Church Staff

Rev. Steve Bascom | Pastor

Rev. Stephen Bascom, Sr. grew up in a large family on a small farm in Nottingham, NH. Called to pastoral ministry from the age of 5, awakened to Christ as Savior, baptized in the Holy Spirit, Steve has served as a United Methodist pastor for 38 years in churches in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He received a BA from the University of New Hampshire and dual-degrees, MDiv and MRE, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1990. His wife, Jude, a talented artist, was an educator and director of theater throughout southern New Hampshire before retiring due to disability. They have three adult children: Stephen, Jr (wife, Melissa and son, Jonah, daughter Marin), Elliot and Gabe.

Carla Daigle | Church Administrative Assistant

Ryan Slocum | Pianist / Organist

Ryan Slocum began his work as the pianist/organist in the Fall of 2022, bringing with him great talent and experiences having played at several other area churches.

Caroline Coffin | Choir Director (Director of the Wesleyan Singers)

Caroline "Kary" Coffin returned in the Spring of 2023 to direct the Wesleyan Singers. Kary has directed the choir in the past, and has remained active in worship service leading music, performing solo pieces, or assisting with youth music and special events.

William Buzza | Bell Choir Director

William "Bill" Buzza has directed the handbell program at the church since 1993. Bill first started ringing handbells in the youth handbell choir at the Grant Memorial U.M.C. in Presque Isle, Maine, and has been involved in the art of handbell ringing ever since. Bill earned his B.M. degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine in 1993 and his M.S. Ed degree in Educational Leadership from the University of New England in 2010. Bill teaches music at Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine and has guest conducted at various honors music festivals and Maine handbell conferences.

Cherie Downing | Christian Education Director

Cherie lives in Poland, Maine and is married to Stan (Butch) Downing. She has been a member of UMCA for more than 15 years, has sung in the choir and has served on numerous Church committees. Cherie retired after 37 years of teaching at Minot Consolidated School, including 25 years in Grade 4 and the remaining years as the Language Arts Teacher for Grades 6, 7 and 8.

Sharon Flowers | Nursery Care Provider

Sharon Flowers retired several years ago from a job she held for 23 years and moved here to Maine to be closer to her son & his family. Mrs. Flowers says "Being asked to take care of children in the nursery has made me happy, given me many hours of laughter & love. It has made me feel like a part of another whole big, loving family."

Peter Poliquin | Church Custodian

Peter was born and raised in Lewiston. He graduated from Lewiston High School. He has two daughters which are both teachers. Jennifer teaches 6th grade at St. Dom's and Nicole teaches History at Leavitt Area High School. He also has a grandson named Charlie. Peter enjoys the outdoor activities such as fishing, boating and hunting. When he was younger he participated in amateur boxing. He has been working for the UMC for 15+ years.

Members of the Leadership Team

United Methodist Church of Auburn

 

Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development

Roster for 2024

Updated, 12/20/2023

 
 

Church Staff/Officers/Assistants

Ministry Team: Members of the Congregation

Pastor: Rev. Stephen Bascom, Sr. (2016)

Administrative Assistant: Carla Daigle (2020)

Lay Leaders: Don Malpass (2023)

Nancy Craig (2023)

Church School Superintendent: Cherie Downing

Wesleyan Singers Director: Caroline Coffin (2022)

Handbell Choir Director: William Buzza (1993)

Park Ave. Pickers Facilitator: George Matthews

Organist: Ryan Slocum (2022)

Custodian: Peter Poliquin (1998)

Beacon Editor: Edith Ellis

Membership Secretary: Sharon McGilvery

Nursery Care: Sharon Flowers (2016)

AV Technician: Len Lednum (2020)

Webmaster: John Derouche (2020)

UMCA Facebook: Megan Spiller (2020)

 

Church Council

Chair: Lucille Webber (2021)

Recording Secretary: Janet Irish

Lay Leaders: Don Malpass (2023) & Nancy Craig (2023)

NOW Representative: Donna Stewart (2023)

Christian Education: Kay Little

Missions Chair: Pat Titus (2020)

Worship Chair: Wanda Sprague (2017)

Music Co-chair: George Matthews

Finance Chair: David MacMahon

Trustees Chair John Plourde (2023)

Staff-Parish Relations Chair: Kathy Gleason (2023)

Financial Secretary: Kathy Brann (2024)

Treasurer: Carmen Thomas (2023)

Church School Superintendent: Cherie Downing

UWF President: Lucille Webber

Scout Liaison: Don Malpass

Lay Member to AC: Lucille Webber (2018)

Beautification Team: Suzanne Plourde (2022)

Member-at-Large: Joel Irish (2024)

 

 

Program Leadership

NOW Team

(Nurture, Outreach, Witness)

 

Steve Bascom, Co-Chair (2022)

Donna Stewart, Co-Chair (2022)

