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Dr. Eric M. Smith, Lead Pastor
Pastor Eric Smith is a warm, engaging man called to preach a progressive message of the Gospel. He is married to Karen and they are the parents of four children. He began serving in the ministry when he was 19 years old, and completed degree programs at Point Loma Nazarene University and the Claremont School of Theology. He has served congregations in Southern California cities including: Lake Elsinore, San Fernando, Claremont, Pasadena, and Redlands. Pastor Eric is a stimulating preacher who never hesitates to share a fresh look at the Bible.
Sarah Heath, Associate Pastor
Sarah Heath was born and grew up in Canada. At the age of 14 she moved to Mississippi where she went to the University of Southern Mississippi studying biology and psychology. She felt a call to ministry in her junior year during a retreat with her campus ministry- The Wesley Foundation. While in college, Sarah served on the leadership teams of both the Wesley foundation and the Baptist student union. Sarah also worked as a volunteer at a local church serving as the Youth Groups ministry intern. After graduation Sarah went to Duke Divinity School in Durham North Carolina where she received her masters of Divinity. During study there she served as the chaplain at a sailing camp, as an associate pastor intern, and as the director of a youth mission site. After graduating from, Duke Sarah became the director of youth and campus ministry at University United Methodist church in Irvine California, where she currently serves. She has been a guest speaker for several functions including the California Pacific Young Adult conference, The Cal-Pac UMW’s mission school and Ignite youth conference. Sarah has served on the leadership of summer camps as Jr. High camp dean the last two years, and as part of the design team for the Youth Alive conference. She loves music, art, sports and laughing!
Karen Radcliffe Smith, Director of Program Ministries
Karen Radcliffe Smith was born into an Army family in Ohio where her father was a career officer. She attended Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She has worked as a professional actress in stage, television, and film for nearly 30 years. She is a member of the Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. Karen has also worked as Director of Development for Holliston United Methodist Church in Pasadena, CA, was the Cultural Arts Coordinator and Acting Community Services Supervisor for the city of Alhambra, CA, and the Adult Ministries Coordinator, Director of the Young Disciples Children’s Choir, and Artistic Director of the Epworth Academy of Fine Arts at Redlands First United Methodist Church in Redlands, CA. As Director of Program Ministries at UUMC, Karen is heavily involved in the areas of Children & Family Ministries and Membership & Outreach.
 John Carpenter, Director of Music
John Carpenter received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Chapmen University. He joined the staff of University Church as Director of Music in the fall of 1975. From the beginning, he has led the Chancel Choir, an ensemble that has become recognized as one
of the premier church choirs in Southern California. He has also directed Our Generation youth choir and Kingdom’s Kids children’s choir.
John is married to Suzanne (Suzie) and is the father of Tiffany, UUMC’S current director of Kingdom’s Kids.
Cindy Hanson, Organist
Cindy Hanson studied piano at the Julliard School and Manhattan School of Music. She received her Masters Degree in Music Education at USC. Cindy is a Grand Prize winner of the Music Teacher Association of California (Orange Branch) Piano Ensemble Competiton, and winner of the MTAC Piano Solo Competition. She has won the New York Governor's Musical Performance Piano Competition (Classical Division), the New York Philharmonic Competition for Wind Instruments (Clarinet), and the New York Queens Symphony Band Young Artist Competition (Wind Instruments Division). She was a scholarship student at USC, Julliard and Kodaly. Cindy also acts as accompanist for the Chancel Choir and is actively involved in local and national real estate activities as an investor, is a board member of multiple associations and is a licensed real estate agent
Tiffany Carpenter Catherine Bilanchone
Director, Kingdom's Kids Accompanist, Kingdom's Kids
Cyndi McCormick
Director of Child's World Preschool
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