Staff

DR. PHILIP E. MCVAY, SENIOR PASTOR

"My focus for life is a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, making a difference, having a positive attitude, a generous spirit, and counting my blessings daily! I am the only male in my household so I am broadening my horizons. Oh yes... I love Auburn Football, the Braves, peanuts, the waterfront, and running even to the point of being called "Forrest Gump" on a few occasions."

Dr. Philip E. McVay is delighted to be the Senior Pastor of Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Philip has been at Cokesbury since the year 2000. He is married to his wife of twenty-two years, Karen. Karen is an enthusiastic and real person. She is a school teacher at Bailey Middle School. They have three daughters Mallory a student at Auburn University, Brooke a varsity cheerleader at West Florida High School, and Haley who has sung in the Pensacola Children's Chorus and will soon be Freshman cheerleader at West Florida High School.

Philip is originally from Jackson, Alabama. He was called into the ministry just after graduation from high school and was assigned as pastor of the Coatopa Charge at age 19. Among the churches he has served include student appointments near Livingston and Auburn, Alabama. He served as Associate Pastor 1983-86 of the Shalimar United Methodist Church in Shalimar, Florida... where he met his wife Karen. He also served in a new church setting at Saint Luke United Methodist Church, Pensacola during some rapid growth and expansion years 1986-92. Later he became the senior pastor of Whitfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery (1992-2000) where a declining church became a growing church again. During the Whitfield years, (1998) a historic action took place, as Normandale UMC merged with Whitfield.

Philip is a graduate of Livingston University (Now the University of West Alabama) where he majored in history and minored in political science. Later he completed two graduate degrees in United Methodist Seminaries. He completed his master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta. Later he earned his doctorate of ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.

As an ordained elder (1985) in the United Methodist Church, he has served in numerous capacities in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. One of the highlights was being a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1996.

He is a sports fan. One of his hobbies is running. He enjoys running with members of the Cokesbury congregation. Philip has run fifteen Marathons. What is most important in life?

REV. STUART A. WORTH, PASTOR-MISSIONS AND SATURDAY NIGHT PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Rev. Stuart Worth has been a pastor at Cokesbury since June of 1997. Although originally from Idaho (God’s Country), Stuart went to Middle and High School in Gulf Breeze and therefore tries to sound like a local. Stuart is so Methodist he has been to two Methodist universities graduating from Birmingham Southern in religion and psychology and then getting his Master’s at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Being at Cokesbury for around 10 years he has been involved in a wide array of ministries here. Recently his main efforts have been in leading the Saturday Night Service by preaching, playing guitar, and trying to sing. If by chance you are interested in missions Stuart is the guy to talk with. In Stuart’s spare time he also serves another appointment outside Cokesbury as the Campus minister for the University of West Florida and Pensacola Junior College. If by chance you need someone to talk to, feel free to call him on his cell phone at 723-4716.

REV. CLINT MCBROOM, PASTOR-SUMMIT CAMPUS

Clint McBroom came to Cokesbury in June 2003. He is a graduate of the University of South Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Clint has served at Dothan First United Methodist and then at the Florala, Hopewell, and Christian Home United Methodist Churches. His hobbies include jogging, tennis, and scuba diving. Clint is married to Amy, and they have a daughter, Emma.

REV. CONNIE RAGGHIANTI, PASTOR-CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Reverend Connie Ragghianti came to Cokesbury in August of 2003 to serve as Pastor of Congregational Care. Although she was born and raised in Nebraska, is a graduate of UNL (the University of Nebraska at Lincoln), and is an avid Cornhusker fan (Go Big Red!), Florida has been “home” for many years. She and her husband, Al, who is also a United Methodist pastor, have 2 children, Andrew and Allison. Connie holds a Masters degree in both Counseling and Christian Education from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She has served as a Hospice Chaplain for Mercy Medical in Mobile, Alabama, and as Children’s Pastor at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Connie enjoys creating pottery, reading, and spending time outdoors - especially at the beach.

PHIL IGNEY, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Phil Igney came to Cokesbury in June, 2004, from St. Luke's UMC in St. Petersburg where he served for ten years. Prior to that, he served at Seminole First Baptist for sixteen years. He has degrees from Florida State University ( Bachelor's of Music Education) and the University of South Florida, Tampa (M.A. in Music Education). Phil taught public school music at the middle and high school level. He directed the St. Petersburg Boychoir and the chorus for the local opera company and also served as a clinician in choral and handbell festivals and conferences. He has sung baritone roles in Broadway musicals and operas. Phil is a consecrated Diaconal Minister. Phil is married to Keri who plays handbells, flute and the piano.

SANDRA DURR, MUSIC ASSOCIATE, ORGANIST

Dr. Sandra Durr has been on staff at Cokesbury since 1995, first on an interim basis and then in the permanent position as organist and music associate. Sandra has been involved in church music in various capacities since the age of twelve, beginning in her hometown of Chipley, Florida. Before coming to Cokesbury, she worked in churches in Chipley, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Pensacola, coordinating and directing children's and youth choir programs., directing handbells, senior adults and ladies ensembles, playing the piano and the organ and serving as music associate.

