Senior pastor Myrna Bethke is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and a member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. Since her ordination in 1982, she has served a wide range of churches in New Jersey. Mynra has also served in Annual Conference leadership at many levels, including co-chair of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, which credentials clergy. She is committed to peace and justice work. She worked with the Hispanic immigrant community while serving in Freehold, NJ and developed a community dialogue project to foster discussion among diverse segments of the population. Myrna's youngest brother was killed on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center. As a result of that, she became part of a family group organized against returning violence for violence. The group, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Myrna traveled to Afghanistan in June 2002 as part of an interfaith peace delegation.
Neil Brown is our Director of Music Ministries and Organist. He is also on the music faculty of Monmouth University. He received a bachelor of music degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, and a master of music from the University of Kansas. He also studied church music and religious education at Midwestern Theological Seminary in Kansas City. In 1997, Mr. Brown received the associateship certificate from the American Guild of Organists, 1 of only 7 persons that year to successfully complete the requirements for that certificate (which is comparable to a masters degree in organ). He brings to our Church more than 35 years of church music experience in a variety of denominations.
Director of Children's Ministries Elaine Dawson has worked with the children of our church for 24 years. She came on to our staff as Director of Childrens Ministries in 2000 as her calling to do God's work became stronger and stronger. Elaine believes a strong Christian education early in life gives children direction and purpose in this very challenging 21st Century. She knows all the children in our church and strives to develop a personal relationship with each of these children and their families. Elaine runs the youth programs on Wednesday nights and is one of the leaders of our Senior High Group. Vacation Bible School is one of her greatest joys, and she has seen it grow ten fold over the last few years. Elaine does the childrens sermon on Sunday mornings along with Childrens Church. Most summers she takes a group of youth on a mission trip to help those who need us.
Sheila Leavitt says "Having taken an early retirement as a Program Analyst in Human Resources, I began working at UMC Red Bank on July 15, 1996 as a part-time church secretary. I was mainly responsible for the publication of The Outlook and bringing the membership information into a data-base. My responsibilities have evolved over these past 10 years. I am currently the Financial and Church secretary and a member of the Finance and Stewardship Committees. I am so pleased to be part of this wonderful church family!"
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Senior pastor Myrna Bethke is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and a member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. Since her ordination in 1982, she has served a wide range of churches in New Jersey. Mynra has also served in Annual Conference leadership at many levels, including co-chair of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, which credentials clergy. She is committed to peace and justice work. She worked with the Hispanic immigrant community while serving in Freehold, NJ and developed a community dialogue project to foster discussion among diverse segments of the population. Myrna's youngest brother was killed on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center. As a result of that, she became part of a family group organized against returning violence for violence. The group, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Myrna traveled to Afghanistan in June 2002 as part of an interfaith peace delegation.
Neil Brown is our Director of Music Ministries and Organist. He is also on the music faculty of Monmouth University. He received a bachelor of music degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, and a master of music from the University of Kansas. He also studied church music and religious education at Midwestern Theological Seminary in Kansas City. In 1997, Mr. Brown received the associateship certificate from the American Guild of Organists, 1 of only 7 persons that year to successfully complete the requirements for that certificate (which is comparable to a masters degree in organ). He brings to our Church more than 35 years of church music experience in a variety of denominations.
Director of Children's Ministries Elaine Dawson has worked with the children of our church for 24 years. She came on to our staff as Director of Childrens Ministries in 2000 as her calling to do God's work became stronger and stronger. Elaine believes a strong Christian education early in life gives children direction and purpose in this very challenging 21st Century. She knows all the children in our church and strives to develop a personal relationship with each of these children and their families. Elaine runs the youth programs on Wednesday nights and is one of the leaders of our Senior High Group. Vacation Bible School is one of her greatest joys, and she has seen it grow ten fold over the last few years. Elaine does the childrens sermon on Sunday mornings along with Childrens Church. Most summers she takes a group of youth on a mission trip to help those who need us.
Sheila Leavitt says "Having taken an early retirement as a Program Analyst in Human Resources, I began working at UMC Red Bank on July 15, 1996 as a part-time church secretary. I was mainly responsible for the publication of The Outlook and bringing the membership information into a data-base. My responsibilities have evolved over these past 10 years. I am currently the Financial and Church secretary and a member of the Finance and Stewardship Committees. I am so pleased to be part of this wonderful church family!"