1049 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village, CA 91361
(805) 497-7884
Fax: (805) 379-5157
info@umcwv.org
The church office is open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
STAFF:
Dr. Gary Alan Dickey, Senior Pastor
gary@umcwv.org
Rev. Brian Long, Associate Pastor
brian@umcwv.org
Tim Weaver Jr., Director of Youth Ministries
tim@umcwv.org
Christy Sutphen, Christian Program Coordinator
christy@umcwv.org
Julia Long, Spiritual Life Coordinator
julia@umcwv.org
Sharon Brandenberger, Business Manager & Wedding Hostess
sharon@umcwv.org
Dorie Kracker, Program Secretary
dorie@umcwv.org
Diane Clarridge, The Growing Place Preschool & Kindergarten Director
diane@GrowingPlaceWLV.org
Gloria Hilliard, Director of Music
glomusic@aol.com
Ron McBain, Organist
ron.mcbain@gmail.com
Nick Newkirk, Handbell Choirs & Footprints Director
NNewkirk49@yahoo.com
Dr. Gary Alan Dickey, Senior Pastor - gary@umcwv.org
Dr. Gary Alan Dickey was born in Santa Monica and grew up in Southern California. He is an 8th generation Methodist, descended from ancestors who were converted under the preaching of John Wesley in England. He was ordained by Bishop Gerald Kennedy in 1969 at the University of Redlands. He was appointed to UMCWV in 2003 after serving churches in Burbank, Pasadena and Canoga Park. His academic degrees include a B.A. in ancient history, UCLA; an advanced undergraduate diploma in English local history, Oxford University; advanced certificates in Canadian and Methodist Records from The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, University of Toronto; a M.Div. in theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena; a D.Min, in New Testament theology, Claremont School of Theology; and a Ph.D., in church administration, Trinity Seminary. Pastor Dickey believes in the power of prayer, the importance of worship for God’s people, and the active participation of lay people in the life of the church. He and his wife Tami have been married since 1976. His interests include genealogy – as a Certified Genealogist in English research – playing the bagpipes, reading, and traveling.
Rev. Brian Long, Associate Pastor – brian@umcwv.org
Rev. Brian Long was born and raised in Rhode Island. From an early age he has been
actively involved in the United Methodist Church as a pastor's kid. At the age of 14,
Brian gave his life to Christ while on a mission trip to the British Virgin Islands. While
attending Ithaca College in New York he began working with A Christian Ministry in
the National Parks and served for five years in various national parks around the United
States. While serving with ACMNP, he received his call to ministry. In 2001, Brian
moved to California to attend Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He graduated in 2006 with a M.Div. in theology. Brian began serving UMCWV as the Director of Youth
Ministries in November 2003. In 2008, he became the Associate Pastor as he continued
to work with youth until 2011. His hope in ministry is for people to " become fully
committed to daily living out their relationship with God through Jesus." His passions in
ministry are missions, discipleship and looking at the larger church impact in this world.
He lives in Thousand Oaks with his wife and daughter. In June 2011, Brian was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in the Cal-Pac Annual Conference.
Tim Weaver Jr., Director of Youth Ministries – tim@umcwv.org
Tim Weaver works with the Adult Workers with the Youth committee and is responsible for the Senior High (CYF) and Junior High (JYF) youth fellowships, and the Holy Club. Tim received a bachelor’s degree in communication from California Lutheran University, December 2007, and is enrolled in The Leadership in Youth Ministry Certificate Program at Fuller Theological Seminary. He believes in the importance of striving toward worshipping God each day, for everyone in the church working together to be the body of Christ, and for youth to have strong Christian mentors that model authentic relationships with God. Tim and his family have been members of UMCWV all of his life. As a child he regularly attended Sunday school and as a youth JYF and CYF. His interests include reading, spending time with family and friends, sports, movies and exercising.
Christy Sutphen, Christian Program Coordinator – christy@umcwv.org
Christy Sutphen oversees weekly Sunday School and Adult Education classes, Vacation Bible School, weekly Bible Studies - ALPHA courses and Disciple Bible Studies, and Childcare. She works with the Christian Education committee. Christy holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from California Lutheran University. She will complete a second bachelor’s degree in fine art at CLU in August 2011. Christy has attended UMCWV since she was 2 years old. She was baptized and confirmed at our "church on the corner" as a child. In recent years, she has volunteered as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. She has also served on the Women's Retreat Committee for several years and been its chair. Christy looks forward to working closely with the congregation to improve and expand our Christian Education Programs.
