United Methodist Church

PASTORS & STAFF

Lead Pastor

Rev. James Farmer.

Email: jfarmer@severnaparkumc.org

Pastor Farmer has been under appointment since 1983.  He received his seminary education at Wesley Seminary, and has a passion for leadership in the church, worship/preaching, and helping the church to develop its disciple making.

 He has experience serving both rural and suburban churches.  His appointments have included Tom's Creek/Trinity in Emmitsburg for eight years, Clinton UMC for six years and Trinity UMC in Prince Frederick for eight years.  Each of these churches experienced growth under his leadership.  Rev. Farmer has also served on conference staff as a Discipler Guide in the Annapolis Southern Region and then as assistant to the bishop. 

Pastor Farmer is a 2005 recipient of the Harry H. Denman Award for Evangelism presented by the Baltimore Washington Conference.   He was recognized because of his effectiveness in reaching people who join the church on profession of faith -- brand new members as distinct from those transferring from other congregations or denominations. 

Associate Pastor

Rev. Nicole Christopher

Email: nchristopher@severnaparkumc.org

Rev. Nicole is a native of Pensacola, Florida and a graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.  She graduated from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia May 2007.  She interned as a chaplain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, and interned for a year at the Atlanta Urban Ministry's, Women's and Children's Soup Kitchen.  She also worked for a year at Druid Hills United Methodist Church as a seminary intern; preaching, writing liturgy and teaching. 

During seminary Nicole was selected as a Ministry Fellow by The Fund for Theological Education and received a grant with which she created an Indian travel seminar to study Liberation theology and oppressed women and children. Nicole's passions include social justice work, outreach, camping, retreat ministries and missions. 

Associate Pastor

Pastor Martha Meredith

Email: mmeredith@severnaparkumc.org

Martha Meredith was born in Northport Alabama. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from University of Alabama and Old Dominion University. She taught 18 years in Florida, Virginia, California and Maryland.

A life-long Methodist, Martha has served in various ministries within local churches. Martha graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC in May 2009 and is a certified candidate for ordained ministry in the Baltimore Washington Conference. She served as ministry intern at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Edgewater, Maryland. She brings a passion for congregational care, teaching, preaching and Christian community to her ministry.

Martha has been married to Mark Meredith for over 30 years. They are the proud parents of Anne, who is a lawyer, and Jim, an enrollment advisor at Ashford University in San Diego, California.

Minister of Christian Education & Youth

Rev. Lee Ferrell

Email: lferrell@severnaparkumc.org

Lee Ferrell was born in Baltimore and raised in Towson, a lifelong United Methodist.  She graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor's degree in Christian Education and graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with a Masters in Religious Education.  Lee is certified through the annual conference in both Christian education and youth ministries.  She has been employed by/associated with SPUMC since the mid 70's.

Lee likes:  sunrises, teenagers, jigsaw puzzles and chocolate.  She has two daughters:  Beth is a Certified Recreational Therapist.  Tricia, is in Communications.   Lee is the proud grandmother of Maggie, Paige and Piper.

 Director of Children's Ministries: Erica Benjaminn

Email:Email: ebenjamin@severnaparkumc.org

Erica Benjamin spent the majority of her childhood in Northeast Pennsylvania.  Prior to moving to Pennsylvania she lived in Kobe, Japan, Knoxville, TN and Atlanta, GA.  The daughter of a United Methodist pastor she lived in several places in Pennsylvania, but considers Noxen, Pennsylvania home.  Her parents now live in Deposit, NY. 
 
She moved to Washington, DC in 2001 to attend American University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  During college she spent a semester studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic.  After graduation she taught for 2 years at Gibbs Elementary School in DC.  She then enrolled at Wesley Theological Seminary in DC.  While in Seminary she completed her internship at Central Union Mission, a homeless shelter and transitional housing program for men where she wrote literacy and Biblically based curriculum for the men in the Spiritual Transformation Program.  She graduated from Seminary in May 2010 with a Masters of Divinity specializing in Urban Ministry.  She is a Certified Candidate in the Baltimore Washington Conference.
 
Erica was married to Chris Bloom in 2010, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece Ellie who lives in Rochester, NY.  She also enjoys swimming, reading, traveling, and cooking.

Church Facilities Manager: Dave McKinney

Email: dmckinney@severnaparkumc.org

Administrative Assistant: Paula Lesko

Email: plesko@severnaparkumc.org

Program Secretary: Beth Frank

Email: bfrank@severnaparkumc.org

Treasurer/Church Accountant: Lynne Chaput

Email: lchaput@severnaparkumc.org

Director of Music and Worship Arts: Laura Davis

Email: ldavis@severnaparkumc.org

CHURCH COUNCIL,
COMMITTEE LEADERS & INFORMATION

The Church Council serves as the executive agency of the Severna Park United Methodist Church (SPUMC).  It is responsible for general oversight of the church's primary mission as well as for the administration of the church's activities and programs.  The "Methodist Discipline" requires the Council to provide for the planning and implementation of programs of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources and to provide for the administration of the Church's organizational and temporal life.  The Charge Conference elects the chairperson each year.  Council members include all SPUMC pastors, Committee Chairpersons and representatives from organizations and ministries within the church. 

OTHER MINISTRY LEADERS
Contact information for other church ministries can be found on the Committees & Leaders web page
 

For further information call the Church Office 410-987-4700.