CUMC's Staff

    These are the folks who work every day to keep CUMC a vital part of our community.

Jan Wiley, Senior Pastor

Sometimes I can hardly believe I have served as a pastor of local churches for more than 27 years.  Can I really be that old?  Well, yes I can.  But after spending much of the last year getting healthier, I actually feel younger!

I have been blessed to serve four United Methodist congregations and am delighted to serve with such great people at CUMC.  (I really mean that)!

So, a few things about me:

   - Native Californian who grew up in Riverside.

   - Schooling at Cal State Chico, Master’s degree UCLA (Library Science), and Master’s degree from Claremont School of Theology.

   - Married to wonderful husband Mark Wiley (pastor at Mesa Verde UMC).

   - Two great kids:  Melissa - living in Santa Rosa, working as a speech pathologist, and married to wonderful Tim, Spring 2011;  and Nick - graduated from High School in Spring 2011, very interested in technical aspects of multi-media, and he’s on a curling team (yes, that thing you slide down the ice).

   - Love:  reading, family time, traveling, looking things up on the internet, tulips, and our family expression lyttmab ("love you to the moon and back").

   - Dislike:  Brussels sprouts, forgetting to put the blueberries in blueberry muffins, night meetings (oh, well).

   - Working on:  adding routine exercise to my life.
 

Sermons:  2012  2011   2010       

To email Jan: JWiley@cumchb.org

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Darren Cowdrey, Youth Pastor

Pastor Darren started working with our young people in July 2010.  He’s a Southern California guy, born and raised in Fountain Valley and Laguna Niguel.  He was a member of CUMC in the 1970s when his dad was the Christen Education pastor.  After serving in ministry in Northern California, Canada, and Austin, Texas, Darren and his family returned to Southern California.  His wife, Brenda, and two children, Joseph and Miranda, are active in the youth ministry and other areas of the church.  Darren is the youth pastor for a collaborative program between CUMC and Good Shepherd UMC in Westminster.  He is also the pastor at Good Shepherd.  If you want to get on his good side you’ll talk sports, movies, or both.

To email Darren: revdarren67@gmail.com

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Suzanne Morgan, Director of Christian Education and
                               Caring Ministries

This is an amazing church family!  When I came on staff in the spring of 2003, I was the Director of Christian Education and Family Ministries; but with changes in our pastoral staff, I have been blessed to be able to transition into the caring and outreach ministries of this church. 

I have been in the Christian Education field for 15 years, which seems amazing to me. I love being able to help others on their spiritual journey and I feel blessed to be able to grow and expand my ministry into showing, in a more formal way, the love and care of Christ Jesus.

I grew up in the Methodist Church here in Orange County.  I married my husband, Jeff, in 1983, and we have two sons, Justin and Ryan.  Justin is in college in Virginia, getting his degree in Environmental Science, and Ryan is in high school.

I enjoy gardening, reading, hiking and especially going to Disneyland with my family.   I am hoping to add standup paddle boarding, very soon, to that list of hobbies.

My favorite bands are Switchfoot and Third Day.

My favorite scripture is Micah 6:8 “. . . what does the Lord require of you but to do  justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

To email Suzanne Morgan:  suzanne@cumchb.org

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Theresa Shult, Children's Ministry and Family Life Coordinator

A CUMC member since 1990, Theresa brings a wealth of hands-on Sunday School classroom experience to her work as our Coordinator of Children's Ministries and Family Life work areas. She is a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa and came to California in 1984 with husband, Tom, and sons Nolan and Don. Theresa is a graduate of the University of Iowa and Midland Lutheran College, where she earned a degree in Natural Science and a certificate in Respiratory Therapy. She is especially happy to now be working with many of the junior and high school kids whom she taught as three- and four-year olds and is excited to have the opportunity for service in ministry to the church and community.

To email Theresa: theresa@cumchb.org

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Mikey Foster, Office Manager

A member of the congregation at Community United Methodist Church since 1989, Mikey Foster now serves as the church's office manager. She has an extensive background in customer service, accounting, sales and education. She attended Eastern New Mexico University and the Data Processing Institute at Amarillo College.

