Dr. Ken Lutgen, Jr., Senior Pastor     klutgen@blueridgechurch.org

Ken was born in Fayette, Missouri while his Father was attending Central Methodist College. The family moved to Kansas City in 1949 where Ken has lived except for periods when he lived in Jackson, Mississippi 1958-1963, New York City 1992-1997 and St. Louis 1997-2000. Ken has served as the Pastor/Senior Pastor of a church for over 26 years, as Director of UMCOR for five years and as the District Superintendent of Kansas City for five years prior to coming to Blue Ridge. He graduated from Center High School of Kansas City where he met Linda L. Wood. They united in marriage in 1966 and have three grown children and five wonderful grandchildren. Ken and Linda share the hobbies of travel and gardening.

Dr. Lutgen brings 35 years of global and local church experience to this position as Senior Pastor.

Service

Education

Skills

Honors - Dr. Lutgen is the recipient of the following awards:

At Present - Dr. Lutgen is a member of the following:

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  Dr. James L. Smith, Pastor Emeritus      jsmith@blueridgechurch.org

Jim Smith was born in northern Missouri, and grew up around Belton, Missouri. He attended Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree and found his wife, Sandy.

Jim traveled widely to complete his education:

His early assignments included youth director at Grace Methodist and pastor of Wesley Methodist, both in Denver. He also served as preaching associate at the Burnbank Parish Church in Lanashire, Scotland.

His appointment to Blue Ridge in February, 2003 marked his eighth pastorate in the Kansas City area. He had previously served First United Methodist, Independence; Lake Lotawana, Calvary, Linn Memorial, Faubion, Mount Washington and Smithville churches.

Jim has provided leadership for several community and denominational groups, including serving on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society and sheltered workshops. His interests and hobbies include photography, Old Testament, archaeology, coin collecting and travel.

Sandy Smith is from Kansas City, Kansas. She had a Bachelor of Arts degree in home economics and a Masters in education. Paralleling Jim's academic and pastoral career, Sandy's teaching assignments range from Denver, to Glasgow, Scotland, to the Kansas City area. Her most recent employment has been at Penn Valley Community College and Metro-Tech High School.

Jim and Sandy enjoyed 21 wonderful years with their son Ian prior to his death during his junior year at Truman State University.  As Jim says, 'We look forward to seeing him again."

Until that joyous day, they are in retirement, but Jim continues to work part time on the Blue Ridge staff.

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   Linda Mann, Director of Music/Organist     lmann@bllueridgechurch.org

Linda plays piano and organ for weekly worship services. She directs Cornerstone Praise Band, Youth Choir and the Hand Bell Choirs. She Accompanies Chancel Choir, Men’s Ensemble and Children’s Choir. Linda is also in charge of preparing special music for worship services and other events, and planning with other music staff for their groups. She meets with church staff to coordinate music with other church activities. She also plays for weddings and funerals and helps sponsor youth activities.

Linda grew up in Kansas City and moved to Raytown in 1963. She graduated summa cum laude from Central Missouri State University in 1976 with a degree in vocal Music Education with an emphasis in piano.

She married Hoot Mann in 1973 and they have three children: Joe, Sam and John. Joe and his wife Beth have three children, Gabriel, Frankie and Lillian and live in Grain Valley. Sam and his wife Jen, live in Lee's Summit. John is a student at UMKC and currently lives at home.

Linda’s husband Hoot, plays tuba, trombone and string bass. He is a pilot and owns a lighting and display company. He directs the church orchestra, plays in the praise band, and is a youth sponsor.

Linda enjoys reading and word puzzles. She loves all things Scottish, walking her black Labrador Retriever and of course playing the piano and organ. She was first employed by the church in 1975 as accompanist to the children’s choir. In 1976 she became the organist and in 1987, the Director of Music. Since 1993 she has been the accompanist for the Truman High School Choirs in Independence, and in 2003 for the Independence Community Choir.

Linda was awarded a "Ministry of Music Award of Distinction" from the National Religious Music Week Alliance in 2003. She is a member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and the American Guild of Organists, from which she holds the Service Playing Certificate.

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Amy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wichita State University with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education.

She has been with Blue Ridge Methodist since early 2003. She currently teaches choir in Blue Springs at the Freshman Center at Blue Springs High School. Prior to Blue Springs, she taught choir for one year in Independence at Truman High School.

