Our Staff
Come meet the dedicated people that “Love God, Grow Together and Serve Others”.
Pastor
Rev. Casey Banks is an ordained Elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference and has served Newberg First UMC as Pastor since July 2020.
She graduated Duke Divinity School in 2016 with a Masters of Divinity and an interest in church revitalization. She loves creating relevant,
interactive worship series that connect the ancient biblical stories to modern life. She is also passionate about justice ministries that seek equality for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC friends.
In kindergarten, Casey wanted to be a dog catcher to give all the stray dogs a home; today, Casey still values finding homes for all and is working on solutions to the housing crisis through NFUMC’s Dundee Commons housing development and through serving on Newberg’s Affordable Housing Commission. Casey and
husband Kristopher live in Newberg with their daughter Leila and cat Snowball.
Laveda Weirich
Office Administrator/Bookkeeper
Laveda Weirich joined Newberg First UMC’s staff in January 2022. She has lived in McMinnville, Oregon, for over 30 years, most of those years in a log house she helped build. She and her husband, Jerry, live on over 21 acres in the country. Laveda homeschooled her four children for over 20 years and helped raise one of her grandsons until he was six years old, taking on a job at a private school as a teacher, sub, and eventually office work so she could be nearby. She and her husband had a business they ran out of their home for many years. She most recently worked six days a week in the office for Orchard and Vineyard Supply, which she enjoyed. Laveda is thrilled to be back in Newberg where she graduated from George Fox University and looks forward to meeting each one of the congregational members.
Bree Theilacker was born and raised in Southern California. They started taking piano lessons at age 6 and has been playing in church since age 10. Bree attended California Baptist University and earned their degree in Music Composition and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in K-12 Music. Bree has had the opportunity to play for many different churches of many different denominations. They are currently the Band Director at Centennial High School in Gresham. Bree lives in Happy Valley with her wife, Kat, daughter AJ and Mini Dachshund Flynn.
Brenda Longton
Choir Director
Brenda Longton was born and raised on the Southern Oregon coast, where she began her musical journey at the young age of 5 with Accordion lessons. She attended Western Baptist Bible College (now called Corben) and graduated with degrees in Music and Bible. After getting her Masters of Music at Oregon College of Education, she then spent 30 years teaching music and drama in private and public schools, picking up a additional Masters in Theatre along the way. During her last 17 years of teaching until her retirement, she also worked as a Music Director in a local church. She is currently involved in several musical groups and when she find the time she loves spending time in God’s beautiful creation camping. Brenda lives in McMinnville, Oregon with her 17 lb. cat, Sassy.
Syd Wermlinger
Treasurer
Karen Spear
Financial Secretary
Kaylee Peason
Nursery Teacher
Corinne Heimuller
Child Care Provider
Sumni Kim
Elementary Sunday School Teacher
Our Ministry Team Leaders
Joe Shipman
Facilities Team Leader
Elizabeth Lee
Youth & Children Ministries Coordinator
Lori Allen
Lay Leader, Reconciling Ministries Team Leader
Joan Shipman
Mission Ambassadors Coordinator
Mary Freeman
Hunger Relief Ministries Team Leader
Russ Sprunger
AV
Methodist Men
Maggie Freese
Small Groups
Janelle Bolt
Jubilant Bells
Brenda Longton
Choir Director, Website, S.inG.L.E.
Julie Viche
Receptions
Tom Lutz
Garden
