Asbury First United Methodist Church

Governance Board

In December 2020, after more than three years in the planning, Asbury First voted to approve a new Governance model designed to help us carry out our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ to love God and neighbor, live fully, serve all, and repeat.

Monthly Executive Summary Committees in Action Governance Structure 
Governance Policy Book Governance FAQs Governance Board

Beth Wilkens

Chair

How long have you been a member of Asbury First? I have been a member for 20 some years, having joined shortly after visiting one Sunday, hearing Rev. Dr. Bob Hill preach, and deciding AFUMC was the place for me.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First? My initial involvement was as a member of the Finance Committee. I then joined the Trustees and was privileged to be President when the Board’s recommendation to approve A Time To Build was voted on by the congregation and during the Gathering Center construction. I am a member of the Investment Committee, have volunteered Tuesday nights in the Storehouse, am part of the Community Garden team, and have helped with a number of special projects involving my experience in finance and as a lawyer.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board? This is a challenging time in the life of the Church, but challenges bring opportunity. The new governance structure has the potential to help us better focus our collective efforts in maximizing our extraordinary resources (including our asset base, amazing and committed congregation, and talented pastoral staff) toward expanding the reach of the Church in the lives of our members as well as our community and world. I hope to be part of a board that is a good steward of resources, listens carefully and respectfully, communicates transparently, and is flexible as its role is framed by circumstances — but a board that is not afraid to embrace challenging opportunities. I also hope the lessons I learned in governance during “interesting” times, both as a lawyer counseling business boards and as a volunteer member of a number of community boards, will be helpful to this new Board.

What is something that you want people to know about you? I find great comfort in a devotion my grandmother shared with me during a difficult time: “Fear is the negation of the Christ within us.”

Ike Jordan

Vice Chair

How long have you been a member of Asbury First? I have been a member of Asbury First for 8 years.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First? I have served in an array of areas which include The Vision Committee, Men’s Chorus, and most recently, the Asbury First Committee on Racial Equality/Steering Committee. I credit much of my spiritual nourishment, growth, and contentment to the Ministry, the people, and the fellowship experienced at Asbury First.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board? I believe serving on the Governing Board further extends my commitment and desire to extend the mission of Asbury First and support the proactive, flexible, and transparent lifeblood of the Church — now, and moving forward in the coming years.

What is something that you want people to know about you? I am a native Rochesterian and have worked in Healthcare Sales and Marketing for over 20 years where I have lived and worked throughout the US, Europe, and Latin America. I have two adult sons and a delightful 8-month-old granddaughter.

Cory Tylenda

Secretary

How long have you been a member of Asbury First? I became an official member in February 2014. I started to attend Asbury First in the late 1990s while I attended college at the University of Rochester.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
 I served as the chair of the Stewardship Committee (now Giving Team) for five years in addition to Church Council and the Better Together Capital Campaign. I have been part of the Parables in Parenting group and also served as a member of Hospitality Team 9. Currently, I am a member of the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Group, a Discipleship Group, and the Gardening Club. In February, I am starting to volunteer in the Storehouse. 

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
 I am called to help people and provide service to others where I feel my contributions can make a difference. Based on my past experiences with Stewardship and Church Council, I can provide insight to support the operations and governance of our church. I am skilled at collaborating with others to make decisions that reflect the mission of Asbury First. Through my leadership roles in the past, I have developed meaningful relationships with the church staff, committee members, and volunteers. I also strive to introduce potential new members to Asbury First through my work with the LGTBQ+ community, ensuring that Asbury First is a welcoming place for all.

What is something that you want people to know about you? I am the Business Continuity Manager for Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, an international clean energy/utilities company, based in Toronto, Canada. In the past I have worked for three members of the U.S. House of Representatives and a member of the NYS Assembly. I am an avid reader, and I love to do home construction and gardening projects. I also love to travel and shop for antiques.

Angie Burch

Treasurer

How long have you been a member of Asbury First? Close to 50 years. My mom joined Asbury when I was a Kindergartener.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
 Altar Guild as President, Treasurer and Secretary, Sanctuary Choir, Asbury Singers, Asbury Ringers, Great Week of Service, UR Well Clinic as Clinic Coordinator, Dining & Caring Center Board member and Sunday Dinner Team, Hosted for Dining In for Outreach, Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service Coordinator.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
 I am excited for the opportunity to serve at Asbury in a new role that will help us continue to grow as a congregation and further our shared mission in our local community.

