OUR CHURCH LAY LEADERSHIP

Saint Mark thrives due to the combined efforts of hardworking staff, experienced clergy, and dedicated lay leadership. These are the dedicated laity that lend their time and talents to help Saint Mark succeed in our goals of loving, accepting, and serving.

Click here to learn more about our staff and clergy.

Saint Mark UMC Church Bylaws

2024 Church Church Leadership

For a list of our 2024 Church Lay Leadership, click here.

Our Church Lay Leadership Structure | Model

At Saint Mark, we use the Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS) model and we have one Church Council. Below explains the SAS model, a video of why it was developed, and who are our current Church Council members.

Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS)

Simplified, Accountable structure (previously referred to as the single board model or one board model) moves churches from four administrative committees (trustees, finance, staff-parish relations, and church council) to one Leadership Board encapsulating all responsibilities and authority of the previous four separate administrative committees in compliance with the UMC Book of Discipline in Paragraph 247.2.

2023 Church Council Leadership Board

Email 2023 Church Council

Amber Stewart

Church Council Chairperson • (she/her)

Raised in Northeast Ohio, Amber received her Masters' in Architecture from Tulane University in 2009, muddled her way through the recession, moved to Atlanta in 2012, and began attending Saint Mark soon afterwards. She is a member of the Visions Sunday School class and has served in the Administrative Council, on the Visioning Committee, and as a water girl for the Pride parade. When she's not conducting Zoom meetings for the Church Council or attempting ill-advised DIY around her home, Amber can be found teaching aerial yoga, walking her dog Momo, and keeping up with the latest on TikTok. She'd love to be the recipient of both your prayers and pictures of your dogs.

Mitch Foster II

Church Council Vice Chairperson • (he/him)

Mitch began his journey as a United Methodist, right here at Peachtree and Fifth. After college, Mitch moved to Atlanta for work, came to find Saint Mark shortly thereafter, and has loved his church home ever since. Over the years, Mitch has served on the Trustees, Finance, and as the SPRC Chair. Mitch’s favorite outreach at Saint Mark is the Breakfast Club - a weekly offering of food for those who are food insecure and often ‘under-housed' as well. He has been an active member of the 4th Saturday team (serving several terms as the week’s captain) since 2006.
Currently, Mitch is serving as the Church Council Vice Chair. Mitch is delighted to serve the church in this way, and covets your prayers for his discerning when making decisions for Saint Mark.

Eric Steverson

Church Council Secretary • (he/him)

Eric Steverson is the Secretary of our 2022 Church Council.

Joel Black

Church Treasurer • (he/him)

Joel Black, CPA, FLMI, is a product of the Northeast Georgia Mountains. Educated at North Georgia College and State University and Brenau University, Joel has been a CPA since 1991. Joel moved to the Atlanta Area in 1984 to work with what is now known as Preplanning Solutions, a company that markets small face whole life and annuity insurance products to pre-fund funerals. As a manager in the finance organization, Joel primarily spends his time preparing and analyzing financial statements and budgets. A member of Saint Mark since 2011, Joel has served on the Finance and Endurability Committees, Administrative Council and is part of the Interactions Sunday School class, 3rd Saturday Breakfast Club volunteer group, and enjoys hosting the Saturday morning Open Doors ministry. Joel served as Assistant Treasurer for several years prior to becoming Treasurer.

Kathy Fazenbaker

Lay Leader & Lay Delegate to Annual Conference • (she/her)

Kathy has been a member of Saint Mark since 2001. During this time, she has been involved with the Children’s Ministry and VBS, Trustees, and a member of the Interactions Class. Kathy’s husband of over 30 years is a retired clergy of the UMC and works at Georgia Tech. Their son, Reed, is in his 3rd year at University of Minnesota and daughter, Lucy, is in her first year at The New School in NYC. Kathy has worked for Clorox for the last 34 years.

