Rev. Rick Sale just joined the staff at FUMC as senior pastor in June, 2009.   Since then, one of Rev. Sale's priorities has been completing an agressive program of visiting all of our local members.   Through both group and individuals, much of our local congregation has been able to meet with Rev. Sale, to tell him of their dreams for First Church, their fond memories and their desires for the future ministries.

His wife, Carol Markstrom, is also getting to know the congregation through her teaching of a very successfull mid-week class on Native American studies, and through her participation in the Chancel Choir. 

On December 13th, nearly 80 of our members visited with Rick and Carol at a Christmas Open House, held at the Pike Street parsonage.

 Contact Rev. Sale at revrick@cfumc.org

Rev. Elizabeth W. Baker, Minister of Spiritual Formation and Lay Ministry Development, is an ordained United Methodist deacon. She came to First United Methodist Church after having served six years as Director of College Ministry and six years as an assigned supply pastor. Elizabeth's passion for spiritual formation is captured in her life mission statement: "I want to be a reflection of the light that encourages the flower to open." In her experience, lay ministry is a natural outgrowth of a person's healthy spiritual growth. 

Rev. Baker is married and has two grown son - Ben, in his last year of veterinary school and Bryan in his last year of seminary, in preparation for missionary service. Her husband, Marty, is Manager of Facilities at Clarion University.

If you have any questions or comments please contact me at ebaker@cfumc.org.

Don Gardner is the Director of Music and Church Operations at First United Methodist Church. He received his Masters of Music in Choral Conduction from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and a Bachelor of Music Education, magna cum laude, from West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon. 

Don has served as Music Director at First United Methodist since 1978, and through the years also has enjoyed leading Children, Youth, and Adult Ministries.  

Beginning in 2010, the position of Director of Church Operations was created.  In this role, Gardner, will enhance the ministry of hospitality at First Church, and seeks to encourage the congregation to further establish the church's presence in the community. 

Volunteering in many capacities in community activities and in United Methodist denominational events,  he puts into practice his belief in Wesley's emphases on "practical theology", and "the world is my parish"

Contact Don at dgardner55@yahoo.com.

Carrie Whaley, one of our First United Methodist, is serving wonderfully well as our interim Director of Youth Ministries!    Assisted by the Youth Ministries Council and many volunteers, our 6th through 12th graders are enjoying a wealth of service and fellowship activities.  

For more details, contact us at fumcbreakawayyouth@gmail.com.

Beth Skidmore serves as our Director of Children's Ministries at First United Methodist Church, a part-time position she has held since 2003.  Prior to that, she was one of our best volunteers --- so we hired her to keep her around as long as possible!

Beth, her husband Ike, and her three sons Michael, Andrew, and John, are longtime Clarksburg residents.  Her reputation as an engaging and exciting leader of children's ministries is known not only throughout the local congregation, but beyond the walls of First Church. 

As a area resident, Beth is also very involved in the life of the community, volunteering in many ways, including serving as a counselor at annual 4-H summer camps at Jackson's Mill.

To contact Beth, e-mail her at jambinwv@aol.com