Our Church Staff

Rev. Meredith McMillan
Senior Pastor

Rev. Meredith McMillan has been our pastor since July 2007. She was ordained a Deacon in the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1995, and ordained an Elder in 1998. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Motion Pictures—Screenwriting and English from the University of Miami. And, she graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Emory University in 1993

Pastor Meredith, as we call her here, is a native Floridian. She was born and raised in Tampa. Her service in the United Methodist Church has taken her around south Florida from Sebring, to Miami, and to Naples. Her most recent pastorate before coming here to Winter Haven was in Lehigh Acres, near Ft. Myers.

She married her husband Marion McMillan eight years ago. Marion is a full-time Funeral Services student preparing to become a Funeral Director. Together they have shared the ministry of the church as well as serving as Foster Parents to 19 children. No longer fostering, Pastor Meredith and Marion are blessed with the precious, and wildly chaotic family that God brought together. They have three adopted children—Joey, age 14; Bryan, age 8; and Faith, age 5.

"I am so thankful that God has led me to be in ministry here at Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church. Those who visit will find here a caring and compassionate staff and congregation. We are seeking to be faithful to God, and loving towards one another as we grow in faith and action. This is a church to call home, and God’s Spirit is at work in our midst. All are welcome, no matter what your age, race, or circumstance. We strive to be a church for all God’s children." –Pastor Meredith

 

Rev. Robert Cox
Minister of Children & Youth

Pastor Robert is an ordained elder in the South Carolina Conference and came to Beymer in June of 2008. He moved to Florida so that his wife, Theresa, could care for her mother in Orlando. Pastor Robert has a B.S. in Business Administration, and a Masters of Accounting from the University of South Carolina in 1984, and a Masters of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in 1994. Pastor Robert worked in the motion picture industry before enlisting in the Navy for six years. He was working in accounting when he felt God calling him to ministry.

Pastor Robert is responsible for the pastoral care and programming for children, youth and their families, and oversees the Christian education and discipleship component of Beymer' s ministry. He also oversees the computer network and website design and maintenance for the Church.

Pastor Robert enjoys fishing, golf and rodeo (watching, not riding) in his spare time.

"God found just the right church for me when I needed to move. Beymer is a wonderful, loving congregation, committed to Christ and to ministry in his name."

Cindy Selph
Director of Music

Cindy Selph earned a BA degree in Sacred Music from Huntingdon College in 1980 and a MM degree in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the University of South Florida in 1998.  She has served as a Music Director and Worship Arts Director in United Methodist churches in the Florida Conference since moving to Florida in 1980. Cindy served as the Worship Team Leader for the Florida Annual Conference in 2008 and 2009, and was project manager for the Passionate Worship/Divine Inbreaking Event sponsored by the Florida United Methodist Conference in April of 2008.  She is a certified Spiritual Director and graduate of the Audire Program at the San Pedro Center for Spiritual Studies, and president of the Wellspring Alliance for Spiritual Development.  Cindy has also taught Applied Voice and music theory at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

“I have found Beymer UMUC to be a very welcoming church filled with people who love good worship and excellent music.  What a blessing it is to serve God in such a beautiful setting and with such wonderful people.”

 

Patty Muller
Organist

Patty Muller,  harpsichordist and organist, currently serves as organist for Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church in Winter Haven.  She has served there as organist many times since her teenage years.  She has also served as organist at Honolulu United Methodist Church of Hawaii, and interim organist at First Presbyterian Churches in Winter Haven and Lake Wales.  She has been active for many years as harpsichordist for both Winter Haven Messiah Association, and the Bach Festival of Central Florida.  She was on the accompanying staff at Florida Southern College for seven years and has appeared frequently with young musicians in concerts at Florida Southern and around the local area. Patty attended Florida State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  She studied organ as an elective and pursued additional music studies at Florida Southern College.

Ben Arnold
Contemporary Worship Director

Ben is 24 years old, just married, and excited about life. His best memories have centered around music of all forms, to include a Stomp!-style ministry team in college, a folk band with his sister and brother-in-law, rock and punk bands in high school and college, and other musical ventures in the classical world. In his free time, he enjoys reading books on philosophy, watching movies, making/ recording music, and spending time with his wife, Drew.   Ben is very excited about living in Winter Haven and can't wait to reach the lost at and around Beymer.

