LEAD PASTOR

Rick Stuhmer has been (Sr/Lead) Pastor since July 2023. Pastor Stuhmer has served in credentialed ministry for 30 years, becoming a licensed Local Pastor in the UMC in 1993. Rick was raised in Franklin, Ohio, and attended the University of Cincinnati before working as a comptroller for a manufacturing company for 15 years. In 1998 he became a student again to earn his Master of Divinity Degree from United Theological Seminary and subsequently being ordained an Elder. Rick served several churches in SW Ohio, NW Ohio, and central Ohio before coming to the Mid-Ohio Valley in 2019. Rick has been married for nearly 38 years to Dolores. Dolores is a registered Nutrition and Dietetic Technician in the WIC department at the Zanesville Muskingum County Health Department. They have two grown sons, five grandchildren, and 9 ‘global’ kids who came to their family as exchange students. Hosting and working with international students have been part of their interest in international relations and international ministries. Rick has been fascinated with Russian culture and the Eastern Orthodox Church since taking Church History in seminary and traveled to Russia in 2002.

Email Pastor Rick at pastorrick@christumcmarietta.org

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Before becoming a United Methodist licensed local pastor, Cheryl worked as Christ UMC’s Lay Ministries Coordinator, and before that, as college faculty. Jesus was a “country boy;” Cheryl is a “country girl” at heart who loves gardening and fishing. Cheryl and her spouse, Bob Westbrook, live outside Marietta with one good cat and a houseful of misbehaving ones.

Email Pastor Cheryl at pastorcheryl@christumcmarietta.org

DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Laura teaches first grade at Salem-Liberty Elementary in the Fort Frye Local School District. She and her husband, Brent, have two sons and two grandsons and another on the way! Laura loves to do embroidery, quilting, and read. And she loves being a grandma!

Email Laura at lawarren@suddenlink.net

MUSIC DIRECTOR & TREASURER

Beth Payton has been directing the Sanctuary Choir and Cathedral Handbell Choir at Christ United Methodist Church since 2004, shortly after she and her daughter, Faith settled in Marietta. Beth got her start in all things musical while growing up in a very large church in Wayne, PA. She went on to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music. She sang with several of WCC's choirs, performing with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony in their respective cities. Beth serves as the Treasurer for Christ UMC in addition to the music leadership roles. In her spare time, she enjoys ringing handbells with the Mid-Ohio Valley Ringers, reading with a purring cat on her lap, doing puzzles of all kinds, and sitting at the water's edge or next to a campfire contemplating life and its Creator.

ORGANIST

Steve Brown serves as church organist and pianist at Christ Church. With over 20 years of professional experience, he is a highly sought after performer and soloist within the Mid-Ohio Valley and surrounding areas. Steve works for Marietta City Schools, teaching general music, band, and choir to elementary age students, and has been the organist and pianist at Christ Church since 2016. He resides in Marietta with his wife, Libby and son, Aaron.

JUNIOR CHIOR DIRECTOR

SUNDAY CUSTODIAN

Beth Brown has enjoyed being an influence on student's lives for over thirty years as a teacher and administrator. "Working as a teacher is the greatest job there is." When not at school, Beth enjoys being at home with her dogs, reading, bicycling and sitting by a fire in the backyard. Beth is the Sunday Custodian at Christ United. Beth's Mom lives in Arizona and her sister lives in Hilliard.

NURSERY WORKER

Kelly graduated from Marietta College in 1979. She has been employed as a teacher with Fort Frye Local Schools for 42 years. She and her husband, Jerry, have been married for 38 years. They have two adult daughters, Kristine & Katy.