Rev. Tom Tipton | Senior Pastor

Rev. Tom Tipton
Senior Pastor
Pastor Tom and his wife Kim came to Susanna Wesely in the midst of the pandemic. He is our Senior Pastor and servant leader. He holds an A.A. in Broadcast Engineering, a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Technology from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He served in the Army as a commissioned officer leaving for the corporate world. As a corporate executive for several fortune 100 companies, he felt God’s call. He left the corporate world answering God’s call to ministry in 2002. Before coming to Susanna Wesley, he initiated the creation of Proclaiming Grace Outreach, a non-profit serving New Kent, upper James City County and Charles City. He served on Thrive Peninsula Board in Newport News helping to restructure the board and bylaws that is guiding Thrive to grow and expand operations to reach more people in need. In addition, he continues to serve and advise several other nonprofit organizations. Pastor Tom is leading Susanna Wesley to embrace the greater community, welcoming all, and sharing the love of Christ as we expand our missional focus. He is guiding our technology enhancement program instituting changes in our facility and worship space to reach outside the walls of our campus.  As a servant leader, he is leading us to walk in the way of Christ, caring for the underprivileged and supporting missions and missionaries sharing the love of God in the world through message and service.
      Pastor Tom and his wife Kim have four grown daughters and two grandchildren. 

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Phyllis Russell
Lay Servant
Phyllis came to our community several years ago moving to the area with her husband. They found a home in the Gloucester area and a community of faith that welcomed them. Unfortunately Phyllis lost her husband to illness shortly after their arrival. Welcomed by the community,  Phyllis has brought a spirit of kindness, caring, generosity and servitude. Her commitment to God runs deep and show through her passion for congregational care and outreach. As a child she attended Red Bird Missionary School in Kentucky. Today she is organizing and guiding our missionary team which is scheduled to depart this next year in July to Red Bird Mission's Work Camp. As a child of this area she understands the seriousness of the need but also the depth of faith that exists in the community we will serve.  

Phyllis Russell | Lay Servant

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Marsha K. Germek, Lay Servant

Marsha K. Germek
Lay Servant
After my walk to Emmaus in 2003 , I made a commitment to God as he lead me to find “the hope” to which He has called me; what is the purpose to which I have been called?   My personal relationship with my Lord Jesus is continually changing as I grow through worship, study and prayer.  My heart’s desire is to be a better servant, a better witness and better disciple and encourage others to enter into a relationship with Jesus the Christ.  Since 2003, I have attended Annual Conferences, Laity Workshops and Training Workshops.  I have completed the requirements to apply through the District as a Certified Lay Speaker, as well as Certified Lay Servant.  I look forward to being in ministry with Susannah Wesley UMC and serving as your Assistant Lay Leader under the guidance of Pastor Tom.

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Sebastian Brock
Student Ministry Director
 Sebastian brings a deep love of God to his ministry. In his teens he was active in his youth group. As a young adult he began assisting the youth director. As he grew in ministry and sought out to lead and serve in student ministry. He brings breadth of knowledge and is excited to be helping the sttudents go deeper in thier relationship wiht God. Working with Joanne Fary, lead our small group discussion with students in our community. On Tuesday evening at at 6:00 p.m. he is working with students to go deeper in their faith in bible study. He invites the students in our comminity to join him in worship on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. in our worship center.

Sebastian Brock |Student Ministry Director

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Rita Gray - Administrative Assistant

Rita Gary
Administrative Assitant
We welcome Rita to our community. She brings a wealth of experience to our administrative office. She will be working to improve communication and conncetions within our community. 

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Children's Worship Team
Our children's worship team has been formed to bring together the gifts and heart to provide our children a worship atmosphere where they can learn about a loving and caring God. Utilizing the Cokesbury Celebrate Wonder program. They seek to provide a program that  honors the spiritual life of children—their natural sense of awe, wonder, imagination, and curiosity—and help shape their growing faith with Celebrate Wonder. Our worship team leaders guide our children through engaging experiences, spiritual practices, and opportunities for reflection, giving them a safe space to ask big questions and helping them claim their spiritual identity as children of God.  

Children Worship Team Group Picture (Coming Soon)

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Barbara McGlohn         
Worship Music Director      

Barbara McGlohn
Worship Music Director

​We are blessed to have the talents of such a gifted accompanist and singing voice and guide for our worship program. Barbara brings a joy filled perspective to our program thorough her talents, heart for God and gifts in and leading a teaching. She has amazing talent which she shares in praise of our Lord. She leads our Traditional 8:15 a.m. service and is supporting our 10:30 a.m. Contempoary Worship Service.








​Crystal Tucker-Oberlin
Contemporary Music Director

​Crystal was chosen to join our team because of her gifts and talents. She is guiding our worship team to bridge both culturally and generationally as we expand and welcome a vibrant contemporary program. She brings a gift to sing and make music by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Crystal Tucker-Oberlin
Contempoary Music Director

Church Leadership Board

Board Chair - Traci Noah
Staff Administrative Assistant - Open & Advertised
 
Member (Certified Lay Servant)-2022 - Marsha K. Germek
Member 2021 - Vicki Barnes
Member-2021 - Shirley Fanton
Member (Chair)-2020 - Judy Core
Member 2022 - Carol Steele
Member 2022 - Debbie Huff
Member-2021 - Ginny Miller
Member (Trustee)-2022 - Jackie Turlington
Member (Trustee)-2021 - Mike Hensley
Member (Trustee)-2020 - Randy Fary
 
Ex Officio Members of the Leadership Board:      
Pastor - Rev. Tom Tipton
Administrative Assistant - Rita Gray
Director of Worship Music  - Barbara McGlohn
Driector of Contempoary Worship - Crystal Tucker-Oberlin
Youth Director - Sebastian Brock
Children’s Church Coordinator - Kim Tipton
Mission Outreach, Chair or Co-Chair - Bobby Scarborough
Worship Committee, Chair - Marsha K. Germek
Hospitality, Chair - Judy Church
Treasurer - Anita Newcomb
Financial Secretary - Julia Barnes