Staff
Our Senior Minister
Rev. Dr. James R. Decker-Mahin
Dr. Jim has been our Senior Minister since 1994. He was born and raised in Santa Monica, California, to a family of church musicians. Dr. Jim graduated with a degree in psychology from UCLA and a doctorate in Ministry from School of Theology at Claremont. He completed extended studies at the University of Edinburgh, New College and was appointed as an associate for two years at Orangethorpe Methodist Church in Fullerton, CA. His first appointment as Senior Minister was Palisades UMC in Capistrano Beach where he stayed for eleven years. His second full-time appointment as senior minister was for eight years at Foothills United Methodist Church in east San Diego. Dr Jim was responsible for building a multi-purpose building at Capistrano Beach and a beautiful sanctuary at Foothills UMC. In addition, he received the Bishop’s Church Growth Award five times.
Dr. Jim is married to Dr. Lynn and together they share in a ministry of music. They also have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. Oldest son Michael and his wife, Kristie, have a son Dylan. They live in Carlsbad, California and are close enough for frequent visits! Middle son, Mark, is a newly-wed, marrying Verena in August, 2010. They live in Westlake, California with Sophie, the black lab. Daughter Michelle and her husband Brendan, live in Massachusetts, with their 4 children, O'Sinn, Ronan, Ella, and Ava.
Dr. Jim enjoys ping-pong, basketball, movies, and music. He is an ardent fan of UCLA and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dr. Lynn Decker-Mahin
Director of Music Ministries
Coordinator for Center for Creative Living & Fine Arts Series
Music has always been a vital part of Lynn's life, beginning with Musical Kindergarten. in Texas She began piano lessons at age 5 and continued piano through her college years. She added organ lessons in junior high and maintained those studies through college as well.
Lynn Decker-Mahin moved to Camarillo in 1978 from Stillwater, Minnesota. Dr. Lynn is a native Texan and while there lived in San Marcos, Alpine and Odessa. Her family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, when she was in 7th grade. From there, the family moved further north to Bemidji, home of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Dr. Lynn earned a Bachelor's Degree from Mankato State University along with a teaching certificate in Music Education. She majored in voice and minored in keyboard studies - piano and organ. Once in California, Dr. Lynn got a California teaching certificate in music and earned an Administrative Credential while earning her Master's Degree in Educational Administration. She eventually earned a doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dr. Lynn has been active in the educational community serving as a school district administrator, staff development trainer, and grant writer.
Music has always been an important part of Dr. Lynn's life, so together with Dr. Jim, she enjoys creating a musical environment at the church that reflects eclectic styles and includes contemporary and classical.
Debbie McClellan
Director of Children's Ministries
Debbie and her family became members of the Camarillo United Methodist Church in 2000. After 8 years of extensively volunteering in the Children's Ministry, including the Journey Through the Arts (JTTA), and Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs, in addition to teaching Sunday School for several years, Debbie joined the staff of CUMC as the Director of Children's Ministry in October 2008. Debbie is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services. She previously worked for several years as a Fire Department 9-1-1 dispatcher in Orange County. Debbie resides in Camarillo with her husband and their three children, Jessica, Megan and Glen.
Dr. Bill Garlington
Youth & Adult Education Director
Bill wears two hats at CUMC. On Sundays he is the Director of Youth Activities, while on Monday evenings he puts on his mortar board and leads classes in the area of Adult Education.
When he came to Camarillo with his wife Cris, Bill thought he had retired. Twenty-five years of teaching children of all ages had allowed him to believe that he deserved a rest. As fate had it, this was not to be the case. But not only did CUMC help Bill get away from his addiction to golf, it also allowed Cris to make constructive use of some of her spare time. Cris now helps out at the pre-school as a teacher’s aid (she was a full-time elementary school teacher for over thirty years and mentor teacher for the last ten) and both Cris and Bill have become happy, part-time employees. The Garlingtons have found the CUMC community to be a wonderful addition to their lives.
When he isn’t teaching the young and not so young, Bill enjoys writing and reading. His favorite areas of study are history, philosophy and comparative religion. He also still enjoys the odd game of golf. Like Dr. Jim, Bill is a UCLA graduate, having obtained both his B.A. and M.A. from that great institution. He also holds a doctorate from the Australian National University.
Bill and Cris have two children: Todd and Kim and one grandchild, Khalil.
Kristi VanKeersbilck
Assistant Youth Director
Handbell Director
Family Ministries Director
Kristi VanKeersbilck, Handbell Director, Youth Ministries Assistant, and Family Ministries Director, was born and raised in Michigan, but migrated west after college to escape the cold weather. She does, however, visit "The Holy Land" (Michigan) twice a year and remains an avid Spartan (Michigan State University) fan.
Kristi graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Music Therapy and moved to Camarillo to complete an internship at Camarillo State Hospital. She met her husband, David, while working on the Children's Program. David is a talented tenor and banjo player, and they share a love of music (though not necessarily the banjo). They married in 1992 and joined the church together. They now have two boys: Nikolas, age 13, and Luke, age 10, who keep them well-entertained and chronically tired.
