LEAD PASTOR

Karen Muntzing has been (Sr/Lead) Pastor since July 2019. Prior to arriving in Marietta, Karen served as Associate/Executive Pastor at Hilliard UMC, and as Lead Pastor at Westgate UMC on Columbus's west side. She and husband Brook live in Reno with dog, Sadie, and cat, Charlotte. Daughter Sarah is a recent graduate from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State. Karen is passionate about helping people come alive because of the knowledge and realization that God loves them as they are, not as they should be, and there is nothing they can do about it. Relating with folks who've been turned off by, or cast out of church, is one of her passions. Love is the most powerful force in the universe--and the local church, when operating at its best, is an outpost of God's love for all within in its reach. Justice for all God's children is what love looks like in public.

Email Pastor Karen at pastorkaren@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 is a Title I Reading Teacher at Salem-Liberty Elementary in the Fort Frye Local School District. She and her husband, Brent, have two sons and one grandson. Laura loves to do embroidery, quilting, and read. And she loves being a grandma!

Email Laura at lawarren@suddenlink.net

MINISTER OF HEALTH

Sherrie graduated from St. Anselm’s College in Manchester, NH with a BS in Nursing. She has worked in the fields of pediatrics, school nursing and more recently as a diabetic educator for Marietta Memorial Hospital and then as your church nurse. Sherrie lives in Marietta with her husband Pete. They share three kids who live with their families in Ohio, Missouri and Doha, Qatar. Over the years they have enjoyed camping and traveling nationally and internationally. Sherrie has a passion for anything flower related, tennis and making fruit pies for family and friends.

WEEKDAY CUSTODIAN

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.

NIGHT SECURITY

I oversee night security at the church. In the evening, I check the building and make sure it is secure. I set the alarm and respond to events when the alarm is triggered. I have been in this position for several decades. My wife Janet and I live on Fourth Street here in Marietta.

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.

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.

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.