Julia Long, Spiritual Life Coordinator – julia@umcwv.org
Julia Long works with the Women's Ministries and Christian Education committees. She is responsible for the Women's One-Day Retreat and Women's Retreat, Women's sharing group, BeeVees, Family Life education and working with newly forming small group Bible studies. Julia was born in Lithuania and raised in Russia. She holds a bachelor's degree in theology from the Theological Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, and a master's degree in Theology with a concentration in Family Life Education from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. Julia came to UMCWV in 2003 and has been an active participant in the life of this church as a teacher in the Kindergarten Sunday School classroom, a presenter for the Woman's One-Day Retreat, working with youth ministry and many other events at the church.
Sharon Brandenberger, Business Manager & Wedding Hostess
sharon@umcwv.org
Sharon Brandenberger is the Business Manager and Wedding Hostess. On staff since July 1998, she is originally from Toledo, Ohio, and attended the University
of Toledo. Later she moved to El Paso, Texas, where she worked in the banking industry for many years while teaching training courses and seminars on banking, management and personnel matters. She now lives in Thousand Oaks and is pictured with her faithful friend, Gigi. She has two married children, Karen and Eric, and two grandchildren, Andrew and Emily.
Dorie Kracker, Program Secretary – dorie@umcwv.org
Dorie Kracker is the Program Secretary for our church, responsible for producing the
newsletter (Covenant), Order of Worship for Sunday services and other publications as
requested by staff members. She and her family have been members of UMCWV since
1977. Dorie’s background includes positions as a teacher, most recently of computer
programs to both children and adults. She and her husband Bob live in Westlake Village
and have two adult daughters, Robin and Karin, and one granddaughter.
Diane Clarridge, The Growing Place Preschool & Kindergarten Director
diane@GrowingPlaceWLV.org
Diane Clarridge serves as Director of The Growing Place Preschool and Kindergarten.
She was appointed as the school’s administrator in July of 2000. From 1978 – 1996,
Diane was a teacher and assistant director at The Growing Place and served as director at
St. Aidan’s School in Malibu for four years. Diane earned her teaching diploma in Early
Childhood Education at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and has
taught in Australia and in England. She attended the University of California at Los
Angeles and California Lutheran University, where she furthered her education in school
administration. Diane and her husband Clif live in Thousand Oaks. They are a blended
family and are extremely proud of their four children and nine grandchildren.
www.growingplacewlv.org
Gloria Hilliard, Director of Music – glomusic@aol.com
Gloria Hilliard is the Director of Music and has been an integral part of our church community for many years. She received a bachelor of arts degree in music from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, and a master of arts degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Along with having been an assistant
professor of music at Mary Hardin-Baylor College and a teacher of music theory at
Pepperdine University, Gloria has gained recognition as a pianist, organist and music
conductor. She has been the director of the Village Voices Chorale since 1987 and
teaches piano privately. She holds memberships in the American Choral Directors
Association, the National Association of Church Musicians and the Music Teachers
Association of California. Gloria and her husband Mike live in Agoura Hills and have
two grown children and two grandsons.
Ron McBain, Organist – ron.mcbain@gmail.com
Ron McBain is the church organist and accompanist for the Chancel Choir and Footprints youth choir. He began his studies on the piano at the age of 5, giving his first public recital at the age of 9. Receiving his bachelor in fine arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University in piano performance, Ron has studied with several notable pianists and been a soloist with several orchestras and ensembles. He has performed extensively in the Eastern United States and in Russia, Finland, Estonia and the Czech Republic. Ron began playing organ in 2002 at First Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, where he studied under Nancy Galbraith. Originally from New Jersey, he moved to Los Angeles in August 2004. Ron is also on faculty at the Open Charter Magnet School as head of the music department and teaches piano privately.
Nick Newkirk, Handbell Choirs & Footprints Director – NNewkirk49@yahoo.com
Nick Newkirk is the director of the handbell program and the 7th-12th grade Footprints vocal choir. He has a bachelor of arts degree in music education from California State
University, Northridge. He has studied under notable directors and has diverse stage
experience performing in more than a dozen musical productions. Nick has more than
10 years of experience instructing children in various activities including voice, general
music and acting. He is the Recreation Supervisor for the City of Agoura Hills. He is also
a member of the American Choral Directors association and the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.