Mikey has served in many areas here at CUMC, some of which include Worship Committee, Music Ministry Committee, Pastor Parish Relations Committee, United Methodist Women, Liturgist, Greeter and the Chancel Choir. She has volunteered as facilitator or co-facilitator of many of these committees, UMW Boutique, rummage sales and fund raisers.

Mikey and her husband, David, have two sons and two grand-daughters.  They love CUMC and Southern California.  They enjoy music of all varieties, plays, movies, hiking, cooking, playing dominos, euchre and other fun games, watching high school and college sports, and vacations to New York City, the mountains, and Hawaii.

To email Mikey Foster:  mikey@cumchb.org

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Lin Carlson, Administrative Assistant

With a life-long involvement in Christian education, arts, music, and outreach, Lin Carlson is now serving as CUMC's Administrative Assistant.  A partner in ministry with her pastor/husband she has lived up and down the West Coast and Hawaii and is presently assisting her husband in a church community that meets daily/weekly on the sands of Seal Beach. She is also the mother of three grown children - all full-time Christian workers/pastor with three amazing grandsons that keep her young and full of joy. Lin enjoys desktop publishing and web design, travel, knitting, swimming, riding her bike and roasting hot dogs at the beach, and is always up for a game of SCRABBLE.

To email Lin Carlson: lin@cumchb.org

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Vicki Compean, Preschool School Director

Vicki Compean has been the Director of the preschool since 1999.  She earned her degree at Loyola-Marymount University.  She enjoys the company of her three children – April, Travis and Clint.  She likes gardening with April, reading and going to the movies.

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Al Collins, Director of Maintenance

Since 1996 Al has been part of the CUMC family and has involved himself in many activities including teaching Sunday School, serving on several committees, and working with the Monday Morning Volunteers. Currently, in addition to his maintenance position, he is our Emergency/Disaster Coordinator and serves on the Board of Trustees.

Al was in the trucking industry for 43 years during which he held a variety of jobs. He was a local as well as long-haul driver. As a warehouse manager he expanded his maintenance skills.  After a severe accident which almost cost his right arm, he was told he would never drive again. So he enrolled in a two year program at Orange Coast  College where, in eighteen months, he earned the Energy and Power Engineering Certificate. He worked in that field for three years before going back to driving. Ten years later, ending with a supervisory position at Home Depot, Al decided to accept his “retirement” position at CUMC.

To email Al: cumchb@cumchb.org

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Mike Parmelee, Accountant

Mike Parmelee joined the Finance Committee in 1973 and served as Treasurer for many years. Since 1979 Mike has been our accountant. He oversees many functions that keep the church going – paying the bills, recording the deposits, recording our investments for the Foundation, reconciling the banking activity and calculating the payroll. He also prepares tax forms, installs software updates for the finance system, reviews and provides input on the budget, and prepares numerous monthly, quarterly, and annual reports. Mike is a CPA, has been in public practice beginning in 1975 and became the Managing Partner in his firm in 1999. Mike’s hobbies include skiing, bicycling and watching motorcar racing.

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Andrea Daly, After-School COVE Supervisor

Andrea has a wealth of experience as a former after-school supervisor with Ocean View School District and as the mother of four boys.  She is a graduate of Cal State Dominguez Hills and holds an MA degree in education from National University. 

Andrea was born in New York City and grew up in  Boston.  Later, her artistic family moved to the LA area because of their interest in the entertainment industry.  Andrea and her sons live in Huntington Beach.  She  loves working with kids, especially enjoys math, and is pleased to be a part of our after-school program.

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Julie Pham, Wedding Coordinator

Julie has long held an interest in wedding planning and has had the chance to begin doing that since becoming CUMC’s Wedding Coordinator in 2006. She attended California State University, Long Beach, earning both a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a certificate for Professional Meeting and Events Planning. She currently works in the special events department at University of California, Irvine.
For more information on planning a wedding at CUMC, go to our Weddings page.

