro Parks for twenty years as their finance director.  Prior to joining Metro Parks, I was a partner in the accounting firm Nipps Andreas Brown & Ruff.  My earlier years were spent in a variety of accounting positions in private and public accounting. I am a native of Baltimore Md., but have spent most of the last 49 years in Ohio attending college and raising a family. I am a graduate of Wittenberg University, where I met my wife and we have two grown children. 

Born right here in Westerville, I have been blessed to come home for the later years of my life. I graduated from WHS when there was only one high school and Ron Jones was my tennis coach! Moving to Florida for some years, I got a degree in Oceanography, before I moved back to Ohio, getting my Architecture degrees at OSU. I have a son and 2 daughters and have recently gotten married to Pamela, who has added 3 more children and 7 grandchildren to my life. My mother went to Otterbein and was married to my father here at Church of the Master and the Church has been part of the family ever since. I’m happy to be able to serve and use my experience here at C of M!