Before her experience with the local schools, Amy spent three years as Director of Music at St. Charles Borromeo Church and School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and four years as Director of Music at Woodland United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Amy is a member of the Missouri Music Educators Association; American and Missouri Music Educators National Convention; Choral Directors Association and the National Educators Association. She also is director of MAI (Music Arts Institute) Young MAIster Singers who perform annually with the Kansas City Symphony.

Her hobbies and main interests are her music.

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   Tammy Bartley, Children and Family Ministries     tbartley@blueridgechurch.org

Tammy has had a life-long commitment to serving Christ through the teaching of children. Growing up in Lawrence, Kansas, her family attended a small church where she began teaching Sunday school at age 16.

After attending the University of Kansas, she moved to Kansas City to finish nursing school and eventually moved to Raytown where she and her husband, Ed, started a family and became members of Blue Ridge. They have two sons, Ethan and Tristan.

The Bartley family hobby is music! Each one plays at least one instrument, plays in church and community bands, and sing in choirs. Music is a source of great joy for Tammy and is an important part of the children's ministry at Blue Ridge!

Tammy's vision for the children's ministry at Blue Ridge is to help parents create a strong and lasting foundation of faith that their children can build their lives upon. Tammy believes the Christian faith is more "caught" than "taught" and therefore looks to surround the children of  Blue Ridge with committed and nurturing adults to help model Christ's love for them. Tammy wants every child to know that he or she is a child of God, loved beyond measure by the Creator, and important to our church family. At Blue Ridge children are not considered the "church of tomorrow" but as valued members of our congregation today.

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Anne grew up in Kansas City and has been living in Raytown with husband Aaron since June 1998. They have three children; Zoey, Maegan and Josh which keep them very busy! Anne loves dancing, racing jet skis in the summer, camping and cooking. She has been employed as Youth Director of Blue Ridge since November 2007. Anne is a graduate of Raytown High School and has received numerous graduate degrees in life experiences!

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   Virginia (Ginny) Williams, Financial Administrator     vwilliams@blueridgechurch.org

Virginia (Ginny) Williams was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Because her father was in the Air Force, she moved around a lot as a child, but she has lived all her adult life in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. She and her husband Joe Cabula have three great loves: daughter, Monica who is a college student; son, Curt who is high school and Moe, Curt's pit bull.

Ginny has been at Blue Ridge since November, 2005, providing information to the Pastor and Finance Committee on all the church finances. She is available throughout the week to answer questions and discuss personal contributions made throughout the year with any church member.

Ginny has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Kansas State University and a Masters in Business from the University of Kansas.  She has more than 15 years experience working in the area of church finances.

When she can find the time, she enjoys reading and bicycling.

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  Sue Klotz, Adult Congrgational Care Coordinator    sklotz@blueridgechurch.org

Sue works with the adult education and small group ministries here at Blue Ridge. She will also become part of the pastoral care team when the Stephen's Ministry program begins, which Sue will be directing and responsible for.

Sue grew up in Hillsdale, Michigan. In 1961, when she was a junior in high school, she moved to Hutchinson, Kansas where she completed her senior year in 1962.  She then started nursing school there in  Hutchinson and graduated in 1965. She then married and began her career.

Sue and her late husband, Max, were blessed with twins - Daryl and Debbie. Sue now has three grand children; Garion, Hazel and Devin, who all live in Columbia, Missouri.

Sue is very much a people person; she loves to read and do some writing. Besides photography and travel being two of her favorite past-times, whenever she can she loves to visit her family - especially the grandkids. She loves to listen to most any kind of music and take time to enjoy nature - which she feels is God at his best!

Although Sue began her employment at Blue Ridge on June 1, 2007, she has volunteered here for many years. She has been a member of Blue Ridge since 1992.

Sue was a registered nurse for 41 years, 39 of which were Intensive Care. She has been very passionate about her work and when she felt she could no longer keep it up, she retired in 2006. In the mid 1990's, Sue completed a Parish Nurse Program a St. Luke's Hospital.

Sue received a scholarship at her high school graduation which ultimately influenced her final decision of career choice. She has been blessed with much recognition over her many years of nursing, with awards for patient and family care excellence - just for doing what she loved to do!

