Staff

Pastors


Profile image of Ryan Bennett

Ryan Bennett

Lead Pastor

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: Baseballpreach
Twitter: @baseballpreach

Ryan has been the Lead Pastor of Lebanon First UMC since December of 2017.  He has served in churches in the Middle Tennessee area since 1998.  Ryan grew up in Cookeville, graduating from Cookeville High School in 1991.  He is also an alum of The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, graduating with a BS in Education.  He has his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.  Ryan is married to Heather.  Heather is the director of the nonprofit, Blessed Earth Tennessee (www.blessedearthtn.com), an organization that exists to helps Christians understand their biblical call to care for creation.  They have one son, Tyler, and his “brother” Commodore the dog.  Ryan enjoys playing and watching sports and spending time on the lake.  He also roasts coffee in his spare time. 

Profile image of Steve Boutell

Steve Boutell

Pastor of Discipleship

Office: (615) 444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: sbboutell
Twitter: @sbboutell

Rev. Stephen Boutell (Steve) is from Louisville, KY, and graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY, and Louisville Seminary.  Steve moved to Tennessee in 2019 after 25 years of pastoral ministry in Kentucky.  Steve has served as the Wesley Foundation Director at the University of Louisville, the associate pastor at a large church, on the pastoral staff at a church plant, and as the pastor of churches.

Steve is married to Heather, who is the Director of Financial Aid at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.  

Heather and Steve have two sons.  Jonah (24) is in seminary at Boston University.  Ben (22) graduated from the University of Kentucky this May with a degree in vocal performance.

Steve enjoys football, golf, and almost any sport, although these days he watches more than he plays.

Profile image of Rebecca Gwynn-Dixon

Rebecca Gwynn-Dixon

Pastor of Outreach & Pastoral Care

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: rebecca.gwynndixon
Twitter: @rgwynndixon

After teaching middle school for 15 years, Rebecca felt the nudge to step into ministry. She began as Director of Children's Ministry at Lebanon FUMC and attended seminary at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her upbringing and work in Lebanon and in this church have given her strong relationships in our community and a heart for helping our neighbors in need. She enjoys reading, laughing, and being outside in nature. Rebecca is married to Dave and has two children, Hugh and Nola. 



Music


Profile image of Windell Little

Windell Little

Director of Music

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: LebanonFUMCMusic
Twitter: @LittleWlittlejr

From song leader in his hometown church at the age of 11, to rock band drummer in high school, to music major with an emphasis in piano and organ in college, Windell Little has enjoyed a multi-faceted musical background.  Though he explored several career choices over time, Windell has always gravitated back toward church music. He came to Lebanon FUMC in 2006 to serve as Accompanist, then transitioned to Director of Music after three years.  While Windell resides in Murfreesboro with his wife, Deanna, their son, TJ, and their two furry children, Chloe and Arthur, it is here that they have found their church home.

Profile image of Marcus Wanner

Marcus Wanner

Tech Team Leader

E-Mail:
Facebook: marcuswanner
Twitter: @marcuswanner1

Born in Nashville, Marcus is from a family of musicians. He plays guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, and received a degree in jazz from MTSU. In addition to performing, Marcus has an avid passion for audio engineering, both live and in the studio. He owns a studio in East Nashville, where he frequently records and produces for clients from all genres. Much of his time is devoted to his band, Slider. 

Marcus has been a member of the Lebanon FUMC Sound and Media team since 2016. 

Profile image of Joseph Walker

Joseph Walker

Assistant Director of Music & Pianist

E-Mail:

Joseph Walker is a native of Landstuhl, Germany for whom sharing the love of Christ through music has always been dear to his heart.  Joseph earned his B.A. in Music from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia and received an M.A. in Collaborative Piano from Middle Tennessee State University, where he is now on staff as a pianist. He started working in church music over 20 years ago, and in 2013, he joined the Lebanon FUMC Music ministry where he has found an open and loving church family. Joseph now lives with his wife, April in Murfreesboro, TN; in his spare time, he also enjoys reading, cooking, and spending family time with his wife and their furry child, Petey.



