Westchester United Methodist Church Staff

WELCOME SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES SERMON TOPIC & TEXT FIJIAN COMMUNITY WORSHIP IS A PRIORITY SACRAMENTS OF COMMUNION & BAPTISM WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS MESSENGER NEWSLETTER PODCASTS SUNDAY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FAMILY MINISTRIES EVENTS DISCIPLESHIP MOTHERS DAY OUT WESLEYAN CHOIR WESLEYAN HANDBELL CHOIR MISSION OPPORTUNITIES UNITED METHODIST WOMEN UNITED METHODIST MEN YOUTH ACTIVITIES RELATED LINKS CONTACT US SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & ANNOUNCEMENTS SUPPORT WUMC MAP	*"Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world"*
	Church Staff
		Rev. Susan Oeffler appointed Senior Pastor July 1, 2011. A graduate of Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, CA, she previously served at Los Altos UMC, Long Beach, CA, July 2009 - June 2011 as the associate pastor and youth director. Pastor Sue has a passion for ministry, worship, pastoral care, social justice and youth. Growing up in the church, she has been active in several areas of ministry, including youth ministry, worship planning and special events, church leadership, Vacation Bible School, service projects and evangelism and outreach, all of which contributed to her calling as a minister. A Midwest native, She served for 5 years as a local pastor in rural Wisconsin caring for 2-point and 3-point church charges while finishing her undergraduate work. She received her BA in Religion and minor in Communications at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN in May 2006. Susan moved to California that summer to attend Claremont School of Theology and received her Masters of Divinity in May 2009. While in California, she transferred into the Cal-Pac Annual Conference and began work at First UMC and Grand Ave UMC, Santa Ana learning about multi-cultural churches, urban communities and homelessness issues and then First UMC, Fullerton as the seminary intern and Director of Evangelism and Outreach. She is also an active member of CLUE- Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, an organization that goes to the root of social justice problems to advocate for change while supporting those who are struggling due to injustice. Apart from work, Pastor Sue is the proud mother of 3 grown children, Curtis, Chelsey, and Chad, who currently reside in the Midwest. She enjoys traveling, gardening, photography, decorating, cooking, and music. For years, Susan worked in the family flower shop and greenhouses and is intrigued by California plants and flowers.
		Marla Jensen began her work with young people at a young age. Through teaching, swim lessons, and the United Methodist Church camping ministry, she has worked with kids of all ages from the start. Marla graduated with her Bachelor’s degree and Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount University. After teaching the primary grades for two years, she put teaching on hold and began work as a private tutor. She is currently working towards her Masters of Counseling degree along with her Pupil Personnel Credential and California Counseling Licensure at Loyola Marymount University. She hopes to become a junior high school counselor and eventually work as a therapist in a private practice working with children and teenagers. Within the United Methodist Church, Marla has volunteered as a counselor and dean in training for the Santa Barbara District camping ministry since 2006. Her time spent at camp gave her the drive to go back to school for her Master’s degree as well as pursue a job as a youth director. She is thankful for all that the church has done in her life and hopes to help guide our youth towards their dreams, as well
		Rev. John W. Mills has served as our Visitation Pastor since 1996. A graduate of Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas, he has served the church in a variety of positions across the years.

		Dale Van Natta returned as our Director of Music in 1997. He and his wife Dolores, who share in the leadership of the church's music program, previously served as co-directors from 1971 to 1992.

		Brian Kennedy, Organist since 2007.

		Penny Thomas, Secretary since September 2008

	Westchester United Methodist Church (310) 670-3777 8065 Emerson Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045-1435 go to map (north of Manchester, west of Sepulveda, east of Lincoln) wumcoffice1@sbcglobal.net (Last updated 02/2/2012 vaf)