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Lay Leadership

The early Methodist movement grew through the efforts of laity who led small groups, taught Bible study, provided outreach ministry, and led the administrative life of the church. Those efforts continue today with the lay leaders who serve our church community in so many ways. While we nominate leaders as a congregation each year, some committee nominations are approved by the Charge Conference as required by the United Methodist Book of Discipline.

Contact: Dr. Mike Marshall | 817-339-2409

2026 Officers and Members
The Board of Stewards and The Charge Conference
First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, Texas

Church Council

  • Approve budget
  • Create and monitor long-range planning
  • Approve other program and worship matters as they occur
  • Meet 6 times per year or as needed
  • Serve 3-year term

Church Council Members

Council Chair: Carma Anderson
Council Chair-Elect: Barry Hudson
Board of Stewards Chair/Lay Leader: Barry Hudson
Board of Stewards Chair-Elect: Ann Dunkin
Finance Chair: Sandra Bembenek
Finance Chair-Elect: Chris Katri
Trustees Chair: Andrew Norman
Staff Parish Relations Chair: Cindy Moon
Staff Parish Relations Chair-Elect: Jody Sanders
Local Nominations Member: Ken Seeling
Foundation President: Ashley Johnson
Youth Representative: Henry Holman
UMW President: Ann Paup
UMM Representative: Cody Martin
Treasurer: Thane Arthur
Senior Pastor: Rev. Lance Marshall
Executive Director: Allison Alvarado

Class of 2026
Open
Kevin Walters

Class of 2027
Chris Mellina
Jacque Wolf

Class of 2028
Marsha Ammons
Marco Gutierrez

Staff Parish Relations Committee

  • Establish structures of support and accountability for pastors and staff
  • Help staff set priorities that strengthen our congregation’s total ministry
  • Provide annual evaluation of pastors and other staff
  • Recommend candidates to Charge Conference for ordained ministry
  • Meet monthly or as needed
  • Serve 3-year term

Staff Parish Relations Committee Members

Chair: Cindy Moon
Chair-Elect: Jody Sanders

Class of 2026
Cindy Moon
Open
Kirk Millican

Class of 2027
Alissa Stafford
Jeff Bond
Holly Toulouse

Class of 2028
Jody Sanders
Jim Catching
Meaghan Nowell

Lay Member to Annual Conference: Dan Darr
Lay Leader: Barry Hudson
Staff Representative: Rev. Lance Marshall
Executive Director: Allison Alvarado

Personnel Committee

  • Act as small sub-group of Staff Parish Relations Committee
  • Meet as needed for specific projects related to policies and personnel issues

Personnel Committee Members

Chair: Ann Dunkin
Megan Fahey
Jim Whitton

Local Church Nominations & Leadership

  • Match people — and their gifts, abilities, and experience — to committees, task forces, boards and commissions, etc.
  • Meet 4 or 5 times in fall
  • Serve 3-year term

Committee on Nominations & Lay Leadership Development

Chairs: Rev. Lance Marshall
Staff Representatives: Allison Alvarado & Mike Marshall
Recording Secretary: Rhonda Gaber

Class of 2026
Don Bowman
Dawn Potter
Linda Murphy

Class of 2027
Ken Seeling
Rand Toulouse
Kim Bird Peters

Class of 2028
Laura Moses
Ashley McCollum
Drew Surprenant

Lay & Reserve Members to Annual Conference

  • Attend and participate in Annual Conference
  • Meet 3 days in June
  • Serve 3-year term

Lay & Reserve Members to Annual Conference Members

Carol Hampton
Dan Darr
Steve Fagan
Jeanne Cochran
Julie Fagan
Carol Harrell
Ann Dunkin

Reserve Members
Carolyn Stephens, Glenda Maynard

Commission on Finance

  • Set budget, see that it is followed, and amend quarterly as needed
  • Inform congregation of church finances
  • Meet monthly
  • Serve 3-year term

Committee on Finance Members

Chair: Sandra Bembenek
Chair-Elect: Chris Katri

Class of 2026
Amy Sorley
Jay Isaacs
Curt Wren
Jennifer Sanders
Sandra Bembenek

Class of 2027
Rand Toulouse
Kelli Cotton
Jay O’Jibway
Savannah Petronis
Michael Hennig

Class of 2028
Pan Anglin
Tracey Neilson
Bob Scott
Samantha Morgan
Chris Katri

Ex-Officio Members
Board of Stewards/Lay Leader
Trustee Chair
Church Council Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Foundation President
SPRC Chair
Lay Member to Annual Conference

