Meet Our Staff

Jeff Bennett

Pastor

Jeff is in his 15th year of ordained ministry, having worked for ten years as a software engineer prior to hearing God’s call to pastoral ministry. He and wife Jill have been married for nine years and have three children: Abby, Sophie and Spencer.

Jeff served as Associate Pastor of Beach United Methodist, Jacksonville Beach prior to Ponte Vedra UMC transitioning to a new church start in January, 2003. He and Jill lived on the island of Utila, Honduras where Jeff served as a volunteer pastor. (A photo journal of that adventure appears on Jeff’s website, http://jeff.mybennett.org.)

Jeff loves the local church and has a deep desire to get people involved in small groups. “Everybody ought to be loved and known well by other Christians and they ought to have the privilege of loving others too. That can happen in a small group.”

Diane Wright

Minister of Music - Traditional

diane.wright@pv-umc.org

Diane and Tom have been a part of our worshiping community since 2004. Diane brings a variety of musical gifts to our church including 16 years of experience directing choirs. Diane directs our traditional choir GodSong and leads congregational hymn singing. She joined our staff in the fall of 2005.

Scott Tinsley

Minister of Music - Contemporary

scott.tinsley@pv-umc.org

Scott has been serving Ponte Vedra United Methodist musically since 2001 when we began as the South Campus of Beach UMC. From lead guitar in the Praise Band, Scott moved to his present position in the fall of 2005. He has been playing professionally since 1979 and teaches private lessons in guitar, violin, piano and bass guitar. Scott leads the Praise Band and Praise Choir and continues to sing and play guitar in the band.

Kelly Minter

Youth Minister

kelly.minter@pv-umc.org

Kelly began working with us in April, 2007. She most recently served at Conway United Methodist Church in Orlando, coming to us with 10 years experience working with youth. Kelly hails from Philadelphia; her parents and her sister (who is also a youth minister) and her brother continue to live in that area. Kelly enjoys time with her family and also time at the beach. She lives in Arlington with cats Twilight and Cole, and toy rat terrier Piper. Kelly also leads the Conference Connection on Youth Ministries.

Lynn Straughan

Children's Ministry Coordinator

lynn.straughan@pv-umc.org

Lynn began serving our church in January, 2008 bringing with her much experience organizing adults serving children through PTO and also serving as a volunteer in the local church. She enjoys tennis and presently serves as presidint of the board of St Johns Tennis Association, a junior teen tennis organization. Lynn and her husband Matt of 27 years have one daughter Caroline who is a student at Nease High School.

Kim Knopp

Nursery Coordinator

kim.knopp@pv-umc.org

Kim came aboard as our Nursery Coordinator in March, 2007. Kim is a third grade teacher at Abess Elementary School in Jacksonville. She is married to Jack; they have three daughters. Kim not only oversees our other nursery workers but wants to see the children in our care learning the songs and stories of the faith.

Susan Bowler

Administrative Assistant

susan.bowler@pv-umc.org

Susan came to serve our church in August, 2006. She has been married to her husband John for 19 years. They enjoy John’s sons John and Matthew and their grandson Adam. Susan loves animals and has adopted several stray cats. (Don’t get any ideas, though. Susan says, “No more.”) The Bowlers also have a dog named June who lives with them in their Jacksonville Beach home.

Jim Larsen

Accountant

jim.larsen@pv-umc.org

Jim and his wife Karen of 48 years live in Walden Chase. Their daughter Kim’s family lives in the same development so the Larsens get to spend a lot of time with their granddaughter Kaeli. Jim and Karen both volunteer at Ocean Palms Elementary where Kaeli is a 5th grader. Karen loves time in the classroom while Jim helps out on the administrative end. Jim has been serving our church since August, 2006.