Kristi joined the church staff after being "down-sized" by county mental health in 2003. She enjoys working with youth, young families, and especially the bell choirs. She currently has 3 children's/youth bell choirs and adult choir which all play in church and at the annual bell choir concert. In her spare time she enjoys going to the beach, walking, riding bikes, taking trips with her family, and relaxing in the hot bath with a good book.
Pam Dougherty
Church Secretary
Pam Dougherty grew up in this church (daughter of Roger and Martha Cox) and is very happy to be serving as Church Secretary. She proudly recalls being Junior High MYF President (we won’t say how long ago that was) and working with the two year olds each Sunday morning as a teenager. Formerly the wedding coordinator (1999-2004), Pam has also volunteered with the youth ministries creating clowning skits (donning a costume and make-up herself), as well as Christmas plays and melodramas with this church’s very talented youth. Pam has two adult children, cute little dog and a very special husband, Tad. "This is my dream job and I look forward to a very long career!"
Linda Martin
Membership Secretary
Linda began working at Camarillo UMC in January of 2000...but she has been a member since 1982. She works very hard updating our membership information, as well as coordinating the calendaring of church activities, weddings and non-profit groups that use the church facilities. Her bright smile and cheery disposition are a welcome sight as you enter the church office.
Linda moved to Camarillo in 1980 with her husband, Lance. She has two children, Ryan and Renee and in her spare time enjoys activities with her family, working in her yard and redecorating her house.
Karen Lundberg
Child Development Center Director
I am Karen Lundberg the Director of United Methodist Child Development Center; I have recently joined the preschool. I come to this preschool with several years experience in Early Child Development; I helped open the corporate child care center at Amgen and played an integral role in the completion of the NAEYC accreditation process. I later moved to a more traditional preschool setting and enjoyed several years with them until my heart strings began pulling me to be with my family full time.
The position at UMCDC holds a warm spot in my heart, for my own two daughters; Melissa and Madison attended school here. My husband and I live here in Camarillo and I have been a resident here my whole life. We feel very fortunate to be able to raise our daughters in Camarillo. We are often busy with soccer games or we will be off camping things we all love to do.
Kathleen Matarazzo
Financial Secretary
Kathleen began working at Camarillo UMC in January of 2007...but has been a member of the church since 1995. She brings with her 12 years of accounts receivable experience and a love of dollars and cents. Her primary function as the Financial Secretary is to oversee all incoming funds to the church as well as our yearly pledge campaign but is here to assist wherever the need may be. Kathleen is a native of Ventura County and currently resides in Camarillo with her husband Ross and daughter Mickayla. Kathleen works part time with a varied schedule and when she is not here she can usually be found at her daughter's school as a volunteer or spending time with her mother or husband.
Evelyn Williams
Caring Ministry & Senior Ministry
Evelyn Williams was born and raised in Ventura County and has been a CUMC member since 1991. In 2005, Evelyn retired as manager of the VCMC medical staff organization. After retirement from her healthcare career, she completed training and certifications for: massage therapy, hospice patient care, and Stephen Ministry.
Evelyn began CUMC Senior Ministry in 2008. Additional service includes: massage therapy for seniors, prayer list coordinator, liturgist and Stephen Ministry leader. She also serves as a Camarillo Hospice volunteer. Husband, Michael E. Williams, M.D., semi-retired general surgeon, provides a sympathetic ear to CUMC members and their families with medical concerns. He frequently accompanies Evelyn on visits with home-bound or hospitalized CUMC members. Along with Evelyn, he has been trained and commissioned as a Stephen Ministry Leader. Mike & Evelyn married in 1995, and between them have four adult children and six grandchildren.
Mark Holmstrom
Organist/Accompanist
Mark Holmstrom joined the Camarillo United Methodist Church staff in the spring of 2010, playing his first services on February 21. He came to the church after 17 years at California Lutheran University where he served as University Organist, Chapel Music Coordinator, and staff accompanist. He had also been organist and music director at First Lutheran Church of Northridge for 37 years. Mark began playing the piano at age 9 and organ at age 13. He took lessons under Richard Warned, noted instructor and music director at Hollywood United Methodist. After graduating from Chatsworth High School, he spent two years at UCLA pursuing a major in chemistry.
Mark's hobbies include attending classic rock-and-roll concerts and listening to top organists such as Olivier Latry and Cameron Carpenter. He also enjoys listening to the Pipedreams program on NPR and especially likes the organ music of such composers as Johann Sebastian Bach, Michael Burkhardt and Jean Langlais. Mark lives in Thousand Oaks and has a sister in Sacramento.
Karen Gundelfinger
Wedding Coordinator
Karen Gundelfinger is a long-time Camarillo resident who became a member of the church in 2008. Karen has previous experience as a Wedding Coordinator and approaches each wedding as if it was her own; wanting to make the experience wonderful and unforgettable for the bridal couple and their families. Karen works at CSU Channel Islands as the Executive Assistant to the Provost and also serves in other ministries here at CUMC.
Sally Anderson
Assistant to the Choir
Erick Diehl
Gardener
