We're Glad You're Here!
At First United Methodist Church, we are alive in Christ, united in nurturing fellowship, reaching out to share God's boundless love.
Who We Are
We are United Methodists and a Lighthouse Congregation. Where all are welcome to walk with God.
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First UMC
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Giving Generously Together
Meet Our Pastors and Staff
Meet our Pastors and Staff
Rev. Cheryl Skinner, Co-Pastor
Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastor
Rev. Amy Higgins, Assistant Pastor of Next Generations Ministries
Lee Mabe, Director of Music
Donna Huskins, Administrative Assistant
Phyllis Jones, Organist
Kelly Leonard, Nursery Staff
Alma Carlton, Financial Secretary
Kimberly Leonard, Nursery Staff
Jill Michener, Nursery Staff
Church Council and Teams
Administrative Teams
Board of Trustees – Co-Chairs: Billy Hunt and Donna Smith - chair elected annually by Board of Trustees
2026: Glynda Smith, Bob Burchette, Bill Distler
2027: Billy Hunt, Donna Smith
2028: Gil Bonnaure, Joe Morris, Linda Saintsing
Ex-offico: Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastor (non-voting) – Alma Carlton, Financial Secretary (non-voting) – TBD, AC Lay Delegate
About: The Board of Trustees serves First UMC by maintaining and improving the building, furnishing, equipment, & grounds; managing bequests and gifts to the church; and overseeing legal responsiblities of the church.
Endowment Trust Fund Team – Chair: Richard Foust - elected by the Endowment Team from its members
Trustee Representative: - TBD - elected annually by Board of Trustees
Church Council Rep: Lauren Hall - elected annually by Church Council
Finance Team Rep: Betty Pope – elected annually by Finance Team
Planned Giving Rep: Olen Easter
Co-Pastor: Rev. Kirk Tutterow
The following are nominated by Nominations Team and approved by Charge Conference to three-year terms.
Investment Advisor (non-voting): Steve Jackson
Financial Secretary (non-voting): Alma Carlton
Accountant: Jennifer Everhart, 2027
Legal Advisor: Richard Foust, 2027
Past Finance Chair: Monty Oliver, 2027
At-large member: Olen Easter, 2027
About: The Endowment Trust Fund Team serves First UMC by overseeing the investment and use of the church's endowment trust funds & providing for an ongoing planned giving program for the funds.
Finance Team – Chair: Clark Smith, 2026
2026: Jennifer Everhart, Monty Oliver, Betty Pope (Stewardship Rep)
2027: Frank Cagle, Ron Coleman
2028: Christine Hunt, Larry Swing
Ex-officio: Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastor – Rick Samuels, Church Council Vice-Chair – TBD, AC Lay Delegate – TBD, Trustee Rep – TBD, SPRC Chair - Alma Carlton, Financial Secretary (non-voting)
About: The Finance Team serves First UMC by planning for and managing the church's finances to support the church's mission and ministry.
Nominations Team – Chairs: Rev. Cheryl Skinner & Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co- Pastors
2026: Clark Smith, Ann Easter, Kathy Hester
2027: Debby Brown, Helen Morris, Jim Myers
2028: Nancy Cagel, Ron Leonard, Cheri Murray
Ex-officio: Helen Fitzgerald, Lay Leader
About: The Nominations Team serves First UMC by prayerfully discerning the nominees who are selected to serve as Administrative and Ministry Team members.
Parsonage Team – Chair: Donna Smith
2026: Judy Stoner, Linda Saintsing, Donna Smith
2027: Marie Kernoodle, Nancy Roach
2028: Toni Burchette, Kay Wilson
Ex-officio: Rev. Cheryl Skinner & Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastors
About: The Parsonage Team serves First UMC by providing the minister(s) & family with a comfortable, safe living space.
Scholarship Team – Chair: Donna Long
2026: Donna Long
2027: Pat Harrison, Joyce Oliver
2028: Betsy Cook, Kathy Hester
Ex-officio: Rev. Cheryl Skinner, Co-Pastor – Lauren Hall, Church Council Chair – Helen Fitzgerald, Lay Leader – Susie Hubbard, AC Lay Delegate – Donna Smith, Trustee Rep – Katherine Parsons, Children’s Council Chair – Alma Carlton, Financial Secretary (non-voting)
About: The Scholarship Team serves First UMC by managing the scholarship application and distribution process.
Staff Parish Relations Team – Chair: TBD
2026: Nancy Conrad, Lloyd Brown
2027: Jane Hedrick, Betty Pope, Abby Smith
2028: Lee-Ann Distler, Lynne Leonard, Mike Niver
Ex-officio: Rev. Cheryl Skinner & Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastors – Helen Fitzgerald, Lay Leader – TBD, Finance Rep
About: The Staff Parish Relations Team serves First UMC by assessing the church's current staffing needs and provide supervision, guidance, and support for the church staff.