Sharon McGilvery, X, Membership Secretary

2024 2025 2026

Sharon Folker Luckie DiBello Pamela Leclair

Donna Stewart Connie Browning Gil Ross

Sandra Chamberlain Sarah Poulin Bonnie Ross

Donna Manson Pat Robichaud

Prayer Team: Janet Irish (Lead), Luckie DiBello, Connie Browning

 

Missions Team

(Missions, Advocacy)

 

Pat Titus, Chair (2020)

2024 2025 2026

Janet Irish Pat Titus

Nancy Craig Rosemary Malpass

Mike Hricko  Diane O’Conner

Brenda Mower

Marcia Baxter 

Mission Projects:

High Street Food Pantry – Ed Cormier, David MacMahon, Leroy Brown

Asylum-Seekers Resettlement – David & Mary MacMahon,

Judy Johnson (treasurer/buyer)

 

Christian Education Team

(Discipleship/Faith Formation)

 

Kay Little, Chair/Sec

Cherie Downing, CS Superintendent, X

2024 2025 2026

Sue Biddle Kay Little

Megan Spiller Emily Denny Beth Woodhead

Cherie Poole Julie Farnsworth

Elizabeth Meid  Brenda Bisson

Kathryn Tracy  Cindy Harthorne

Vacation Bible School: Cherie Downing, Director

UMYF Leader: Cherie Poole (2019)

Faith Journey Facilitators: Steve Bascom, Barbara Jamrog, Sue DeRoche Lucille Webber

Men’s Fellowship Breakfast: Don Malpass, Joel Irish, Peter Keniston, Steve Bascom

Wednesday Online Study: Kay Little, Facilitator

Worship Team

 

(Prayer, Worship, Spiritual Disciplines)

 

Wanda Sprague, Chair (2017)

2024 2025 2026

Peter Keniston Brenda Bisson Marj Patrick

Stephanie Therriault

Wanda Sprague Kathy Gleason

AV Technician: Len Lednum (2020)

Sanctuary Monitors: Joel Irish (2021)

Worship Songleader: Caroline Coffin (2020)

Music Team

(Instruments, Choirs, Handbells)

 

George Matthews, Co-Chair (2019)

Scott Kenison, Co-Chair (2019)

Ryan Slocum, Organist, X

William Buzza, Handbell Choir Director, X

Caroline Coffin, Wesleyan Singers Director, X

2024 2025 2026

Scott Kenison

George Matthews  Carole Walker

Kim Visbaras

Kathy Brann

 

United Women of Faith

 

Lucille Webber, President

Sharon McGilvery, Vice-President

Jan Wilkinson, Treasurer

Shirley Keene, Secretary

Marjorie Smith  Pamela Leclair, Naomi Circle

Cherie Downing, Chris Conant, Christmas Fair co-chairs

 

Board of Trustees

 

John Plourde, Chair (2023)

Don Malpass, Lay Leader, X

2024 2025 2026

Bill Reed Rodney Biddle Lucien Mathieu

Gary Bain Frank Folker Terry Johnson

John Plourde Carroll Akers Judy Johnson

 

Foundation Signatures: Gary Bain, Paul Farnsworth

Beautification Committee:

Suzanne Plourde (chair), Donna Stewart, Judy Worden, Brenda Bisson  Carolyn Ross

Kitchen Stewards:

Barbara Jamrog, Jan Wilkinson

 

Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC)

 

Kathy Gleason, Chair (2023)

Don Malpass & Nancy Craig, Lay Leaders, X

Lucille Webber, Lay Member to Annual Conference, X

2024 2025 2026

Betty Young Kathy Gleason Joel Irish

Nancy Holler Elizabeth Meid Judy Worden

Lucky DiBello Yvonne Gross Peg Moser  Bonnie Jo Carr

 

Finance Team

 

David MacMahon, Chair

Lucille Webber, Church Council Chair, X

Don Malpass, Lay Leader, X

Carmen Thomas, Treasurer, X

Kathy Brann, Financial Secretary, X

John Plourde, Trustees Chair, X

2024 2025 2026

Scott Efland Bill Reed Lincoln Hayes

David MacMahon Tim Worden

Assistants to Financial Secretary: Janet Irish (counter, 2021), Judy Worden

(counter, 2021)

Account Signatory: David MacMahon

Nominations and Leadership Development Team

Rev. Steve Bascom, Chair, X

Don Malpass & Nancy Craig, Lay Leaders, X

2024 2025 2026

Pam MacDonald Nancy Holler

Judy Worden Sharon McGilvery Lucky DiBello

  

Notes: According to “The Book of Discipline”, paragraph 244.3, the pastor is the

administrative officer of the church and, as such, is an ex officio member of all

conferences, boards, councils, commissions, committees, and task forces unless

otherwise restricted by “The Book of Discipline”. The Lay Leader is also an ex officio

member of program and administrative committees, attending as able.

X – Ex Officio

TBD – To Be Determined