|
|
Ministry Team
Pastor - Lamarr Gibson, Dr. of Ministry (email:pastor@stoughtonumc.org)
Pastor Gibson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After his discharge from the Navy in 1971, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors degree in Economics. In 1990, after working for a number of years in investments and real estate, Pastor Gibson was admitted to Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. He graduated in 1993 with a Master of Divinity degree.
Pastor Gibson began his pastoral ministry on July 1, 1993 in Michigan where he served 2 churches in Detroit, as well as churches in River Rouge, Southfield, and Lansing. During his time in Lansing, he was also the executive director of a non-profit agency. While in Michigan, Pastor Gibson served in various leadership capacities including: president of the Detroit Black Clergy, secretary of the Detroit Conference Board of Congregational Development, chair of the Detroit East District Multiracial task force, member of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary Board of Directors, the Interfaith Initiative in Southfield, director of the Michigan Area Loan Funds board, and member of the Continuum of Care for Lansing. Pastor Gibson also served as an adjunct chaplain at the Grace Hospital in Detroit, volunteer mediator for the Oakland County Mediation Center, adjunct instructor for conflict transformation and church growth at Ashland Seminary extension in Southfield, and in a private Southfield counseling practice firm.
In 1995, while serving his second appointment in River Rouge, Michigan, Pastor Gibson enrolled in the Master of Pastoral Counseling and Doctor of Ministry degree programs at the Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. He completed his Master of Pastoral Counseling degree in 1997 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1999. In 2000, Pastor Gibson received his Master of Dispute Resolution degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Pastor Gibson has been with Stoughton United Methodist Church (SUMC) since 2004. During his tenure in Wisconsin, he has been instrumental in the launching of the Shalom Holistic Health Services, Inc. free clinic where he is board president and volunteer spiritual counselor. He has also spearheaded the development of the Stoughton Restorative Justice Initiative, which offers alternative justice to juvenile offenders. Pastor Gibson serves on the board of the Stoughton Area Resource Team, a social services agency and the Joining Forces for Families committee of the City of Stoughton. His annual conference responsibilities include serving as vice chair of the Wisconsin Conference Board of Congregation and Circuit Development and as chair of the East Angola Task Force. He is also Chair of the Board of Conference and Circuit Development and is the Circuit Leader for Circuit 46. Pastor Gibson's current new ministry project is working with area leaders to create a program of trauma healing for Stoughton area veterans and other victims of violence.
Pastor Gibson has been married to Linda Lee (Bishop of Wisconsin Area UMC) for 17 years. They have three children and 12 grandchildren.
Becky joined the staff at SUMC in 2008. She is gifted at organizing and maintaining our office, producing our bulletins, newsletters, and other publications. She also takes care of our scheduling, organization, and correspondence. She also provides childcare during the 10 AM service upon occasion.
Becky and her husband live in Oregon and have a young son , Dayne.
Youth Pastor -
Reverend Afi Dobbins
(youthpastor@stoughtonumc.org)
I have recently been asked to come aboard at Stoughton as the Associate Pastor with a focus on youth. This is a very exciting opportunity as working with youth has been a passion of mine for many years. I first began working with youth in 2002 as a Sunday school teacher for young children and developed a youth program for high school aged kids. Since that time, I have worked with youth in various capacities at several churches. My vision and hope for all of our youth is that they will grow into their adulthood, with the knowledge of how much God loves them, and with the desire to deepen their personal relationship with God and others. I firmly believe that family, church, and community support are essential to this awareness.
On a more personal note, I am a full time student at United Theological Seminary, located in Dayton, OH, and pursuing a master’s degree in the field of Divinity. I work part time for the Madison Metropolitan schools, where I am blessed to help elementary aged children to improve their math skills. I have three wonderful children of my own who continue to teach me how to love and to show me new ways of relating to and understanding young people! Some of the things I enjoy are spending time with God, my family and friends, meeting new people, reading books, dancing, walking, nature, singing, and traveling.
Jon Runaas, who comes from a long tradition of church musicians, directs the SUMC vocal and bell choirs. He recieved his Bachelor of Music Education from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, a Lutheran school named after the German castle where Martin Luther translated the new testament. Before coming to Wisconsin, Jon taught junior and senior high school chorus at a small school in Iowa. Jon is currently the general and vocal music teacher at South Elementary School and North Shore Middle School in Hartland, WI.
Organist/Pianist - Margie Runaas
Margie grew up in central Iowa taking piano lessons from her mother. Her life-long passion for teaching music has led her to teach many private piano students and obtain a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from Wartburg College, which she completed in 2009. She has actively participated in music ministry at a number of different congregations from various denominations. Margie is currently completing a Masters degree in Piano Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lives in Madison with her husband Jon.
Worship Chair/Accompanist - Debra Verdegan
Deb was originally from Fond du Lac, WI. Deb has lived in Stoughton and been a member of SUMC since 1980. She has been an elementary teacher and a high school Spanish teacher who has recently retired. Deb has been contributing to ministry in a variety of ways at SUMC. Currently she chairs the worship design team, writes liturgy, participates in musical groups, accompanies the youth choir and works with praise music soloist Erin Arnott. Deb and her husband Barry have two children, Dan & Lori.
Lay Leader - Cindi Ritter
xxx
Administrative Council Chair - Dottie Petersen (dep2@hotmail.com)
Dottie was born and raised on the east coast. Dottie has lived in Wisconsin for over twenty-five years and has been a member of SUMC for twenty years. Her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother are key to her life. By profession, she is a registered nurse and has influenced patient care in her roles as a staff nurse, supervisor, manager, and director of patient services. She is currently working in the gero-psychiatry unit at Stoughton Hospital.
Her leadership role in the church has been varied and has reflected the mission of the church. At SUMC, she has served as the holistic health chair, the outreach coordinator, the lay leader, the Staff/Pastor Parish chair, and the Church Council Chair. Additionally, she serves on the board of director and is the clinical coordinator for Shalom Holistic Health Services, a free clinic for the low income and uninsured of Stoughton which was birthed at SUMC.
|
|
