Church Staff List

Rev. Nancy Lynn (she/her)
Senior Pastor
Contact Nancy Lynn

Nancy grew up in a family with deep United Methodist roots, but like a lot of people, she drifted away from church as a young adult. When she felt God nudging her to come back, she spent a lot of time visiting and learning about other denominations. That is when Nancy chose United Methodism because she loves the emphasis on growing in faith and serving others. Before following her call to ordained ministry, she taught high school English, English as a Second Language in Switzerland, and Composition at a local community college. Nancy also stayed home with her child until they started school. She first came to FUMC as the associate pastor in 2010 and was appointed lead pastor in 2018. Nancy loves this congregation and feels grateful every day to serve a church that is so vital, healthy and joy-filled! More than anything, she believes the church should be a place of hope – hope for today and hope for the future – for all of God’s people. Nancy’s passions in ministry include preaching, teaching, community-building and social justice. She has one college-aged child, Emmett, three cats and a dog named Turtle.

Rev. Jenaba Waggy (ze/zir)
Associate Pastor
Contact Jenaba Waggy

After earning a master’s degree in medieval studies from Western Michigan University, Jenaba felt pulled to teaching within professional ministry. Ze worked in higher ed administration, academic libraries, professional editing and hospital chaplaincy before admitting that God’s work through zir would shine brightest in the pastorate. Jenaba completed a Master of Divinity at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, before returning to zir adopted home of Michigan. Teaching, writing, preaching and reimagining how we do church are among Jenaba’s loves; talk with zir about the Church in action around social justice and equity, building worship in new ways, and creating digital holy space in online community. When not in minister mode, Jenaba writes poetry, knits, practices calligraphy, drinks a fair amount of tea and reads nearly anything.

Rev. Tim Kobler (he/him)
Chaplain of Wesley Foundation Campus Ministries
Contact Tim Kobler

Tim is the chaplain of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Michigan. He felt God’s call early on in his undergraduate studies, with a desire to serve in higher education and campus ministry. He has served in collegiate ministry for 18 years, including as the director and chaplain of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 2008-2018 and the chaplain at Emory & Henry College from 2002-2008. Tim received a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a degree in music education with a vocal emphasis. He is a native of Marion, Illinois. His many hobbies include an avid love of music, weightlifting, hiking, cooking and travel. Tim has also been a beekeeper for more than 20 years.

Debbie Houghton (she/her)
Director of Adult Faith Formation and Adult Small Group Ministry
Contact Debbie Houghton

Debbie has been the director of Adult Faith Formation since 2012, and is a self-confessed Disciple Bible Study junkie! She loves to search out and lead different curriculums for developing spiritual formation; contact her if you are looking for sessions to either begin or continue your own journey! She has completed the Upper Room’s Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation (2018-2020), which has spurred her to create opportunities of spiritual exploration for others. Reading, traveling and spending time with her family are favorite activities in her free time. Debbie has been married to Bill for over 30 years, has two amazing sons and a daughter-in-law, and has been a member of FUMC for over 30 years.

Amy Kennedy (she/her)
Minister of Congregational Care
Contact Amy Kennedy

Amy oversees FUMC programs that allow opportunities for us to care for one another. She points folks who are navigating difficult times to helpful resources, both inside and outside our congregation. When circumstances allow, Amy makes in-person visits to listen, to pray and to deliver prayer shawls. She has completed an internship in spiritual companionship and also hosts our midweek Rise & Shine worship on Wednesday mornings. Contact her if you have questions about how you can help others or if you need help yourself. In her spare time, Amy loves poetry, walks in the woods, riding bikes and playing tennis. 

Wendy Everett (she/her)
Co-Director of Middle Years Faith Formation
Contact Wendy Everett

Wendy has been a member of FUMC since 1993 and a staff member since 2000. A lifelong Michigan resident and graduate of Michigan Technological University, she enjoys the energy of youth and creating an environment where they have fun, experience community, and grow in faith. When she isn’t catering to her fur kids, Naomi, Shadow and Sweet Pea, she might be found playing board or online games with her extended family, rubber stamping greeting cards, reading a book from the library, or off on a mission trip to Zeba, Kenya, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, or Colombia. Contact Wendy if you have questions about youth group, Sol Cafe, Confirmation, SoulFull, Zeba, the Wesley Quadrilateral, or maybe even church history…she’s a cradle United Methodist and the longest-employed staff member.

Rachel McCollum (she/her)
Co-Director of Early Years Faith Formation
Contact Rachel McCollum

Rachel oversees Early Years (Pre K-5th grade) faith formation. She has served in Children’s Ministry since 2007. Rachel earned her master’s in education in children’s literature and her bachelor’s in religious studies and children’s picture book illustrations. She grew up in a Presbyterian church and found her way to the Methodist denomination in 2017. Rachel was born and raised in Ohio. She enjoys hot tea, popcorn, reading, traveling the world, snuggling with her kitty, painting, photography, being outside, learning, eating delicious food, writing and creating.

Daniel Reaume (he/him)
Co-Director of Older Youth Faith Formation
Contact Daniel Reaume

Daniel oversees Older Youth Faith Formation. He has been actively involved in children’s ministry since 2010 and in youth ministry since 2014. Daniel is passionate about justice and spiritual formation, but most of all seeing young people loved, affirmed and discipled into Christlikeness. In addition to vocational ministry, Daniel is a graduate student at Ashland Theological Seminary pursuing his master’s in divinity where he is working alongside faculty conducting research on faith trends amongst Gen-Zs and Millennials and its impact on church ministry and seminary education. In his free time Daniel enjoys reading, writing, playing music, hiking and disc golfing.

