The businesses advertised on this site are owned by church members or supported by the church.
Meet the First Methodist Staff
(Please click on a picture to send an email to that person)
Rev. David P. Orr, Senior Minister As the Senior Minister of FUMC, David offers his fresh purpose driven leadership style and commitment to making disciples for Jesus Christ. David has served in all levels of the United Methodist Church of Arkansas. Before coming to Fort Smith,he most recently served as the Fayetteville District Superintendent and Sr. Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Springdale. David's love of God, His Church, and for people is unwavering. David has been at FUMC since the summer of 2001. David is a 1977 graduate of Arkansas State University and 1980 graduate of Memphis Theological Seminary, Memphis, Tennessee. David and his wife, Janie, have two children and four grandchildren. Just ask to see the pictures!
Rev. Janice Sudbrink, Associate Minister, Parish Nurse Janice received her bachelor of nursing degree from Mississippi University for Women and has practiced nursing for 23 years. She has also completed the Basic Preparation Course for Parish Nursing from St. Louis School of Nursing, meeting the standards set by the American Nurses Association.
In wanting to incorporate Spirituality and Theology into her nursing practice, Janice entered Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. She graduated from Phillips in May of 2006 with her Master of Divinity Degree. Janice was appointed to First Church as a commissioned Probationary Deacon at Annual Conference. Janice is married to David Sudbrink, an Orthopedic Surgeon with River Valley Musculoskeletal Center, and they have two boys, Sam and Ben.
Rev. Stephen Dickinson, Associate Minister Rev. Stephen Dickinson, Associate Minister, and an England, AR, native, graduated from UALR with a BA in Psychology and an MA in Gerontology. In 2003, after working seven years in healthcare administration, he served as Church Administrator for Cornerstone UMC in Jonesboro. Feeling a calling into ministry, he transitioned into an Associate Minister position there and attended Memphis Theological Seminary as a full-time student. He completed his Master of Divinity curriculum in December 2007 with degree conferred in May 2008.
Stephen is passionate about contemporary worship, Bible study, and training laity for service to the world. His personal hobbies include golf, fishing, camping with his family, mountain biking, and the Razorbacks! He and his wife, Leila, have been married 13 years and have two children, Hadley and Patrick.
Rev. Claire Caldwell, Associate Minister Claire Caldwell is an Arkansas transplant from New Jersey but calls herself a “GRIT” (girl raised in the south). She went to Conway High School and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2004 with a BA in Sociology. Claire completed her Master’s of Divinity in 2008 from Boston University. First United Methodist Church is her first appointment as a commissioned probationary elder in the Arkansas Conference.
Claire knew growing up that she was called to be in a significant relationship with the church but didn’t discover her true calling into ministry until college. She was touched by the ministry of the Wesley Foundation at UCA and joined the Methodist Church. Soon after joining the Church she attended an Exploration event in Chicago which solidified her calling into local church ministry.
Rev. Herschel McClurkin, Associate Minister Herschel is our retired part-time associate working in the areas of Older Adults and Hospital Visitation. Herschel and his wife, Mardell, provide leadership for our Pacesetters Ministry. Herschel served as the Conway District Superintendent, and has recently retired as the Pastor of the Kibler United Methodist Church.
Rev. William Cheyne, Associate Minister Bill is also one of our retired part-time associates working in the areas of Older Adults, Homebound/Nursing Home and Hospital Visitation. Bill is very involved and provides leadership in our CareSteps Ministry. Bill, a former District Superintendent of the Fort Smith District, provides a tremendously caring ministry. Bill and his wife, Earline, are faithful participants at FUMC.
Rev. Aaron Barling, Pastor Emeritus Aaron and his wife, Nell, are active in the life of FUMC. Aaron is a former Fayetteville District Superintendent.
Dr. George Ivey, Pastor Emeritus Dr. Ivey and his wife, Doris reside in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Ivey has served churches in the Northwest Texas Conference, as a Chaplain in World War II, and Vice President of Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. Dr. Ivey is a former Sr. Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Fort Smith, serving from 1976-1980.
Christie Jacobs, Weekday School Director
Alison Underwood, Nursery Director
Cassandra Arnhart, College Ministry Intern
Debbie Hicks, Custodian/Van Driver
Gaye McClure, Chancel Choir Director
Gail Oakes, Senior Associate Minister's Secretary
Heather Carter, Contemporary Worship Music Leader
Janne Standifird, Food Services
Jerry Hartfield, Business Administrator
Jill Crowell, Receptionist
Kelly Desoto, Music and Children's Ministries Secretary
Nancy Scott, Senior Minister's Secretary
Nancy Vernon, Music Ministries
Pat Fleri, Financial Secretary
Robert LePerle, Custodian
Sally Ware, Children's Ministries
Tiffany Null, Children's Day Out Director
Todd Vick, Minister of Lay Involvment
Tony Clyde, Youth Minister
Valerie Hubbard, Child Enrichment Center Director
Wesley Clark, Evening Custodian
First United Methodist Church, 200 North 15th, Fort Smith, AR 72901