Staff Representatives:
Rev. Lance Marshall
Steve Fagan

Board of Trustees

  • Supervise and maintain all property and physical aspects of FUMCFW
  • Report annually to Board of Stewards on state of property
  • Maintain adequate insurance coverage and develop appropriate management policies
  • Make annual inspection of property and submit budget
  • Meet monthly or as needed
  • Serve 3-year term

Board of Trustees Members

Chair: Andrew Norman

Class of 2026
Patricia Gieger
John Cockrell
Andrew Norman

Class of 2027
Ryan McCollum
Clint Cockerell
Karen Kysar

Class of 2028
Kathryn McGlinchey
Charles Carruthers, Jr.
Shelley Pearson

Accessibility Advisory Task Force: Joan Gaspard
Hospitality, Safety & Security: James Melton
Staff Representatives: Rev. Lance Marshall, Austin Patton, Michaela Lidecker

Program Area Chairs

  • Lead as nominated by committees and councils
  • Serve the needs of our ministries and programs

Program Area Chairs

Children’s Council: Ashley McCollum
Youth Ministries: Open
Young Adult Ministry: Marco & Victoria Gutierrez
Adult Education: Bill Boyd
Congregational Care Ministries: Jeanne Cochran
Senior Adult Ministry: Carol Harrell
Outreach Ministries: Kate Hale
Archives: Stephanie Stegman

First United Methodist Church Weekday Ministries Board

  • Update and maintain current policy handbook
  • Approve hiring of School Director, annual budget, and any major policy recommendations or changes such as tuition and/or hours of operation
  • Meet quarterly
  • Serve 2-year term

First United Methodist Church Weekday Ministries Board Members

Board of Directors

President: Lauren Schmid
Parent Representative: Lauren Schmid, Turner Thorton, Kellye Snodgrass
Church Representative: Jill Chittum, Melanie Rogers, Beatty Arnold
Teacher Representative: Cailey Walton, Ginger Baker

Ex-officio Members:

Nina Burrows: Preschool Director
Catherine Youngberg: Preschool Assistant Director & Board Secretary
Steve Fagan: FUMC Business Office
Mike Marshall: Supervisor of Preschool and Infants & Toddlers

First Street Methodist Mission Board

  • Advise Mission Staff
  • Approve annual budget
  • Hear reports from Mission ministry activities
  • Strengthen existing Mission ministries and assist with development of new ministries as needed
  • Meet 6 times per year
  • Serve 3-year term

First Street Methodist Mission Board Members

Board of Directors
President of the Board: Ken Seeling
Senior Pastor: Rev. Lance Marshall
Executive Director FUMC: Allison Alvarado

Board Members

Class of 2026
Jacque Wolf
TW Brown
Pat Jamison
Bill Lebo

Class of 2027
John Dewar
Jim Engelland
Mary Katri
Nichole Lee
Natalie Martin

Class of 2028
Henry Parker
Charme Robarts
Ken Seeling
Karriem Sultan
Frank Tilley
Mark Tittle

Methodist Justice Ministry Board

  • Develop strategic plan for growth and continuity
  • Raise awareness and capital
  • Strengthen existing programs and develop new ones
  • Meet about 2 – 3 times per year when called
  • Serve 3-year term

Methodist Justice Ministry Board Members

Chair: Nelson Holm

Class of 2026
Tye McClure
Susan Cheyne
Comm’r Manny Ramirez
Ashley McCollum
Stephen Black

Class of 2027
Tye McClure
Hon. Mike Moncrief
Carol McQuien
Sandra Garcia
Sandra Gamez
Malorie Crosley

Class of 2028
Bib Haslam
Greg Monroe
Courtney Holm
Clint Cockerell
Ashley Antipolo
Chase Robinson

Ex Officio
Treasurer: Thane Arther
Senior Pastor FUMCFW: Rev. Lance Marshall
Associtae Pastor FUMCFW: Rev. Brenda Brooks-Alexander

MJM Staff
Executive Director: Aaryn Landers Lamb
Legal Director: Jodie Connaughton
Development Director: Yajaera Chatterson

Dementia Friendly Fort Worth

Dementia Friendly Fort Worth Board

Chair: Rev. Brenda Brooks-Alexander
President:
Past President: Pam Brandon
Co-Vice President: Wes Alderete
Co-Vice President: Paige Wolk
Secretary: Beth Noah

 

Board Members

Class of 2026
Kimberly Bird
Myra & Don Gasser
Beth Noah
Susan Idleman

Class of 2027
Leon Polk
Misti Powell
Kate Taylor
Tim Wendt
Paige Wolk

Class of 2028
Wes Alderete
Pan Brandon
Ralph Green
Debbie Kercho
Cheryl Mart
Sharon West

 

Ex-Officio
Assistant Director of Finance: Thane Arther
President Emeritus: Linda Abel

DFFW Staff
Executive Director: Gail Snider
Program Assistant: Emily Corbin
Executive Facilitator: Martha Brown

First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth Foundation, Inc.