Age Level Ministries 

Profile image of Cori Brantley

Cori Brantley

Business Manager/Adult 55+ Ministries

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: cori.brantley

Cori was born and raised in California.  She and her husband, Chris have lived in Lebanon since 2002 and have four children - Mitchell, Cameron, Casey and Maggie.

Cori has worked in the church office since 2013 and enjoys working with the Adult Ministry, planning adult trips, and coordinating monthly Young at Heart luncheons.  Cori has a heart for listening, serving, and loving our congregation here at Lebanon First United Methodist Church.

Profile image of Mandy Rogers

Mandy Rogers

Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries

Office: (615) 444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: mandytdandy
Twitter: @mandyrogersTN

Mandy has been involved in church ministry her whole life, but she is most passionate about working with teenagers. She has more than 10 years experience leading youth ministry in the local church, both as a volunteer leader and as paid staff.

A graduate of both the Youth Cartel/Youth Ministry Architects' Youth Ministry Coaching Program and the TN UMC Smaller Church Youth Ministry Initiative, Mandy thrives on continued learning and growth in her faith and leadership.

She has a master’s degree in corporate communication a minor in leadership. She and her husband, Alex, have three young children: Atley, Alton and Ainsley. She enjoys running, boating, playing tennis, and scrapbooking.

Profile image of John Harding

John Harding

Director of Children & Family Ministries

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: john.harding.7528610

John is a lifelong member of Lebanon FUMC. He lives in Lebanon with his wife Jessica and their 3 daughters, Kristen, Olivia, and Tori.  
 
John has a Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Leisure Services with a concentration in Recreational Therapy and Recreation Administration.  He also holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and has 12 years experience teaching elementary school.  John was recognized as the Teacher of the Year in 2017.


Administrative Ministries

Profile image of Pam Vandever

Pam Vandever

Congregational Care and Membership Administrator

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: vandeverpam53

Pam has worked at FUMC since August of 2011. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Prayer Ministry and all aspects of congregational care, as well as preparing Orders of Worship for Sunday services, special events, funerals, and graveside services. She also maintains all the membership records.  Pam considers her work as more than a clerical position; she is blessed to have the opportunity to serve her church family as a staff member.

Pam has been married to her husband, Gary, since 1973. They have one son, Taylor, daughter-in-law Maggie, two granddaughters, Mary Hyatt and Campbell Taylor, and one sister, Kathi Jones.

Her hobbies are crocheting, knitting, and making jewelry and greeting cards.

Profile image of Cori Brantley

Cori Brantley

Business Manager/Adult 55+ Ministries

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: cori.brantley

Cori was born and raised in California.  She and her husband, Chris have lived in Lebanon since 2002 and have four children - Mitchell, Cameron, Casey and Maggie.

Cori has worked in the church office since 2013 and enjoys working with the Adult Ministry, planning adult trips, and coordinating monthly Young at Heart luncheons.  Cori has a heart for listening, serving, and loving our congregation here at Lebanon First United Methodist Church.

Profile image of Lucinda S. Sutton

Lucinda S. Sutton

Communications & Operations Administrator

Office: (615) 444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: lucinda.sutton
Twitter: @luciswords

Lucinda S. Sutton has been a member with us at Lebanon FUMC since 2011. Despite her history as a self-published author, professional editor, longtime teacher/volunteer, and unabashed fangirl and blogger, many in the community still know her better by her alias: Trinity, Micayla, and Jaden's Mom (she is mostly okay with this).  

Lucinda came to us from the VBS department at the United Methodist Publishing House where she had a hand in the creation, development, and editorial work of curriculum and products for Cokesbury's 2017-2020 VBS curricula, as well as other pieces for Abingdon Press.  While her professional background also includes work in the fields of marketing, purchasing, organizational management, warehouse operations, and even food service, her love and gifting for the spiritual act of administration in service to God and the church has drawn her to join the amazing staff at Lebanon FUMC.  For all of this, she is profoundly grateful.



Facilities Management

Profile image of Stan Baker

Stan Baker

Facilities Manager

Office: 615-444-3315
E-Mail:
Facebook: stan.baker.1656