Staffing Updates at Missouri UMC

“Staffing Updates at Missouri UMC”

We updated you several weeks ago on changes that were occurring with staff positions at Missouri UMC as a result of the Healthy Church Initiative recommendations for staff reorganization. We are excited to report the many developments since our last communication.

Pastoral Appointments
     As we previously communicated, Rev. Molly Moore will continue as the Pastor of Church Life and Growth, supervising the work of Children and Family, Youth and Small Groups. Rev. Keith Vessell plans to transition to a new pastoral appointment effective July 1. There will be many opportunities to thank Keith for his years of service among us as we prepare to send him forth to lead another congregation.
     Starting May 21, 2012, we will welcome Rev. Larry Williams as Pastor of Administration. Larry is coming to us from his position as Vice President of Operations and Administration at St. Paul Seminary in Kansas City, after serving there for 18 years. As Pastor of Administration, Larry will assume the duties that Bob Elliott held prior to his retirement this week. Larry’s responsibilities will include Operations Management, Program/Ministry Administration, Human Resources Administration and Development, as well as assisting with pastoral duties, including sermons, pastoral care, weddings and funerals. Larry grew up in Brazil as a son of a UM missionary from Missouri, is an MU grad and graduated from Candler School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity and an MBA degree. Larry and his wife, Sally, have 2 sons and will be moving from Kansas City.
     The grace of God’s gifts and a wonderful and generous grant from the Missouri Annual Conference brings the appointment of Rev. Trista Soendker Nicholson as the Pastor of New Generations. Trista has recently served a part-time appointment at New Horizons UMC here in Columbia and will be completing seminary at St. Paul in May. Her appointment will be effective July 1. She and husband, Sean, have 2 boys and currently reside in Columbia. While living in Washington, D.C., Trista and her husband were a part of rebuilding a downtown congregation. Trista brings wonderful gifts and passion for young adult ministry and we look forward to working with her to build on the work initiated by Rev. Keith Vessell and Heather Morgan.
     We are also blessed with an appointment of Scott Griffin, a member of MUMC’s congregation and a seminary student at St. Paul. Scott will serve as a licensed local pastor and in his part time work, will lead and serve as our Small Groups & Missions Leader. We welcome Scott as he transitions to this new challenge in his life and look forward to supporting him in his role as a seminary student, as we did with Rev. Keith. Scott and his wife, April, have 2 children and live in Columbia. They have been a part of the MUMC congregation since 2009. Scott will begin his duties on July 1.

Director of Communications & PR
Teressa Gilbreth has accepted the position of Director of Communications & PR and started her work on Friday, March 16. Teressa worked part time at MUMC as the Communications Specialist prior to accepting this full time position. She will be responsible for both internal and external communications, including the website, social media, print production, marketing and advertising, photography and video production. She and her husband, Tim, and their 2 children live in Columbia.

Existing Staff
In the midst of the changes, we want to lift up our current staff members who are continuing to work diligently to do their jobs and help through the various transitions. Those include:

Rev. Molly Moore, Director of Church Life & Growth
Heather Morgan, Coordinator of College Ministries
Lois Anderson, Financial Coordinator
Dave Crooks, Facilities Management
Sandy Ward, Director of Connections
Marty Hook, Music Director
Dave Jones, Pastoral Care
Discovery Days staff, Courtney Gaunt and Julie Davis
Coffee House Manager, Dana Schuermann

A huge thanks to the congregation members who have been so faithful to assist with reviewing applications, phone interviews, personal interviews and follow-up to help us achieve this remarkable milestone in the reorganization of our staff.

Work to Do
     We will continue our efforts to complete the staff with interviews for the Children and Family Life Leader, Youth Leader, Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor, a Creative Arts part-time employee and a Receptionist. We will keep you informed and provide an organizational chart for easy understanding when all of these transitions are complete. We will also be scheduling a welcome event to celebrate with our new team members. More details to follow.
     We thank God and you for your faithfulness and stewardship of the resources necessary to develop our staff for more fruitful ministry. We remain steadfast in our commitment to remain within our previous staffing budget in making these changes for more effective mission. We believe, with the leadership of our Senior Pastor and our new ministry staff team, that more leaders will be developed from our congregation and more ministry will emerge to develop disciples for Christ in the congregation and community.
     Thanks for your patience and understanding as we complete this great and exciting work. As the waters get troubled, we may get a little sea-sick, but we also deepen our trust in the One who calms the seas, walks on water, and washes over us in the Spirit of renewal and trust.

See you in church on Sunday! Come and worship God together!
In Christ’s service with you,

Your Lead/Operations Team members

Gay Albright
Dave Babel
Andrew Bach
Kristen Buchanan
Ann Covington
Amy Gearhart
Bill Kassmann
Charlie Lee
Lisa Miles
Roger Mitchell
Molly Moore
Judy Parsons
Sid Popejoy
Randa Rawlins
Craig Stevenson
Keith Vessell
Emily Wilbur
Andrew Ponder Williams
Handy Williamson