FUMC People

Senior Pastor – Rev. Pat Bruns

Rev. Pat Bruns

Pat oversees the overall ministry, mission and outreach of First Church and directs pastoral care, as we continue to welcome all persons and grow as in increasingly diverse and inclusive faith community that brings God’s love to all. Prior to coming to Boulder, Pat served churches in the Chicago area and in Denver. Pat works as a consultant to the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, working with various United Methodist conferences to develop visions and plans for intentional ministry with Latinos/Hispanics. He is a Fellow in the American Psychotherapy Association. Pat believes that the work of growing inclusive and diverse churches is very close to the heart of God. Over the last twenty years, his work as a pastor has centered on developing multi-cultural, multi-racial, and multi-lingual faith communities. Pat has a special passion for the work of the United Methodist Church in Vietnam. Pat has three adult children- Ben, Danny, and Elizabeth- and enjoys hiking, leisurely conversation and baseball.

Associate Pastor – Rev. Joe Agne

Rev. Joe Agne

Joe’s ministry focus includes adult education, membership development and nurture, and global ministries. Joe pastored churches in the Chicago and New York City areas before coming to Boulder. Formerly, Joe directed the Racial Justice Program of the National Council of Churches and served as a commissioner of the Program to Combat Racism of the World Council of Churches. Joe’s passion for ministry centers on the intersections of inclusion needed in churches and society with emphasis on racial justice, gay and lesbian persons – LGBTQ, persons with handicapping conditions, gender equality and persons of all ages and economics. Joe lives in mid-Gilpin County with his life partner, Dana Jones, and their mountain-dog Ellie (a cocker spaniel). They have four children, four grandchildren, with a fifth due in a few months. His undergraduate and graduate degrees focused on theology and theater. He has directed plays in many community theaters in the Midwest and the east coast.

Secretary and Receptionist– Jessica Harbeson

Jessica Harbeson

A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Jessica Harbeson moved to Boulder two years ago when her husband, Eric, joined the faculty at the University of Colorado. Jessica has worked as a church secretary before; she enjoyed being part of the staff of McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation in Champaign, IL. She has also worked in arts administration and event planning, all the while supporting a part-time career as a musician. Jessica is an active choral singer and conductor, and she holds a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Florida State University. She is the Assistant Conductor of the Seicento Baroque Ensemble, and has also enjoyed being an occasional substitute conductor for FUMC’s chancel and bell choirs. In addition, Jessica sings with the Ars Nova Singers.

Director of Music and Facilities Use Coordinator – Evanne Browne

Evanne Browne

Evanne moved to Boulder in 2005 with her husband, Tom Prugh, and son, Gordon, and has found the perfect two jobs at FUMC to match her interests. She was Director of Music at 1st Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, Maryland, and well-established as a solo singer in the Washington, DC area. On the business end, Evanne worked 14 years for the Smithsonian where she managed IT training and the Procurement Division. She has a Bachelor of Music degree and earned her Masters in Music from Rice University. Here in Boulder, Evanne, a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, teaches private voice, is soprano section leader of Ars Nova Singers, and has appeared as soloist with Boulder Bach Festival, with Boulder Acoustic Society, and the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of CO. She loves FUMC’s enthusiasm for its growing music program and the community that’s developing through sharing a love of music making and lives.

Director of Family Life Ministries- Betsy Lay

Betsy Lay

Betsy was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media from University of Denver and then her Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She is currently working on a Master of Arts in Social Change at Iliff School of Theology. She has served as Youth Director at two United Methodist churches and has worked with children, youth, and Nobel Peace Laureates in her AmeriCorps VISTA position with the PeaceJam Foundation. Betsy is also a singer/songwriter. She currently lives in Denver.

Director of Communications – Michelle LaBorde

Michelle Laborde

Michelle is delighted to join the FUMC family! Michelle has been a resident of Boulder and Boulder County since 1972, is a graduate of Boulder High School, and holds a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Humanities from the University of Colorado. She is the proud owner of a media production company, 1310 Creative Partners, and has years of experience as a communications consultant, writer, content manager, video producer and print publisher. She considers her two daughters, Callan and Lauren, her finest endeavor thanks to a long collaboration with her first creative partner, her husband Bryan Quiram. Michelle and her family love to travel and have visited Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Scotland, and the British Virgin Islands.

Deacon – Rev. Rosalee Blake

Rev Rosalee Blake

Jesus calls us all to a ministry of service in the world. As an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church, Rosalee’s role is to embody and guide the people of God in its servant leadership. She holds a degree in biology from Southern Illinois University, and received her Master of Arts in Theology, with a focus in Christian education, from Bethany Theological Seminary in Oakbrook, IL. Rosalee served as Director of Christian Education for five years in Northern Illinois Conference (NIC). She resourced local churches and conference leadership for nine years as Director of the Media Center in NIC before moving to Colorado. Rosalee began her chaplaincy training in Colorado by completing two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Boulder Community Hospital, and her third unit at The University of Colorado Hospital. Two central theological themes in Rosalee’s experience of the Divine are God’s grace and God’s unconditional love, which as they are extended to people she believes have the power to transform and bring healing of the body, mind and spirit. These themes are key in Rosalee’s primary ministry of hospital and hospice chaplaincy, in locations of Boulder Community and Exempla St. Joseph Hospitals, and Agape Healthcare. Rosalee serves her secondary appointment at First UMC where she assists the pastors. One of Rosalee’s passions is to move the Church towards inclusion of all peoples, and to especially extend God’s love and hospitality to the LGBT community.

Custodian – Francisco Ruiz

Francisco Ruiz

Cisco joined FUMC in 2005, after 5 years doing maintenance for Tantra Lake Apartments. Before that he was Grounds Coordinator at Ball Aerospace in Boulder and Broomfield for 7 years. He is originally from El Salvador and has been working in the Boulder area since 1976. Religion is important to him, so he particularly enjoys working at FUMC, where he also regularly volunteers his help at our monthly Soup Kitchen. In his spare time he enjoys fishing and is active in an over-40 soccer club that plays in tournaments as far away as Las Vegas.

Contracted Organist – Gerald Holbrook

Gerald Holbrook

Gerald moved to Fort Collins in 2008 after completing his Doctorate in organ performance at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While in Lincoln he taught organ at Union College and Gregorian chant at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary. He also has a Master’s degree in piano performance from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Once settled in Colorado he quickly became immersed in the local music scene and currently is the Chorus Master for Opera Fort Collins and the Director of Educational Outreach for Opera Fort Collins. He is also the Dean of the Tri-State Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the District Convener for Colorado. Having been introduced to the mountains years ago while attending Rocky Ridge Music Center, he is delighted to be back in the area as he has a special love for the mountains, and hiking is one of his favorite pastimes. He is also very happy to be involved with a church that has a music program both excellent and diverse, and a community dedicated to outreach and Reconciling Ministries.

Contracted Bookkeeper – Donna Plain