Staff & Leadership
Mary Beth Byrne
Mary Beth Byrne is pastor of of Caring Ministry at First Church. Mary Beth is an experienced counselor with a wealth of varied experience.
caringministries@fumcwhitewater.org
262-473-2131
Dan Fahs
Pastor Dan believes that worship is central to Christian life. Worship refreshes and refills us so that we can reach out to those around us with the Great-Good News. Pastor Dan is passionate about seeing lives transformed in response to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He feels strongly that a church fails to be The Church if it is not in mission - putting hands and feet to the gospel. In addition to reaching out to those around us (loving our neighbor), Pastor Dan also believes we must grow more in love with God. He enjoys leading small study groups in which knowledge is not only learned, but also applied.
262-473-2131
Jayne Haskey
Jayne Haskey is our Business/Office Manager. Jayne loves our church family and is happy to welcome everyone into our building and will always try and answer any questions you may have.
businessoffice@fumcwhitewater.org
262-473-2131
Gina McManaway
Need something from the church office? Chances are you're about to meet Gina. She's that pleasant, deliberate voice you hear on the phone (she's even better in person!).
churchoffice@fumcwhitewater.org
262-473-2131
Beth Staniforth-Seamster
Beth is our newest staff member. She serves as WARM's Children's Ministry Coordinator. Beth is excited to be serving the youth of WARM and brings a wealth of experience to the position.
christianed@fumcwhitewater.org
262-473-2131
Christine Hayes
Dynamic and energetic, Christine Hayes, our chancel choir director brings music to life and life to music! She'd love to have you in the choir.
262-473-2131
Jim Athas
For Jim Athas, our Organist and Director of Music, music is built-in, not added-on. He's equally at home playing the organ, piano or hammered dulcimer. What a guy!
262-473-2131
Joe Sherman
Did you notice the church property in great shape? Lawn mowed, floors mopped until they shine, or any of what seems an endless list of responsibilities for these folks? If so, say a heartfelt thank you to Joe. We don't often see him "out front," but what he accomplishes behind the scenes is invaluable!
262-473-2131
Don Norman
“Theology is the study of God and his ways. For all we know, dung beetles may study man and his ways and call it humanology. If so, we would probably be more touched and amused than irritated. One hopes that God feels likewise”. – Frederic Buechner
Don Norman’s background is varied, featuring pastoral duties across several denominations, training and practice as a pastoral counselor, clinical director of a metropolitan hospital pastoral counseling service, and the last two decades as an assistant and then tenured associate professor in the Counselor Education Department at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. During his tenure at UW-W Don taught marriage and family courses along with general mental health curriculum courses such as ethics, group therapy and supervised practicum and internship sections. Don holds advanced degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.Div.; the University of Alabama – Birmingham, M.A.E (Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis); and a Ph.D. (Educational Psychology) from The University of Mississippi, Oxford. Don had the privilege of serving military service members as a Military and Family Life Consultant in assignments in the United States and in Europe. He also for several years was a presenter within a cadre of professionals featured as keynote speakers for service member events across the United States. Don retired from his university teaching position in the spring of 2015, after nearly 17 years of service. He retired from his professional life within his private practice at Morning Star Psychotherapy Associates at the end of 2022. Don retired as pastor of La Grange United Methodist Church at the end of 2020. Don is credentialed in Wisconsin as a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC (#2876) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT (#653); he is a Clinical Fellow in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Don now serves as a counselor to WARM and surrounding communities.