Jessica Allison (she/her)
Director of Communications
Contact Jessica Allison

Jessica has been the director of communications at FUMC since 2020. In her role she directs and coordinates messaging both within the church community and with the external community. Contact Jessica if you have questions about FUMC’s communications or website. Prior to her position at FUMC, she worked in nonprofit communications for eight years. Jessica is a graduate of Michigan State University. She and her husband, Peter, have two daughters and a Boston Terrier.

Dr. Samuel Cook​ (he/him)
Green Wood Music Director/Worship Leader
Contact Dr. Samuel Cook

Dr. Samuel Cook is Green Wood’s music director/worship leader. He is responsible for leading music for the weekly Saturday worship service. During the week, Dr. Cook is a school administrator in the Detroit area. He received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Marygrove College. Contact Dr. Cook if you have any questions related to worship music at Green Wood’s service.

Carole DeHart (she/her)
Director of Worship Development; Director of Chancel Bells; Director of Asbury Ringers
Contact Carole DeHart

Paul Haebig (he/him)
Organist
Contact Paul Haebig

Paul Haebig is FUMC’s organist. He provides organ and piano music for weekly and special worship services. Contact Paul if you have any questions about music for weddings, funerals or memorials. Paul has enjoyed a varied career in sacred music, serving United Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches and Conservative and Reform synagogues. In addition to his work at FUMC he is accompanist for the University of Michigan Arts Chorale. Paul received his Doctor of Musical Arts and master’s degree in music from the University of Michigan. He is a proud native Pittsburgher, and currently lives in Ann Arbor with his husband Martin. When he’s not making music, Paul enjoys bird watching and cooking; Indo-Caribbean cuisine is his specialty.

Bryan Ijames (he/him)
Director of Chancel Choir
Contact Bryan Ijames

Bryan Ijames joined the staff in 2021. He is responsible for directing the chancel choir. Contact Bryan if you have any questions about the chancel choir. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Michigan. Bryan, a native of North Carolina, taught secondary choral music education for six years in Florida. He has received both a master’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in music, as well as a a bachelor’s in music. Outside of teaching, Bryan was the associate conductor of The Ebony Chorale of the Palm Beaches and was a singing member of Expressivo, a semi-professional choral ensemble. He has performed as a tenor soloist many times with collegiate and community orchestras. Outside of music, Bryan loves to travel.

Tina Alee (she/her)
Administrative Secretary
Contact Tina Alee

Tina has been working at FUMC since May 2001. Some of her job duties are maintaining the church’s database, attendance, keeping the church calendar, coordinating mailings and communicating information to other staff and committee leaders. Contact Tina if you have questions about the church in general. If she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll connect you with the right person.

Tina is a lifelong Michiganian and a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Her son, Steven, is a college student. Tina enjoys music, reading, history and traveling with her son.

Henry Brown (he/him)
Building Supervisor
Contact Henry Brown

Henry has been with the staff since 2002 and supervises and coordinates the every day management of the building. Contact Henry if you have questions about the management of the building. In his spare time, Henry does stand-up comedy, acting and loves to grill.

Jenn Green
Accounting Clerk
Contact Jenn Green

Jenn assists the business manager with processing monetary gifts and paying the bills. Contact Jenn if you have any special instructions for gifts given. Before Joining FUMC in 2014, Jenn spent seven years as a chiropractic assistant, five years in full-time ministry on the UofM campus with Great Commission Ministries and six years doing home care. Jenn lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and three teenagers. In her free time, she enjoys riding her motorcycle and catching up with friends.

Marty Javornisky (he/him)
Business Manager
Contact Marty Javornisky

Marty Javornisky has been with FUMC since February of 2011. He has worked fulltime in accounting for over 25 years. Marty is responsible for everything involving church finances. He assists the treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee and keeps track of all the financial details regarding the various funds of the church. Marty also processes staff payroll and oversees administration of staff benefit programs. Contact Marty if you have any questions about your contributions to the church or if you need a reimbursement for payments you have made on behalf of the church. You may also contact him with any questions about church financial reports. Although Marty’s personality and training serve him well as a business manager, his real passion is in serving those in need. He finds a great deal of joy and fulfillment in volunteering with various charitable organizations.

Adele Roy (she/her)
Administrative Assistant, Online Worship and Video Artist
Contact Adele Roy

Adele is in charge of putting pre-recorded videos together and supporting in-person worship with live-stream graphics, slides, videos and bulletins. She is most excited to add visual and sensory creativity to projects. Adele has learned quite a bit about recording from home and in-person, so if you are preparing something for the church, reach out to her for help. Adele has been with the staff since early 2002. Her background is in graphic design and publishing technology. She’s a transplant to the midwest from many different locations on the east coast — she usually just says she’s from I-95. Her husband, Rob, is an actor, and is a teacher and theater director at Pinckney High School. Adele and Rob have a son, Griffin, and a daughter, Lucie, and a rescue Jack Russell Terrier named Biscotti. Adele fills her free time with photography, knitting, gardening (dahlias!), reading, cooking, painting and community theater pursuits with her husband.