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   Mary Alice McBain, Office Manager     mamcbain@blueridgechurch.org

Mary Alice grew up in Northwest Missouri near Maryville and later moved to Lathrop, Missouri.

Mary Alice, a widow, is blessed with her three married children and their wonderful families.  She currently has three grandchildren and another one due this summer.

She has been employed at Blue Ridge since July, 2006. She taught Math and Science for ten years before beginning her joy as Office Manager for Liberty United Methodist Church. After eight years at the Liberty church, she moved to the Office Manager position for the Heartland Districts Office of the United Methodist Church where she remained for the next 11 years.

Here at Blue Ridge, Mary Alice oversees all office procedures, accounts payable, production of the bi-weekly Church Newsletter 'The ENVOY', assists with building matters and the many day-to-day duties of the office.

Mary Alice has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, Math, Biology and Secondary Education.

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   Phylis Goforth, Kitchen Coordinator     pgoforth@blueridgechurch.org

Phylis' cooking journey probably started when she had to have dinner on the table when her mom came home form work. The most unpleasant memory of cooking was frying corndogs at little league games. After flash frying her fingers, she thought she would never cook again! Therefore, she'll call this (the church) her first real cooking job.

Her next adventure in cooking was their tailgate party's at the Chief games. They began with just her and her husband, Sam, but soon grew to as  many as forty fun loving fans. During this time, Phylis was taking classes at Jaspers, which lasted 10 years. Her biggest thrill from that was dining one night with Julia Childs!

Phylis has been employed at Blue Ridge since July of 2006. She organizes menus for the many events of the church including Sunday Brunches, small group luncheons, business meetings and of course feeding as many as 200 adults and children on any given Wednesday night during the Wednesday Night Live Sessions. Her planning and organizational skills continue to amaze us as she takes something that could normally be hectic and chaotic and turns it into a flawless, smooth operation that not only is a pleasant experience but also tastes good!

She admits it has been quite a challenge and she loves it. She has had management experience in a large beauty salon before branching out into business on her own. She opened her own salon in 1981 and in 1989 opened a craft and antique business which now has become an embroidery business. That was where the Church shirts were born!

Life began for Phylis on the east side of Kansas City.  She lost her father at the age of five. Suddenly being by themselves, she and her brother and mother all became very close. She has since lost her brother, but continues to have a good relationship with her mother. She is thankful for her church and faith that has helped to bring her through it all.

A big suburban move, brought her to Raytown in the mid 60's. After graduating from Raytown High School in 1969 she attended the Independence School of Cosmetology.

Her competitive nature started very early. At age 12, she started competing in roller skating. Her best award was a 5-State Regional Championship in figure skating. Yes, she does critique the Olympics from her chair at home! When she gave up skating, the competitive bowling started. And we all know how useful a box of trophies can be after thirty years!

After doing hair styling competition, she decided holding positions in the Hairdressers Association was a more full-filling venture. During her tenure as President, she met a man with four adorable kids (Tyann, Kristy, Todd and Tonya). His name was Sam. They were married in 1981. The most wonderful part of that union has turned out to be the seven grandchildren (Alyssa, Tyler, Isaiah, Isaac, Brody, Lexie and Ross). Well, maybe Sam, too!

As you can see, she tends to turn her hobbies and interests into jobs. As much as she loves playing Bells at church, she has started Harmonica classes. Linda and Chet, Phylis says your jobs are secure! She does still like playing dress up, so that may explain why you may see Cher or a clown in the halls!  And that's how an over-achiever is born!

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   Larry Madden, Property Manager     lmadden@blueridgechurch.org

Larry is responsible for building maintenance. He also services the two vans making sure they're in shape and ready for Sunday as well as long and short distance field trips the different classes often take. He also helps with security and set-up for events and activities.

Larry was born in Princeton Indiana and grew up in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. He ended up settling in Missouri via the Air Force. He and his wife Jessica, who is from Brunswick, Missouri, were married in 1963. Their oldest son Robert was born at Whiteman Air Force Base and their youngest son Brian lives in Raytown with his wife Debbie and their three children.

Larry traveled a lot as an over-the-road trucker before he retired, and he’s looking forward to taking some more road trips with his wife.

Besides being a proud grandfather, Larry is a big NASCAR fan!

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