Northaven UMC

Here is information and biographic descriptions for our ministers, staff, and lay leaders. To contact them, visit Contact Us.

Ministers: The Congregation

There are currently over six hundred members of the congregation with many others calling Northaven their church home. Vital worship and music, interest in the arts, outreach to the city of Dallas, sensitivity to matters of inclusiveness and warmth of fellowship are only some of the things that continue to attract people to this intimate and active congregation.

Eric Folkerth, Senior Pastor

Eric Eric has been pastor of Northaven since 2001. He served eleven years as associate pastor at Highland Park UMC in Dallas. At Northaven during his tenure, the new church building has been constructed and more than 220 new members have joined. Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, and Nepal. He has worked with lay persons to build ten homes, and one Community Center, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dallas. Eric is an award-winning, singer-songwriter whose first CD was released in 2000. His wife, Dennise Garcia, is a State District Judge in Dallas County. They have one daughter, Maria.

Mary Clair Lowrance, Minister of Spiritual Formation

Mary Lowrance Mary is a native of Fort Worth and a graduate of Brite Divinity School at TCU. She served as an ordained elder for over ten years in the Central Texas Conference in churches such as First United Methodist in Arlington and FUMC Fort Worth. During her years of service, Mary's experience as an associate minister included areas such as youth ministry, Christian education, older adult ministries, and evangelism. She has also served as a pastor-in-charge. She brings a wide range of experiences in the local church ministry with her. Mary left ordained ministry in the UMC when she took a position as pastor of Christian discipleship at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. Most recently she has served as chaplain and bereavement counselor at Community Hospice of Texas. Mary has a son, and lives in Fort Worth with her partner, Jaye.

Valinda Woods O'Connor, Minister of Music and the Arts

Valinda Woods O'Connor Valinda joined the Northaven staff in June, 2001. She came to us from First United Methodist Church in McKinney, where she served as Director of Music and the Arts, which included directing and coordinating a full, graded choir program including choirs for all ages, handbells, organ, and an arts council. Valinda has also served First United Methodist Church of Allen, Preston Hollow Presbyterian, NorthPark Presbyterian, and Lake Highlands United Methodist churches. Valinda attended Columbia University in New York (toward a doctorate in choral music), received her Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and earned her B.A. in Organ Performance from Converse College in South Carolina. Born and reared in Roanoke, Virginia, Valinda still considers the South "home." Valinda is married to Rick O'Connor and they enjoy visits from Rick's two daughters, Maggie and Claire, and Valinda's sons, Mark, John, and Will.

Chris Reed, Youth Director

Chris Reed Chris is a student at Perkins School of Theology in as a “second career” student. He has been a practicing attorney for eight years after graduating from SMU Law School in 2000. Chris is following a call to ministry that has lead him to Perkins and to Northaven as youth director. Chris's home church is Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaumont, Texas, where he has been a youth Sunday School teacher and confirmation leader. He has served on his church’s leadership council and led youth retreats.

Andy Packard, Organist

Andy Packard Andy attended SMU, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance under Dr. Carol Leone in 2004. While at SMU, Andy cultivated an interest in the pipe organ after spending several summers working for organ builder Roy Redman, and he began taking secondary organ lessons with Dr. Larry Palmer. This interest blossomed and in 2005 Andy moved to Rochester, New York, to pursue further study in organ performance at the Eastman School of Music with Dr. Hans Davidsson, completing the Master of Music in Organ Performance degree in the fall of 2007. Currently Andy continues to work part-time at the Redman Organ Company and enjoys doing free-lance accompanying for a variety of vocalists and instrumentalists. Andy shares his home with Callie, a healthy calico cat. When not rehearsing or studying, he is passionate about art, architecture, independent film, gardening, and digging through the stacks for a great read at various booksellers from Fort Worth to Dallas.

Mindy Dague, Office Administrator

Mindy Dague Mindy joined our staff in February of 2008 as our Office Administrator. She was previously in administration at University Park UMC in Dallas at their well known day school. She has over 14 years experience working in Non Profit leadership positions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Mindy is a native Texan and lives in Richardson with her son, Spencer.

Kathy Delsanter, Director, Northaven Cooperative Preschool

Kathy Delsanter Kathy has been director of the Co-op School since 1974. She grew up in New York and has BA and MS degrees from Cornell University in psychology and child development and a PhD in early childhood education from East Texas State University. She has taught on the adjunct Child Development faculty at Brookhaven College. Kathy has a daughter, Michele, and a son, Doug.

Chuck Cummings, Building Supervisor

Chuck Cummings Chuck joined the Northaven staff in September of 2005. He has over 25 years experience in managing large facilities while overseeing each building’s custodial and landscaping needs. Chuck is a drummer who has performed with several bands in the past few years. (Cornerstone, Third Story) Chuck and his wife, Barbara have three daughters, Amanda, Amy, and Abbey and three grandchildren, Emily, Noah, and Nathan.

Stephanie McCranie, Children's Choir Director

Stephanie serves as our children’s choir director on a part-time basis.

Tricia Dudley, Administrative Assistant

Tricia serves as our administrative assistant on a part-time basis.

