Leadership

Pastors, Staff, and Lay Leaders

Rev. Dr. Keith Braucher

Head Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Keith Braucher became Lead Pastor of Stewartstown United Methodist Church July 1 of 2017. He believes everyone needs to know that God created them, knows them personally, loves them unconditionally, forgives them totally, and wants them to live joyful, creative and purposeful lives. He believes that this is only accomplished when God’s love for us is lived out in our relationships. That the Church is to be the hands and feet of the risen Christ to bring God’s new reality into every part of our lives, and our communities both locally and globally. This is only possible through Christ’s self-sacrificial love for us and in lives deeply rooted in God.

Pastor Keith has served in full-time ordained ministry since 1981. He has served several congregations in the Susquehanna Conference as full-time or interim pastor, as college chaplain of York College, PA, as Pastoral Counselor in private practice, as founding Executive Director of a multiple sites pastoral counseling agency and as congregational consultant and conflict resolution specialist. Keith holds his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychotherapy from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston IL with the Institute for Pastoral Psychotherapy.

Keith enjoys being outdoors, cooking and great food, music, and dancing of all types. He and Marsha have been married since 1988. Marsha is a Registered Nurse working as an Epic Application Coordinator in Information Technology for WellSpan. They have a daughter Allison, 1 dog (Bear) and 3 black cats (Sammie, Annie and Abbie).

Joe Reed

Director of Music Ministries and Director of Company of Praise (COP) 

Joe Reed joined the SUMC staff in September 2022.  As Director of Music Ministries, Joe will be involved in worship planning and music, coordination between our many musical groups`, and direct the Chancel Choir.    
Joe’s first experience at SUMC was in a prior performance of The Music Man as one of the 76 trombones.  Joe continued to participate in the Summer Theatre orchestra through high school.  He was a member of the Jesus Christ Superstar orchestra and served as the orchestra director of The Music Man 2022.
After graduating from of Susquehannock High School, Joe joined  the U.S. Army Reserve Band as a trombone and euphonium player.  He attended both Nyack College and Millersville University.   For approximately seven years, Joe used his talents as the Director of Traditional Music at Bethany United Methodist Church (Red Lion, PA).  Joe has been the music director for 12 community theatre productions with wide ranging musical requirements at York Little Theatre / Belmont Theatre and DreamWrights.  He is a private music instructor, providing vocal, trombone, and piano music lessons.  
Joe, his wife Nicki, and 18 month old son Simeon live in Stewartstown, PA.  

Emily Kappelmier

Director of Children's Ministry  

Emily Kappelmier joined the SUMC staff in October 2023 as the Director of Children's Ministry.  
Emily was born and raised in New York and later received her bachelor's degree in childhood education from St. Joseph's College and her master's degree from SUNY Oneonta in literacy education. Emily has taught for 6 years in extremely diverse communities in both Virginia and Pennsylvania. Whether helping students succeed in a classroom setting, or one on one, Emily's passion for serving children and sharing the love of Christ has always been a deep calling in her life. She is beyond excited for this new opportunity as Children's Ministry Director.

Connie Zetterman

Administrative Secretary

Connie Zetterman is a member of Stewartstown UMC and joined the staff in July 2009.  She lives in New Park with her husband, Charlie, and son, Ehren.  Her daughter, Allison and husband Tyler are expecting their first child in July 2023.  

Alex Nielsen

Organist/Accompanist

Alek joined the staff at Stewartstown UMC in May 2023.  

Susan Herbert

Church Administration

Susan has joined the volunteer staff at Stewartstown UMC and is responsible for all financial matters.

Janice Bosley

Church Administration

Janice has joined the volunteer staff at Stewartstown UMC and is responsible for all Safe Sanctuary Compliance.

Gary Schwinn

Church Sexton

Mr. Schwinn was born in Baltimore, MD.  He resided in Essex and Middle River, MD until May 2010 when he moved to Stewartstown.  Gary retired from the United States Air Force in December 2012 after 37 years of military service.  Gary and Deena have been married for 36 years and have two children.  Gary enjoys playing with his 4 grandchildren, hunting, fishing, metal detecting, woodworking, motorcycle riding, playing guitar and song writing.  Gary enjoys his part time employment at SUMC and loves being around people that are working in the many ministries of the church.  Gary’s life verse in Philippians 4:13. 
 
2024 Church Officers
* Indicates a voting member of Church Council
*Chair of Church Council – Tyler Madden                                     *Vice Chair – Janice Bosley
*Secretary of Church Council – Lori Plasterer

Trustees
*Chair, Ray Manifold
Class of 2024                      Class of 2025                      Class of 2026
Dave Hebel                          Ray Manifold                      Chuck Bosley
Jeff Beatty                           Joseph Shanabrough          Bryan Cooper
Laura Manifold                   Mary Sloat                          G.J. Emge
Lay Leader, Susan Herbert,   Building Exploratory Team Leader Randy Babcock

Staff Parish Relations Committee
*Chair, Holly Herbert
Class of 2024                      Class of 2025                       Class of 2026
Joe Dablock                         Kim Hoyt                             Ashley Madden
Jan Allen                              Holly Herbert                      Ed Sloat, Vice Chair
Janet Graab-Miller             ________________           Jen Lawrence, Secretary
Lay Leader, Janice Bosley, Lay Member of Annual Conference, Yvonne Wickrowski

Nominations and Leadership Development
Chair, Pastor Keith Braucher
Lay Leaders – Janice Bosley, Susan Herbert
Tyler Madden                           Janet Graab-Miller             Jean Sansonetti
Ex officio – Chair of Trustees, Chair of Finance, Lay Delegate to Annual Conference, Chair of SPRC

Outreach 
*Chair Janet Fischer-Byers
Lay Delegate - Yvonne Wickrowski, Lay Leaders - Janice Bosley, Susan Herbert
Ministry Leaders - Joe Dablock – Care Ministry, Steve Freeman – Adopt-a-Block, Pat Byers - Africa,
Terri Hebel – Food Pantry

*Lay Members of Annual Conference - Yvonne Wickrowski, alt. Joseph Dablock
*Lay Leaders – Church Administrators - Janice Bosley, Susan Herbert

Finance
*Chair of Finance – Steven Schwartz
*Church Treasurer – Susan Herbert
Lay Leader/Church Admin. – Janice Bosley
Financial Secretary – Jean Manifold.
Endowment Chairman- John Lawrence
Members at Large: Ernie Cottrell, Ed Torbert, Don McGonigle

*Church Council Members at Large – Julie Allen, Jake Hebel

Children’s Coordinator – Emily Kappelmier – staff

2022-2023 Summer Theatre Board of Governors
 
*Carole Tice            Chairperson
Ryan Connelly        Executive Producer    
Keith Braucher       Lead Pastor
Janice Bosley          Production Representative
_____________     Congregational Representative
Julia Latko    Student Representative
G.J. Emge                At-large Representative
Susan Herbert        Bookkeeper                  
Joshua Hinchy        Production Representative
Lorie Plasterer       Secretary