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Senior Pastor, Rev. Marla E. Brown

The Rev. Marla Elifritz Brown became Senior Pastor of Grace Church on July 1, 2004, after eighteen years in local church and mission ministry settings. God has given her a passion for worship, mission work, children and youth ministries, pastoral counseling, and administration -- and especially for reclaiming the city for Christ. Marla seeks to lead our worship team to express the Word of God through spoken word, music, movement and dance, drama, multimedia, and visual arts, so that all may experience God’s presence and give thanks through word and service to others.

Before her appointment at Grace, Marla served for nine years as the Director of Community Ministries for the Miami Valley United Methodist Mission Society, supervising and promoting the work of seven United Methodist mission sites and dozens of church-based outreach efforts in the Greater Dayton area. She was Associate Pastor of Fairview United Methodist Church for nine years. Marla has been a leader of urban ministry initiatives and training throughout the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church and in the larger North Central Jurisdiction as well. She has worked on the staff of a Christian adventure camp for youth for one week every year for eighteen summers.

Marla graduated in 1986 from United Theological Seminary in Dayton with a Master of Divinity degree. She earned her BA in Political Science and her MBA from Wright State University. A native of the Fletcher, Ohio, area in Miami County, she is married to Len Brown. They have six children and seven grandchildren.

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Associate Pastor, Rev. Leo A. Cunningham

The Rev. Leo A. Cunningham was appointed Associate Pastor at Grace effective July 1, 2007. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Pastor Leo is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Arts in communications. He also holds two Master’s degrees from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio: one in Divinity, the other in Theological Studies.

Prior to his appointment at Grace, Leo served as Pastor of Ostrander United Methodist Church. He was ordained as an Elder at the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church in June, 2007.

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Deacon-in-Residence, Rev. Amelia Cooper Boomershine

Amelia is a clergy member of the West Ohio Annual Conference whose primary appointment is to GoTell Communications with a secondary appointment to Grace Church beginning in 2007. To her ministry of Word and Service Amelia brings gifts of biblical storytelling, teaching, and multimedia production. Her work involves helping people internalize stories of the biblical tradition to nurture their relationship with God through the way of Jesus Christ. In oral and digital storytelling she proclaims God's radical good news of peace and justice to a broken and warring world.

Amelia has been a leader in the Network of Biblical Storytellers for fifteen years. She co-authored three sets of guidebooks accompanying The Storykeepers animated video series for children. She was a member of the worship resource design team for Lumicon Digital Productions, 2000-2004. She has participated in the design of a variety of web sites, including an early site on the book of Joshua. In all these aspects of her ministry Amelia partners with her husband, Tom Boomershine.

Amelia holds degrees from the University of Colorado (B.S. in Elementary Education, 1972), the University of Michigan (M.A. in Early Childhood Education, 1975) and United Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1991). In 2006 she earned a Certificate in Multimedia from Sinclair Community College.

Secretary, Dana M. Blaine

Dana Blaine was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She is a graduate of Meadowdale High School and Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. Dana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and has worked for various media outlets such as The Dayton Daily News, WHIO-AM, and WHIO-TV Channel 7 as well as CNN in Atlanta.

Dana joined the Grace staff as secretary in 2005. She enjoys reading, writing, and roller skating. Dana is also working toward her dream of becoming a best-selling author.

Financial Secretary, Karen Gibson

Karen Gibson has more than twenty years of accounting and management experience in the private sector, and has completed course work at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky and Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Karen joined Grace Church Staff in April of 2001, and has been serving as financial secretary since that time.

Karen has had extensive experience counseling new business owners and also persons wanting to begin new businesses. Some of her expertise includes creating projections, pro formas, budgets and cash flows. Karen is well versed in how to apply for commercial loans, Small Business Association loans, and loans and/or grants from the State of Ohio. When she’s not “crunching numbers”, Karen loves to read and crochet.

Director of Children’s Ministries, Donna Johnson

Donna Johnson has earned an Associate of Arts in Music from Sinclair Community College in Dayton. She has served in the capacity of Children’s Sunday School Teacher, AWANA Children’s Bible Club Leader, Children’s Choir Director, vocal soloist, and accompanist. Donna has ten years experience as a private piano teacher, seven years experience as Legal Secretary, and over four years in accounting serving private contractors at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Donna’s interests include spending time with her husband, Gary, and daughter, Mary Jo, as well as creating and recording music.

In her own words, Donna relates, “I see myself as facilitator of a team of leaders focusing their efforts on discipling children in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ at Grace Church.” Donna considers herself privileged to be serving in such capacity.

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Director of Music Ministries, Gary C. Johnson

Gary Johnson, Director of Music Ministries, brings to Grace a wide range of liturgical and secular music gifts backed by a quarter-century career in music. He has worked as a church choir director, high school choir and band director, singer, contemporary Christian music artist, general music teacher, instrumentalist, guitar teacher, drama club advisor, sound specialist, composer, arranger and recording artist. As Director of Music for Presbyterian and Baptist churches in Fairborn, Gary directed not only choirs of children, youth, and adults, but also instrumentalists performing classical, traditional, and contemporary music. He was lead guitarist and vocalist for a summer at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church. Gary has taught music in public and parochial schools in Dayton, Beavercreek, and Springfield. He has performed as a soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic Chorus and is the Fairborn Civic Band Director.

At Grace, Gary has taken the Chief Minstrel’s role in the Boar’s Head and Yule Log festival. He holds the Bachelor of Music degree from Wright State University and has completed graduate courses in education there. Gary, his wife Donna (also a professional musician), and their daughter Mary Jo live in Fairborn.

