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CONTACT US
Woodland United Methodist Church
801 North Cherry Rd.
Rock Hill, SC 29732
Church: (803) 328-1842 Fax: (803) 328-1933
Email:
ministry@comporium.net
Preschool Enrichment Program (PEP): (803) 328-2237
Staff
Ministry Team
Dr. Larry Parker, Senior Pastor
Dr. Parker has been a preacher of the Gospel for over 35 years and,
as a member of the South Carolina Annual Conference, has served
United Methodist churches in all areas of the state. He was
appointed as pastor at Woodland UMC in June 2003. Prior to becoming
a pastor, Dr. Parker graduated cum laude from Wofford College with
degrees in sociology and in religion. He served as a law enforcement
officer for the State of Georgia and as a law enforcement chaplain.
Answering the call to ordained ministry led Dr. Parker to pursue a
master’s degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology
and, later, his doctorate from Candler in Cultural Anthropology and
the Church. He was ordained deacon in 1976 and ordained elder in
1982. Dr. Parker is a husband, father, and grandfather.
Marsha Bentley, Minister of Music
A native of Western North Carolina, is an Ordained Deacon in the South Carolina Conference. Following graduation from Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, TN, she attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist, Dallas, TX and Wesley Seminary in Washington, D.C. Passionate about music ministry, Marsha loves to teach children, youth, and adults the joys of singing and ringing and “making your life a song to God!” Marsha has served as Conference organist, is Vice President of the SC chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and serves on the Conference Commission on Worship. She is married to Ron, also an ordained deacon who serves at Easley First Untied Methodist and is mother to Keli and Logan.
Juliette Phillpot, Director of Christian Education
Juliette was born and raised in The Bahamas. She received an
undergraduate degree in education from the University of Minnesota,
was certified as an elementary school teacher, and taught elementary
school in Nassau for six years. Juliette served as the director of
children, youth, and young adults and the director of Christian
education for the Bahamas Conference of Methodist Churches for four
years. She moved to Rock Hill in the fall of 2004 to serve as
Woodland’s director of Christian education, with a focus on
children’s ministry. Juliette completed her Master's Degree in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University in 2007.
Karen Kluever, Director of Youth and College Ministries
Karen joined the Woodland team in July 2004, but has served in youth
ministry for over 15 years. She has undergraduate and graduate
degrees in journalism (UNC-Chapel Hill; University of
Wisconsin-Madison) and a master’s in Christian education from
Pfeiffer University. Karen has worked for The United Methodist
Publishing House as an editorial assistant and as a contributing
writer. She is the author of Synago, a resource for student-led
senior high small groups, and leads youth ministry workshops locally
and regionally. She lives with her husband and three sons in
Charlotte, NC.
The Rev. Carolyn Gesche, Minister With Older Adults
Originally from Reed City, Michigan, Carolyn began serving at
Woodland in 1999 as Minister of Christian Education. Since retiring
in 2003, she has served as Minister With Older Adults. Carolyn has
BS and MA degrees in education from Central Michigan University. Her
seminary studies were completed at Garrett Theological Seminary,
Scarritt College, and Dayton Theological University. Carolyn was
consecrated in 1989 and ordained in 1997. She is a member of the
Florida Conference, where she served at St. Paul UMC in Largo from
1985 to 1999.
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