What is something that you want people to know about you? I have worked at a private school for the past 4 1/2 years currently as the Business Office Manager where I have the opportunity to be a jack-of-all-trades. Before that, I worked at the Rochester Housing Authority for 10 years in various roles including Field Auditor, Housing Specialist, and Senior Accounting Clerk. Throughout my work career, I have strived to support the direct service staff and the organization for which I worked in fulfilling their mission to its constituents and the Rochester community.

Valerie Benjamin

How long have you been a member of Asbury First? My family and I joined Asbury in 2007, when we moved to Rochester from Pittsburgh. We were very apprehensive about leaving our previous church family (First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh) and were so blessed to have found this wonderful place.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First? The great thing about Asbury First is that there is so much to get involved in! I've participated on Church Council, in SPRC and the Lay Personnel Committee, Parables of Parenting, am a greeter and volunteer at the welcome desk. The kids and I have volunteered on Sunday lunch at the Dining and Caring Center once per quarter, I organized a Pie for Pi bake sale one year, and my husband and I helped chaperone on the Youth trip to Cuba (which was wild). I have done several bible education classes over time, and most recently co-chaired the Governance Task Force and worked with some very talented ladies to develop and kick off a new women's speakers series, "Courage to Become" with the inspiration and leadership of Susan Shafer. I even pinch hit as an acolyte from time to time, despite my advancing age! My ambition is to sing in the choir, but I've not yet managed to get my act together to make that work. Someday!

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board? This church has given my family and the community so much, I'm honored and excited to be able to give back in this new way.

What is something that you want people to know about you? I absolutely love boating in any type of craft — being out on the water is freedom for me.

Wendy Featherstone

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
We joined in 1989.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
We have served in the creche as caregivers, I have taught Sunday School, assisted with youth performances, served on the Family Life council, Youth Work Area, served on the Administrative Cabinet as liaison to the Children's Education Committee, Adult Education committee, Family Life council, and Youth Work area.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
 My history of involvement as a volunteer over the years of my membership, as well as my service as president of a national physical therapy board of directors provides relevant experience. I have been looking for a means to contribute again to the ways in which Asbury First serves the community.

What is something that you want people to know about you?  I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Asbury First has been a wonderful blessing to us as a family. I credit Asbury First for helping us navigate the challenges inherent in raising children
and interacting with people as disciples of Christ.

Jim Quinn

How long have you been a member of Asbury First? Marguerite and I joined about 18 years ago. Growing up in North Carolina, I was raised in a large Methodist Church, but I had been an Episcopalian since the mid-1970s. We were living in the neighborhood (we still do) and I visited Asbury First on my own one Sunday morning. After hearing the preaching and being moved by experiencing the sanctuary filling up with music and song, I decided to come back the next week with Marguerite. We joined a short time later.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First? I served on our Board of Trustees for 10 years, eight of them as President, and had the privilege of being a member of the former Staff Parish Relations Committee during periods when it was headed by three different dedicated and talented chairs. I also served as a member of the Investment Committee for many years.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board? In 35 years of law practice (23 of them at Kodak and Carestream), I developed a good understanding of how people relate to each other and to the organizations that affect their lives in so many ways. And, I gained
a real appreciation of how leaders can impact the organizations and people they serve. I would like
the chance to put my insights to use again here at Asbury First.

What is something that you want people to know about you? I retired twice. A couple of years after retiring from practicing law, I felt called to give teaching a try and found a part-time position teaching business law and related subjects to undergrads at SUNY Geneseo.  Part-time soon grew into a very satisfying full-time position and deep immersion in the life of the campus.  I just marked my 10th year at Geneseo and “retired” by switching back to part-time this past semester. A friend told me recently that over these past 10 years I’ve “aged in reverse.” I’m not sure about that, but I have certainly found great fulfillment and inspiration from the young people I work with.

For more information about any of our governance or committees, please contact the Governance Board at governance@asburyfirst.org or call the church office at (585)-271-1050.