Children’s Choir Director, Carol Jones

Carol graduated from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor’s in Music Education before Michael Jordan was there. She has taught Music in public and private schools in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, and currently teaches at Louise Troy Primary in Dayton. She has also served churches in North Carolina and Florida as Adult and Youth Choir director and handbell director. Carol has accompanied musicals, solo recitals and concert choirs, and played piano in restaurants for a few years when her children were small. Carol says, “It is a joy to be at Grace where I can make music before the Lord in so many ways, and can enjoy the gifts of so many talented singers and instrumentalists in worship.”

Organist, Effie Sue Kemerley

Effie Sue Kemerley, a long-time member of Grace Church, serves as organist and participates in special music programs. She has a B.Ed. from the University of Toledo and a M.Ed. from Wright State University. Effie Sue studied organ during college, and continued studying both organ and piano after graduating. She is currently the piano adjunct at Stivers High School for the Arts, and has a private piano studio.

Effie Sue has been a member of Dayton Philharmonic Chorus for more than thirty years, and she sang in Grace Church choir for over twenty years. She has also served on the Beavercreek School Board and current community involvement includes the Dayton Opera and Philharmonic and the Green County Council on Aging. Effie Sue is an avid reader and bibliophile.

Property Manager, April Kingery

April Kingery, property manager, says it is a blessing to serve at Grace Church. The daughter of a carpenter, she spent much of her childhood working with her father, which laid the foundation for the work she does today. April is also experienced in heating, ventilating and air conditioning, building and property maintenance, and management. She “loves God, old buildings and management, so the job fits”.

In addition to being employed in church ministry, April has been involved in outreach and missions at her home church, where her involvement in bus ministry and children’s church helps to enhance all she does at Grace Church. She had also been an advocate for battered women and children, and her five grandchildren are her greatest joy.

About Previous Staff Members

Please scroll down for previous staff members at Grace, presented alphabetically by last name.

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Former Student Pastor for Youth and Children’s Ministry, Rev. Dr. Sherry Gale

Our former student pastor for youth and children’s ministry is Sherry Gale, who assumed the pastorship of Cincinnati’s Nast-Trinity United Methodist Church in July, 2004. To honor Sherry and her service at Grace -- and to wish her and her children a fond farewell -- we held a special celebration in her honor at the Bistro in the gymnasium on her last Sunday with us, June 13, 2004.

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Retired Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Bryan Palmer-Smith

Our former Senior Pastor is Bryan Palmer-Smith. Born and educated in England, Bryan was called to full time Christian ministry as a teenager under the spiritual influence of Billy Graham. He received his undergraduate degree and master’s and was ordained a British Methodist minister. After twenty-one years pastoring in Northern England, he transferred to the American United Methodist Church. Bryan was appointed to Friendship Church in Cincinnati where he remained for eleven years. Bryan’s doctorate is in Spiritual Formation, earned from United Theological Seminary in 1988. In 1995 he was appointed to Grace Church. His passions include Biblical preaching, equipping laity for ministry and diversity. In addition he is an avid fisherman, wood turner, volunteer for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and would-be model railway enthusiast.

Sunday, June 6, 2004 was Bryan’s final Sunday at Grace Church. To mark this special day, we celebrated his retirement from the ministry with a dinner in the gymnasium, followed by a program honoring Bryan and his forty years as an ordained minister -- forty-eight years in ministry altogether -- as an outstanding servant and leader.

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Former Associate Director of Youth Ministries, Diane Taveau

Diane Taveau, Associate Director of Youth Ministries, joined the staff at Grace Church on August 1, 2004 in her first ministry position -- but sadly for Grace had to leave Ohio due to family considerations in late winter 2005. Over the past fifteen years, Diane has flourished in managerial positions in the retail, restaurant and meeting planning industries. She has a passion for team building and excels at identifying and developing the strengths of individuals. Diane has had the pleasure of working with the youth at Grace throughout the year prior to her appointment, chaperoning at the youth lock-in and trips to Kings Island, and accompanying them on their June mission trip to Mobile, Alabama.

Before joining the team at Grace, Diane served as a corporate meeting planner where she utilized her skills in organization, budgeting, task management and diplomacy while planning large-scale meetings and events for the pharmaceutical industry. She also held positions as a retail district sales manager and as a writing consultant for a high school English department. Diane is an accomplished actress, having had roles in several movies, commercials and local theater productions. She brings with her an infectious enthusiasm for the word of God and energetically assisted the youth at Grace shape their relationship with Christ, their families and the community in which they live.

Diane has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Texas as well as graduate coursework towards her Masters in Education, and began the Actor Training Program in fall 2004 at Wright State University. She also volunteered with the Junior League of Dayton, serving as the Assistant Chair of the Healthy Lifestyles Committee, which is educating the community regarding the current epidemic of childhood obesity. A native of California, Diane has also lived in Texas and Pennsylvania, and became very fond of her Dayton home and especially Grace Church. She is married to Jon Taveau and has two children -- their chocolate lab named Fudge and their newly adopted stray Beagle named Salem, for the street on which she was found.

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Former Associate Pastor, Rev. Melody J. Williams

Grace’s previous Associate Pastor Melody Jean Williams was born in Columbia, South Carolina and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Melody received her BA in Music from Stillman College and a Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. She has ministered throughout the United States and abroad, serving as a Chaplain Intern at Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois, and as an evangelist to Nigeria, West Africa. Melody was also a guest soloist at the Cairo Opera House in Cairo, Egypt. In 2003 she was appointed Associate Pastor at Grace Church, and in 2007, Melody was appointed as senior pastor of Hilltop United Methodist Church in Columbus.

Her passion for ministry includes pastoral care, preaching and teaching the Word of God, and spiritual formation. In addition, she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Grace celebrated Pastor Melody’s years of ministry at Grace and bade her farewell on her last Sunday as our Associate Pastor, June 24, 2007. Please see our Look! page for a photographic record of this event.