Staff

Office Staff

Rachel Henry –  Business Manager; Assistant to the Senior Pastor    Rachel@stpaulsrochester.org

Kaye Thornton –  Financial Administrator    Finance@stpaulsrochester.org

Debbie Kelly –  Communications Administrator/Webmaster   Debbie@stpaulsrochester.org

Kevin Floch –   Facilities Manager  Facilities@stpaulsrochester.org

Linda Jeffries  –  Financial Administrator  Linda@stpaulsrochester.org

Clergy and Program Staff

Rev. Elbert Dulworth

Rev. Elbert Dulworth joined the staff as Senior Pastor on July 1, 2022. Prior to coming to St. Paul’s he served as Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Michigan. Elbert has also served on the Michigan Area Cabinet as the Marquette District Superintendent. An ordained elder in the Michigan Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, he has also served as the lead pastor of congregations in southwest Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula, and Laingsburg, Michigan.

Elbert and his wife, Dawn, enjoy camping in their travel trailer, cooking great foods with friends, time with family, musical and theatrical productions, and travelling to new places around the world. While they do not have any children of their own, they have hosted five exchange students, enjoy time with several nieces and nephews, and adore their adopted boxer, Ginger.

Contact Rev. Dulworth.

Rev. Dr. April Gutierrez  – on renewal leave January 1 – June 30, 2024

Rev. Dr. April Gutierrez, Associate Pastor for Discipleship, joined the St. Paul’s staff July 1, 2021. Pastor April oversees the Open Door service, Confirmation program, and supports the missions and education ministry areas of St. Paul’s. She is the co-convener of the Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Working Group for the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. B. Kevin Smalls of Southfield Hope UMC. She has a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction from Garrett Evangelical-Theological Seminary and two master degrees: a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and a Master of Arts degree in Spiritual Formation and Evangelism from Garrett Evangelical-Theological Seminary (Evanston, Illinois). Prior to answering the call to ordained ministry, she worked for more than a decade in higher education with a focus on social justice education and ministry. She is passionate about vital worship that is table-centered, rich in practice-based ministry that cultivates adult spirituality. Pastor April and her husband, Evan, have two children, Silvio and Miriam.​

 

Rev. Judy May

We welcome Rev. Judy May to our church staff as Associate Pastor beginning January 1, 2018. Judy has a degree in Humanities, Social Science and Education from Purdue University, a degree in Christian Education from Scarritt College in Nashville, and a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary. She was pastor at Waterford Four Towns UMC, Walled Lake UMC, Warren First UMC and Grosse Pointe UMC. She also has served as associate pastor at Dearborn First UMC, Program Director at Baldwin Avenue UMC and Community Center and Director of Christian Education at Dearborn First and Nardin Park. Judy has a daughter who lives in Rochester with her husband and three children and a son who lives in Massachusetts with his wife and daughter.

Contact Rev. May.

Rev. Rick Kress

Rev. Rick Kress joined our church staff January 1, 2017, as Associate Pastor. In this volunteer role, Rev. Kress will help guide and resource our Adult Faith Formation ministries, assist in Sunday morning worship services, and serve as part of our Pastoral Care team.

Rev. Kress, his wife, Marilyn, and daughter, Andrea, reside in Shelby Township. Marilyn currently serves in the Praise Team and leads the middle school Sing Out! Choir. Both have been actively supporting the launch of the new Open Door service, which occurs at 10 a.m. in Hickey Hall.

Rev. Kress was ordained in the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), and we are excited that he will be living out his ordination among us at St. Paul’s.

Contact Rev. Rick Kress.

Dr. Seung Hee Cho  Director of Music

Dr. Cho is an avid concert organist, chamber musician, and veteran choral and orchestral music conductor. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music and additional post-doctorate studies in choral and orchestral conducting.

A true native of liturgical music, Dr. Cho has spent over 30 years as the Director of Music & Organist at several churches in Seoul, Korea, New York, Philadelphia, Michigan, and Washington D.C. Deeply committed to her art and her faith, Dr. Cho is passionate about creating music transcending the secular to bring those around her to a higher connection with God and people.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her loving family, watching Korean-American television, and unwinding in gardens and other natural settings.

Contact Dr. Cho.

Jodi Stuermer
Director of Youth Ministry

Jodi, her husband Walter, and her family have been attending St. Paul’s since 2011. Both of her children, Sydney and Drew, have been confirmed at St. Paul’s.

Jodi has always had a passion for working with youth.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Dayton and her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.  She has held positions as a Victim Advocate, Family and Child Therapist, and School Social Worker.  She also co-wrote a literacy based mentoring program for teens and developed and facilitated many empowering groups for children and youth dealing with various life issues.

Jodi enjoys watching her son’s baseball games and her daughter’s dance performances, reading, spending time with family and friends, and finding an occasional treasure at vintage stores and garage sales.

Contact Jodi Stuermer.

Amy Heitman
Director of Children’s Ministry

Amy and her husband Jamie joined St. Paul’s in May of 2000 when their first daughter, Lilly, was baptized. Amy joined the staff in 2011.

They were drawn to the church even before they started their family because of the wonderful children’s programs that were offered.

Amy grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Fenton, Mich., living in Fenton until she left for her undergraduate work at Albion College. She is a certified elementary school teacher and spent seven years teaching in Holly while earning her M.A.T.  from Oakland University. Amy and Jamie are the proud parents of two daughters, Lilly and Annie.

Contact Amy Heitman.

 

Rachel Henry
Director of Adult Ministry

Rachel is a lifelong United Methodist and has been attending St. Paul’s since 2012.  She has been a part of the Hugs Group, Open Hearts and more recently developed and taught a class Difficult Conversations focused on race relations.  Rachel joined the staff as the Business Manager in 2016 and added Adult Ministry responsibilities in 2021.  She is also a trained coach for the Michigan Conference through the International Coach Federation.

As a preacher’s kid, Rachel spent most of her childhood in West Michigan and attended several churches.   A gifted leader with a passion for creating grace filled spaces, Rachel is passionate about helping others and connecting them to opportunities to grow in their faith.

Rachel resides in Rochester Hills and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking, cooking, baking, reading and enjoying her dog Oliver’s escapades.

Contact Rachel Henry.

Pastor Emeritus Dr. Timothy and Betty Lou Hickey

Dr. Timothy Hickey served St. Paul’s Rochester for 27 years. He arrived here as senior minister in June 1973 and retired from here in October 2000.

Known throughout the United Methodist Church Detroit Conference as a dynamic preacher, Tim has always had an intense focus on liturgy, evangelism and church growth. During his tenure at St. Paul’s, the church grew both physically and numerically.

Upon his retirement in 2000, his love for St. Paul’s was reciprocated when he was elected pastor emeritus and St. Paul’s Friendship Hall was renamed Hickey Hall.

In retirement in Palm Coast, Florida, Tim and Betty Lou enjoy reading, traveling and antiquing. Tim has returned to preach several times, including in September 2008 in celebration of St. Paul’s 150th anniversary and Homecoming Weekend.