Ministry Teams
Children’s Council – Chair: Katherine Parsons
2026: Donna Long, Katherine Parsons
2027: Betsy Cook, Debbie Hill, Jessica & Travis Phifer
2028: Woody Smith, Martha Williams, Grace Woods
Ex-officio: Rev. Amy Higgins – Associate Pastor Next Generations
About: The Children's Council serves First UMC by developing and planning ministries that form and nurture the faith of our children birth through fifith grade.
Evangelism & Hospitality Team – Chair: Judy Deal
2026: Patricia Hartley, Barbara McWhorter
2027: Karen Bennett, Karen Bias, Judy Deal
2028: Jill Hayes, Suzanne Niver
Ex-officio: Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastor – Rick Samuels, Church Council, Vice-Chair – Helen Fitzgerald, Lay Leader
About: The Evangelism & Hospitality Team serves First UMC by connecting the church with our neighbors (non-churched) & community as well as providing hospitality for our worship & ministry event guests.
Member Care Team: Chair: TBD - elected annually by Member Care Team
2026: Karen Coleman, Tom Foust, Minnie McPherson, Helen Morris
2027: Toni Burchette, Fran Coppley, Libby Samuels
2028: Stephanie Berrier, Debby Brown, Ellen Crago, Cheri Murray
Ex-officio: Rev. Cheryl Skinner, Co-Pastor – Lauren Hall, Church Council Chair/Sparrow Project Rep – Helen Fitzgerald, Lay Leader – Judy Deal, Bereavement Rep
About: The Member Care Team serves First UMC by developing and implementing minitries that care for our member's physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.
Missions Team – Chair: Christa Weeks
2026: Judy Deal, Christa Weeks
2027: Carl Bennett, Steve Jackson, Barbara McWhorter
2028: Cindy Davis, Mike Hall
Ex-officio: Rev. Cheryl Skinner, Co-Pastor – Rick Samuels, Church Council Vice-Chair – Susie Hubard, AC Lay Delegate – William Deal, Disaster Coordinator
About: The Missions Team serves First UMC by supporting on-going mission ministries and providing opportunities for service in the community and world.
Worship & Music Team – Chair: TBD
2026: Nancy Roach, Abby Smith
2027: Cheri Murray
2028: Jennie Jackson, Kath Oliver, Vicki Olson
Ex-officio: Rev. Cheryl Skinner & Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastors – Rev. Amy Higgins, Associate Pastor Next Generations – Lauren Hall, Church Council Chair – Lee Mabe, Director of Music – Phyllis Jones, Pianist/Organist – Ron Leonard, Sound Team – John McWhorter, Video Team – Barbara McWhorter & Geryl Myers, Altar Guild – Richard Foust & Woody Smith, Head Ushers
About: The Worship & Music Team serves First UMC by working with the pastor(s) and staff to plan for meaningful worship.
Youth Council: Chair: Katie Moore
2026: Jane & Bradley Hedrick
2027: Katie Moore, Elizabeth O'Connell, Jenny Varner
2028: Carl Bennet, Don Bias
Ex-officio: Rev. Amy Higgins, Associate Pastor Next Generations
About: The Youth Council serves First UMC by developing and planning ministries that form and nurture the faith of our youth (Middle School & High School) and college students.
Church Council
About: The Church Council serves First UMC by providing for, overseeing, and evaluating the nurture, outreach, mission and resource ministries of the church as well as aiding in the communication and collaboration of those ministries.
- Chairperson: Lauren Hall, 2026
- Vice-Chair: Rick Samuels, 2026
- Recording Secretary: Barbara McWhorter, 2027
- Lay Leader: Helen Fitzgerald, 2027
- Lay Delegate/Annual Conference:
- Susie Hubbard, 2026, Mike Hall, 2027, Grace Woods, 2028
- Co-Pastors: Rev. Cheryl Skinner & Rev. Kirk Tutterow
- Associate Pastor Next Generations: Rev. Amy HIggins
- Director of Music: Lee Mabe
- Membership Secretary: Donna Huskins, Administrative Assistant
- President UMM: Richard Foust (elected annually)
- President UWF: Marsha Garwood (elected annually)
- Honorary Members: Bettye Gray
Administrative Teams:
- Nominations Chairs: Rev. Cheryl Skinner & Rev. Kirk Tutterow, Co-Pastors
- SPR Chair: TBD
- Finance Chair: Clark Smith (elected annually)
- Stewardship Rep: Betty Pope, 2026
- Trustees Chairs: Billy Hunt & Donna Smith (elected annually)
- Parsonage Chair: Donna Smith, 2026
- Scholarship Chair: Donna Long, 2026
- Endowment Trust Chair: Richard Foust (elected annually)
- Planned Giving Rep: Olen Easter, 2026
Ministry Teams:
- Evangelism & Hospitality Chair: Judy Deal, 2027
- Children’s Council: Katherine Parsons, 2026
- Youth Council: Katie Moore, 2027
- Missions Chair: Christa Weeks, 2026
- Member Care Chair: TBD (elected annually)
- Worship/Music Chair: TBD