Mary Abbott Waite

Church Story Keeper • (she/her)

A member of Saint Mark since the late eighties, Mary Abbott has enjoyed participating in many ministries of the church. She has sung in the choir and volunteered for Breakfast Club from the week she joined. The joy of singing together and serving in love and acceptance are the foundation of "doing church" for her. She has also served in many leadership roles, including member and chair of the Administrative Council, lay leader, small group facilitator, and lay member to annual conference. Striving together to embody the beloved community by accepting and loving all God's children, no exceptions, is the heart of Saint Mark's ministry and witness for Mary Abbott and "why Saint Mark must Stay Strong." Mary Abbott has deep Methodist roots--her father and both grandfathers were Methodist ministers, her mother was a church historian, and she went to Methodist colleges for undergraduate and graduate education (Wesleyan College and Duke University). Professionally she works as a writer and consulting editor.

Mark Woods

Finance Chairperson • (he/him)

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Mark Woods is the Chairperson of our Finance Committee.

Greg Washington

Finance Vice Chairperson • (he/him)

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Saint Mark UMC and the Visions Sunday School class have been spiritual homes for Greg Washington since 2014. The sense of acceptance, diversity, and genuine welcome that is a hallmark of the Saint Mark community have been critically important to Greg and his family; Gary, Daniela, and Gabriela. While the Washington family sees itself as city dwellers, they actually split their time between Midtown and the suburban Gwinnett county.
Professionally, Greg is a retired Army officer with over 24 years of service. Following military service, Greg, who holds a doctorate in Management, became a senior executive in higher education management, serving several colleges and universities. Greg currently owns and operates a premium, education-based childcare center and serves as a contributing faculty member in Walden University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program.
Aside from being active in the church community and spending time with his daughters, Greg enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and exploring local breweries and wineries.

Ministries Committees Chairperson • (/)

Karen Hannula

Ministries Committee Vice Chairperson • (she/her)

Karen was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was adopted as an infant and grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended Auburn University and spent most of her career working in law firms, for the US DOJ, and large corporations in the risk management/legal arena. She has two daughters, both of whom are married and live in California and North Carolina. She is the proud grandmother of two fabulous grandchildren. She has attended St. Mark UMC for almost 30 years, has served in many capacities in leadership, and has seen many changes over the years. She is excited about the new opportunities at St. Mark and can't wait to see how Saint Mark moves forward as a stronger church.

Lily Berrios

Staff Parish Relations Chairperson • (she/her)

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Lily Berrios, Principal and President of Sizemore Group, is a recognized leader in Architecture and Planning with nationally recognized expertise in Design and Advanced Planning for Institutional clients. She has consistently exhibited her ability to articulate a client’s goals through design and frequently does seminars on planning and design. Lily has been an active member of Saint Mark UMC since 1988, and has represented Laity in the North Georgia Conference and the 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. At Saint Mark UMC, Lily has chaired various committees: Board Trustees, Buildings & Ground, Restoration Phase 1 and 2, and is an active volunteer in Saturday Breakfast Club and the Chancel Choir. Born in San Juan, PR, she is married to Walter Miller and has two daughters, Marie and Margaret.

Noey Barrera-Disler

Staff Parish Relations Vice Chairperson • (she/her)

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After graduating from high school in Southern Texas, Noey (she/her) started her career first by joining the US Army in 1977, then moved on to receive her Bachelors in Accounting from Fayetteville State University in 1985. She continued her journey in Atlanta after graduation where she met her wife, Sheri and together raised their son, Todd. Todd was baptized and confirmed at Saint Mark. Noey and Sheri have been together for 33 years and held their 4th wedding at Saint Mark in 2014. They have been St Mark members for over 25 years. Noey and her family continue to be a part of Saint Mark because there is something reverent about simply being inside Saint Mark. It gives them a physical space to connect and draw closer to God and to realize that there is something out there bigger than themselves. Saint Mark offers many opportunities to donate time to causes Noey believes in. Noey has served as Finance Chairperson and on the Administrative Council. Upon retiring from more than 33 years of Federal service, Noey worked with Supper Club. She has also participated in several mission trips to Honduras and Costa Rica. Noey spends her time traveling - domestic and international - and enjoys being behind camera.