Sandra studied piano, voice, and organ at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Pensacola Junior College, and at the University of West Florida. She most recently graduated with a Doctor of Education degree from the University of West Florida. She has been employed with the Escambia County School Board since 1975, teaching music and math at the middle school level. She is now the Fine Arts Specialist for the Escambia County School District, coordinating all of the music, visual arts, theatre, and dance programs in the district. She is married to Jim Durr and they have one daughter and two sons.

KELLI MUSSELMAN, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES

Kelli was born in Fort Lauderdale and was raised most of her life in Atlanta, GA. She started her college career at Auburn University and graduated from Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, GA. Because of the strong calling on her life to work with middle and high school students, she got involved in Student Venture, the high school parachurch ministry for Campus Crusade for Christ. She volunteered in small group settings as a mentor/leader for four years. She majored in Sociology with an emphasis in Interpersonal Counseling and she minored in Youth Ministry. Shortly after graduation in 2002, Kelli became the Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue’s, Official Photographer working with him at the Capitol in Atlanta for almost five years. She also worked as Youth Director for Tapestry Community Church in Roswell, GA. She has just come on board at Cokesbury UM July ‘o7 and she’s excited!
Kelli is passionate about a lot of things including writing, photography, the great outdoors, sports (playing not watching) but more than anything, passionate about connecting with today’s youth. She has a heart to bring them into deeper, intimate relationships with Jesus Christ and longs for them to know Him personally….in a passionate, adventurous, exciting way that brings them REAL life. “Life is either a daring adventure or…..nothing.”

DAWN FALLER, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES

Dawn joined the Cokesbury staff in May of 2004 to assist in the needs of our growing Children’s Ministry. She became director of the children's ministries in May of 2007. She is a native of Pensacola, and a local graduate of Washington High School and Pensacola Junior College. Before answering her calling to Children’s Ministry at Cokesbury, Dawn was a homemaker for eight years. Dawn and her husband, Chuck, have two lovely daughters, Jordyn and Madison.

MICHELLE TOMLIN, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S CENTER

Michelle is the Director of the Cokesbury Children’s Center. The Children’s Center has been a mission of the church for thirty-nine years. The Children’s Center provides a loving and nurturing environment for children ages six weeks through pre-kindergarten as well as elementary after school. Michelle has worked in the Children’s Center for eight years as the Assistant Director. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Law/Legal Administration from the University of West Florida. Michelle and her husband, Barry, have one daughter, Madeline, who is a “graduate” of Cokesbury Children’s Center.

LISA MILLER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Lisa Miller is the Director of Communications. Lisa has a degree in communications from UWF. Lisa is married (Brian) and has a 13 month old daughter Erin.

FLOR M. CRUZ, CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR

Flor is native from San Juan, Puerto Rico and she started serving Cokesbury as the church secretary in 1995. She is married to Israel and has two children, Israel Jose and Disraelly. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Science from the University of Maryland, and an Associate Degree in Arts from the same University and has been certified as a United Methodist Church Secretary. She has also worked in the banking industry in England, Puerto Rico and here in Pensacola. At Cokesbury church she serves as an Church Administrator and her duties vary from day to day. In her free time, she likes to cross-stitch, read a good book and spend time with her family. She is also active in the District Hispanic Ministries Board.

SHIRLEY BEAN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Born in Pennsylvania, Shirley was raised in Niagara Falls, New York. She moved to Pensacola in 1956 and, with the exception of residing for a few years in Mobile and then in Tallahassee, has been here ever since. She brings approximately forty years of professional secretarial experience to her position at Cokesbury, having come out of two years of retirement to join our staff. Immediately prior to her retirement, she was employed in Tallahasssee at Trinity United Methodist Church (over 2000 membership in 1999) as Church Secretary which included being Membership Secretary as well as Secretary to the Senior Minister. She and her husband, William Bean, joined Cokesbury in 1999. Her four children all reside in the Pensacola area as do four of her six grandchildren.

GAYLE DUBOSE, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SUMMIT PARK CAMPUS

Gayle was born in Geneva, Alabama. After graduating from George Wallace Junior College with a degree in Business, she spent many years in the real estate property management profession and earned a Real Estate Broker’s License and other certifications. After marrying her husband, Norman, she traveled around the world with him for twenty years until he retired from the US Navy. They have two children, Greg and Scott, and three grandchildren, Jackie, Cameron and Paul. Gayle and Norman joined Cokesbury in 1986.

SANDY SPIVEY, MUSIC ASSOCIATE,SUMMIT PARK CAMPUS

Sandy Spivey is an active performer and music teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance and is a former U.S. Air Force Band member. His duties at Cokesbury UMC include leading the music for two contemporary services and preparing the CUMC orchestra for services. He and his his wife Julie have three children, Claire, Sam and Abby.

WYLEY MURRAY, FACILITIES MANAGER

Born in Thomasville, Georgia, Wyley was raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. After returning from his service in the Air Force, Wyley later moved to Washington, D. C. where he met his wife, Jody. They moved to Jody's hometown of Billings, Montana where he finished college at Montana State University-Billings and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing. After spending a career in the food brokerage business, Wyley and Jody moved to Pensacola in 1998 where he has been employed at Air Products until joining the Cokesbury staff in 2005. Wyley and Jody joined Cokesbury in 2003. They have three sons, Tony who is married to Leah, and Andy who is married to Kara, and one son Alex who is also a member of Cokesbury. They also have two grandchildren , and the number is growing.

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