Foundation Board Members

President: Ashley Johnson
Vice President: Richard DeBerry
Secretary: David Moore

Board Members
Alicia Rattikin Lindsey
David Moore
Hank Paup
Thomas Sturdivant
Richard DeBerry
Ashley Johnson
John Maddux
Greg Monroe
Greg Anderson
Jenny Holman
Michelle Holloway
Mandi Johnson

Advisory Directors
W.A. Landreth
Brian Bell
David Doll
Nathan Vasseur

Directors Emeriti
Lou Ann Blaylock
R. Earl Cox III
John R. Thompson, Jr.
Lee Bloemendal, MD
Kenneth H. Jones, Jr.
Vernon Bryant
Don. L Stegall

Board of Stewards

  • Hear reports from program activities
  • Function as Annual Charge Conference
  • Serve as two-way communication channel with congregation
  • Serve on work groups that address issues such as visitors, new members, and members facing transitions
  • Meet four times per year
  • Serve in 4-year classes and as ex officio members

Board of Stewards Members

Chair & Lay Leader: Barry Hudson
Chair-Elect: Ann Dunkin

Ex-Officio Members
All Appointed Clergy
All Members of the Church Council
All Members and Reserve Members to Annual Conference
All Program Area Chairs
Secretary of the Board
Dir of Children’s Ministry
Dir of Communications
Dir of Music Ministries
Dir of Youth Ministries
Dir Weekday Ministries
First Street Mission Chair
Justice Ministry Chair

Class of 2026
Ashley Norman
Nate Koenig
Chris Manno
Jacque Wolf
Ava Nell Harris
Erin Doll
Frank Tilley
Savannah Petronis
David Doll
Rick Andrews
Debbie Manning
Heidi Doll
Mary Jane Bowman

Class of 2027
Julie Compton
Ryan Epperson
Tracy Neilson
Bette Johnson
Sualice Armstrong
Jesse Stamper
Susan Linguist
Ann Dunkin
Lis Kisselburgh
Hugh Neilson
David Johnson
Ray Armstrong
Leann Carrell
Lance Linguist
Charlene Ernst
Robert Kisselburgh
JonAnna Reidinger
David Johnson
Meaghan Nowell
Emily Brown
Marsha Waugh
Dave Ernst
Glenda Maynard
Anita Sheppard
Shevin Russell
Annette Stamper
Ryan Harruff
Donnie Waugh

Class of 2028
Sandra Norrell
Terry Teague
Cassie Gresham
Sandra Buckner
Kate Hale
Deborah Lwson
Sarah Kunce
Josh Norrell
Malcom Teague
Joe Gresham
Katii Moore
Barry Hale
Rev. Betsy Godbold
Layne Kunce
Suzi Schlecte
Susan Idleman
Sandra Davis
Wendy Jenkins
Susan Hennig
Katy Akester
Teddy Phillips
Joe Schlecte
Tom Idleman
Kirk Davis
Larry Jenkins
Greg Hennig
Any Akester
Rachel Navejar-Phillips

Class of 2029
Curtis Basham
Bob Jones
Hanna DeMasi
Mark Sullivan
Susan Todd
Bob Holloway
Debbie Kercho
Jim Whitton
Claudia Blalock
Barbara Duckworth
Diane Whitney
Dee Meyer
Sharon Wynn
Carol McCarthy
Linda Murphy
Michael DeMasi
Cindy Frey
Joe Todd
Brittany Johnson
Craig Kercho
Susan Kerns
Arnold Pearson
Michael Duckworth
Heather Love
Tom Meyer
Jan Moorman
David Murphy
Lynn Sullivan
Dan Hardin
Judy Holloway
Philip Johnson
Debbie Whitton
Cindy Young
Becky Christensen
Charlene Sanders
Jamie Davis
Charme Robarts