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Susan Huntley, Memorials Hostess

Susan has been a member of CUMC since her children, Marianne and Adam attended the preschool.  In addition to her duties as Memorials Hostess, she is the acolyte coordinator and is a multi-media system operator.  She is a member of the Worship Committee and participates in our music ministry.  Before becoming a mother, she was a bank auditor and live in Lake Tahoe where she ran a family business.  In the past she has lived in New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada, and on a houseboat.

As the Memorials Hostess, her responsibilities include setting up & taking down the Narthex and Sanctuary, accepting floral arrangements, placing hymnals & note cards, managing family pictorial displays and operating the sound and multi-media systems. She also welcomes guests, ensures that they have signed-in and received a Memorial Program and attends to any family special requests. For further inquiries, she can be reached at 714-843-0412.

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Greg Kirby, Director of Music

Greg Kirby has been serving Community UMC in music leadership since 1998. Greg has developed a full-time music program to include eight different musical groups, plus several special concerts and programs throughout the year.

Greg holds a BA in  Church Music from Concordia University in Irvine. Greg is currently a member of the American Guild of Organists and Chorister's Guild. In the spring of 2005 Greg  served as the guest conductor for the Orange County Chorister's Guild Children's Choir Festival. He has also been the festival accompanist several times since. Greg has also been a singer for a number of years with the Pacific Chorale and The Corona Del Mar Baroque Festival. Along with his church work, Greg continues to be a stage manager in Guest Talent Programs, Disney Performing Arts, at the Disneyland_® Resort. Greg is a lifelong United Methodist, having attended Aldersgate UMC in Tustin as a child and youth.

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Marsha Grove, Celebration Choir Director

Marsha graduated from UCLA with a degree in Medical Technology – Microbiology. She loved her work as a microbiologist, but her spare time has always included children and music.  For many years she has been involved in the various children's and youth choirs at CUMC.  Presently, she is co-director of the Celebration Singers (youth) with Greg Kirby. She also sings in the Chancel Choir and plays handbells in the Adult Bell Choir.  She even plays in Children’s Chimes if they need extra hands!

 Marsha and her husband, Lionel, have been at CUMC since 1968. They have two married sons, Darrin (Nancy), and Brandon (Becky), and 3 grandsons – Noah, Ian and Joel.

 Since retiring, Marsha loves playing with her grandchildren, going to musicals, doing puzzle games, reading, traveling and volunteering in CUMC’s after school program, the Cove.

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Roni Kuester, Joyful Noise Choir Director

Roni Kuester is a life-long Methodist, born in Michigan, and a graduate of Michigan State University.   She taught  in the public schools in California after gradation – first at the junior  and senior high schools levels, then, after a “break” to begin a family, moved to an elementary school district to develop an enrichment  program of non-remedial psychomotor education and vocal music from which she has recently retired.

Roni has been involved with United Methodist Women starting in 1973 after joining  CUMC the year before. Her first love, however, remains working each week with CUMC's very active upper-elementary children's choir.   

Roni has been married to husband, Dick, since 1963, has two adult daughters, Margo and Temre, and one grandchild, Simon.

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Sonya Hatch & David Hattersley, Cherub Choir co-Directors

Sonya is a graduate of CSULB and has been involved in many of CUMC’s music programs since childhood.  She has volunteered as one of the music leaders for Vacation Bible School (VBS) the last few years, helps to lead worship as a vocalist in CUMC’s contemporary worship band and is a member of the adult chancel choir. Sonya is excited to be working with Dave Hattersley as the co-Director for CUMC’s cherub choir.

She is extremely honored to have the opportunity to pass along a love of music to our youth, as Mary Lou Pratt has done with great love, care and expertise for many years.

I enjoy working with children.  Often times, I act like a kid myself and have lots of fun!   In this way, I hope to share God’s love and follow good advice from Jesus – “If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” In the Cherub Choir, kids learn about God’s love, music, and reading all at the same time.

 In addition to leading the Cherub Choir with Sonya Hatch, I play bass with the CUMC praise band and am the facilitator for the Children’s Counsel at CUMC.  Over the years, I have played guitar & bass, sang, and composed music as a professional for many performances and recordings.

 I’m blessed to have a wife and daughter who attend CUMC with me.

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