 

Margie Anderson
Church Secretary

  Margie is a 5^th generation Floridian, born & raised in Jacksonville, a Florida Southern College Grad, and a Bartow resident since her marriage to John, in 1980.    Prior to coming to Beymer, Margie enjoyed being  a teacher of 2^nd graders, preschool music teacher, private voice & piano teacher, children’s choir director, bank teller, church secretary/treasurer at First UMC Bartow, and for 6 years – a home school mom.   Margie is now "having fun" serving in the Church Office as the Secretary at Beymer MUMC.   Having spent most of her life working and serving the Lord through His church, Margie has found the Beymer Church family to be an “awesome bunch of folks who are dedicated to sharing the Love of Jesus with each other, their community and beyond.  I am blessed to be a part of this fabulous staff and church family."   

When not “living” in the church office, Margie lives in Bartow with her husband, John, and their son, John Neil, who is now in college.  In her ‘spare’ time, she enjoys various computer activities (research, weather, creating house plans, trivia) singing and  playing piano for various church groups, and just spending as much time as possible with her husband, son, and their 2 extremely spoiled kitties.   

 

Lori Roe
Preschool & Kindergarten Director

I have had the privilege of being part of Beymer Preschool and Kindergarten as a parent, volunteer, classroom teacher, and now, as the Director.  I taught a class for three year olds for 12 years and have served as Director for the past two.  In each of these roles, I have found the Beymer Church and Preschool to be a place that welcomes young children and their families.  Each of our Preschool families becomes part of an extended family. I believe that the hallmark of the school is the warmth and genuine love and caring that is experienced by our little ones.

 I received my BA in Social Welfare and Master’s in Guidance and Counseling.  My years in the preschool classroom have proved invaluable to me as I seek to keep the school responsive to the needs of the children we serve.  I am honored to serve with 16 other staff members who are deeply committed to the nurture and growth of young children.  My own two sons are Beymer “graduates” who made friendships that lasted throughout their later school years.

 The Preschool and Kindergarten staff is thankful for the wonderful families who choose us for that very important first school experience.  We strive to plant in each child a love for learning that will last a lifetime!  We welcome parents to call and talk with us about our program.

 

Allie Fletcher
Finance Director

Allie was born and raised in Florida. After she graduated from South Dade High School in Homestead, she moved to California and got married. She has two children, a son and a daughter, and now has four grandchildren.

She lived 45 years in California, mostly in Sacramento and the nine years in Santa Rosa. In 2002, she did an early retirement and moved to Winter Haven. After four years she was ready to work again and went back to California. But after two years, she moved back to Winter Haven. The lakes were calling. She says, "God has another plan, and now I found myself back in Winter Haven and here at Beymer MUMC. It was quite a journey to get here, but God had his finger prints in all of this, and I feel very blessed to be a part of Beymer MUMC. It's exciting to be involved in a church that is alive in Christ's love and all the ministries that it encompasses."

 

 

Fran Vaughn
Nursery Director

  Fran Vaughn, Nursery Director, is a Florida native. She was born in Bartow and grew up there, attending McLeod Presbyterian Church. For many years she was a volunteer in that church nursery. For over 25 years she worked in retail including some management positions. A widow with two children and five grandchildren, she does lots of babysitting and she is a quilter. You can already see some of her handiwork if you drop by our baby and toddler rooms. We are happy to have Fran on our staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related resources

• Choristers Guild - www.choristersguild.org
• American Guild of English Handbell Ringers - www.agehr.org

Staff Email Addresses

• Rev. Meredith McMillan - pastor@beymer.org   
• Rev. Robert Cox - youth@beymer.org
• Cindy Selph -  music@beymer.org
• Margie Anderson - office@beymer.org
• Allie Fletcher - finance@beymer.org
• Eddie Bruner - facilities@beymer.org
• Fran Vaughn - nursery@beymer.org
• Lori Roe - preschool@beymer.org