Key Lay Leaders

Chair, Leadership Council: Elaine Wiant

Chairs, Program Council: Bryan Coley and Marlene Haskell

Chair, Staff-Parish Commission: Joanna Shields

Chair, Trustees: John Wiles

Lay Leader: Curtis Henderson


	Here is information and biographic descriptions for our ministers, staff, and lay leaders. To contact them, visit Contact Us. Ministers: The Congregation There are currently over six hundred members of the congregation with many others calling Northaven their church home. Vital worship and music, interest in the arts, outreach to the city of Dallas, sensitivity to matters of inclusiveness and warmth of fellowship are only some of the things that continue to attract people to this intimate and active congregation. Eric Folkerth, Senior Pastor Eric has been pastor of Northaven since 2001. He served eleven years as associate pastor at Highland Park UMC in Dallas. At Northaven during his tenure, the new church building has been constructed and more than 220 new members have joined. Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, and Nepal. He has worked with lay persons to build ten homes, and one Community Center, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dallas. Eric is an award-winning, singer-songwriter whose first CD was released in 2000. His wife, Dennise Garcia, is a State District Judge in Dallas County. They have one daughter, Maria. Mary Clair Lowrance, Minister of Spiritual Formation Mary is a native of Fort Worth and a graduate of Brite Divinity School at TCU. She served as an ordained elder for over ten years in the Central Texas Conference in churches such as First United Methodist in Arlington and FUMC Fort Worth. During her years of service, Mary's experience as an associate minister included areas such as youth ministry, Christian education, older adult ministries, and evangelism. She has also served as a pastor-in-charge. She brings a wide range of experiences in the local church ministry with her. Mary left ordained ministry in the UMC when she took a position as pastor of Christian discipleship at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. Most recently she has served as chaplain and bereavement counselor at Community Hospice of Texas. Mary has a son, and lives in Fort Worth with her partner, Jaye. Valinda Woods O'Connor, Minister of Music and the Arts Valinda joined the Northaven staff in June, 2001. She came to us from First United Methodist Church in McKinney, where she served as Director of Music and the Arts, which included directing and coordinating a full, graded choir program including choirs for all ages, handbells, organ, and an arts council. Valinda has also served First United Methodist Church of Allen, Preston Hollow Presbyterian, NorthPark Presbyterian, and Lake Highlands United Methodist churches. Valinda attended Columbia University in New York (toward a doctorate in choral music), received her Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and earned her B.A. in Organ Performance from Converse College in South Carolina. Born and reared in Roanoke, Virginia, Valinda still considers the South "home." Valinda is married to Rick O'Connor and they enjoy visits from Rick's two daughters, Maggie and Claire, and Valinda's sons, Mark, John, and Will. Chris Reed, Youth Director Chris is a student at Perkins School of Theology in as a “second career” student. He has been a practicing attorney for eight years after graduating from SMU Law School in 2000. Chris is following a call to ministry that has lead him to Perkins and to Northaven as youth director. Chris's home church is Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaumont, Texas, where he has been a youth Sunday School teacher and confirmation leader. He has served on his church’s leadership council and led youth retreats. Andy Packard, Organist Andy attended SMU, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance under Dr. Carol Leone in 2004. While at SMU, Andy cultivated an interest in the pipe organ after spending several summers working for organ builder Roy Redman, and he began taking secondary organ lessons with Dr. Larry Palmer. This interest blossomed and in 2005 Andy moved to Rochester, New York, to pursue further study in organ performance at the Eastman School of Music with Dr. Hans Davidsson, completing the Master of Music in Organ Performance degree in the fall of 2007. Currently Andy continues to work part-time at the Redman Organ Company and enjoys doing free-lance accompanying for a variety of vocalists and instrumentalists. Andy shares his home with Callie, a healthy calico cat. When not rehearsing or studying, he is passionate about art, architecture, independent film, gardening, and digging through the stacks for a great read at various booksellers from Fort Worth to Dallas. Mindy Dague, Office Administrator Mindy joined our staff in February of 2008 as our Office Administrator. She was previously in administration at University Park UMC in Dallas at their well known day school. She has over 14 years experience working in Non Profit leadership positions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Mindy is a native Texan and lives in Richardson with her son, Spencer. Kathy Delsanter, Director, Northaven Cooperative Preschool Kathy has been director of the Co-op School since 1974. She grew up in New York and has BA and MS degrees from Cornell University in psychology and child development and a PhD in early childhood education from East Texas State University. She has taught on the adjunct Child Development faculty at Brookhaven College. Kathy has a daughter, Michele, and a son, Doug. Chuck Cummings, Building Supervisor Chuck joined the Northaven staff in September of 2005. He has over 25 years experience in managing large facilities while overseeing each building’s custodial and landscaping needs. Chuck is a drummer who has performed with several bands in the past few years. (Cornerstone, Third Story) Chuck and his wife, Barbara have three daughters, Amanda, Amy, and Abbey and three grandchildren, Emily, Noah, and Nathan. Stephanie McCranie, Children's Choir Director Stephanie serves as our children’s choir director on a part-time basis. Tricia Dudley, Administrative Assistant Tricia serves as our administrative assistant on a part-time basis. Key Lay Leaders Chair, Leadership Council: Elaine Wiant Chairs, Program Council: Bryan Coley and Marlene Haskell Chair, Staff-Parish Commission: Joanna Shields Chair, Trustees: John Wiles Lay Leader: Curtis Henderson	Visitors Contact Us Directions & Map About Northaven Calendar Blog News Outreach & Mission Children’s Ministry Youth Ministry Adult Ministry Music & Arts Sermons Videos Publications Library Celebration Garden Contribute Staff Program Committees Links Home