Welcome Rev. William Buckeye, Pastor

Rev. Buckeye joined Bay United Methodist Church in July, 2008.

Robert Kirkpatrick,
Director of Care Ministries

Bob left the corporate world and joined the Staff of Bay UMC in January of 2000 as The Parish Visitor.  While Visitation remains a very important part of his duties, the position has expanded to include: Stephen Ministry (the one on one Lay Ministry to the congregation), Membership & Evangelism (New member Classes and membership support), The Care Network (sending cards, supplying rides to the congregation), Job Seekers (support for those that are out of work), and the Wellness Committee (ministering to the health of the congregation).     

Bob lives by the river in the Metroparks valley with wife Nanci where they enjoy visits by friends and family.

Amy Shipley, Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries

The BUMC Youth Director is responsible for educating grades 7-12 including the two year Confirmation class, arranging mission trips, outreach projects, Fellowship events, teacher meetings and Youth council. Amy graduated from Muskingum College with a B.A. in Music and Theatre. She has been an active member at BUMC for 12 years and is in her 6 th year as Youth Director. She and her husband Sam have 6 children, one son-in-law, two dogs, 1 cat and a grand-dog.

Carol Sue Beck, Administrative Assistant

Carol Sue Beck manages the church office and has been the Administrative Assistant since 1996. In addition to her duties at Bay United Methodist Church , she has been a long-time pianist and church organist. She and her husband Tom, have two daughters.

Ronald H. Muth, Director of Music

Mr. Ronald Muth is serving in his 30th year as Director of Music for Bay United Methodist Church where he directs both the Chancel and Bell choirs. He is also Director of Vocal Music at Lutheran High School West in Rocky River, Ohio. Prior to his tenure at Bay Methodist, Ron served as bass soloist at Rocky River Methodist Church for 10 years. Mr. Muth was the founding director of the Rocky River Community Chorus and directed that choir for over 20 years. He began his teaching career at Lorain Catholic High School and after 6 years there became Director of Vocal Music and Department Chair for the Rocky River City Schools. He directed choirs at both the middle and high school levels for 25 years. Mr. Muth is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College and received his Masters degree in choral conducting from Cleveland State University. He is a member of NEA, the Ohio Music Education Association and the American Choral Directors Association. Ron has two grown children and two beautiful grandchildren.

William G. Zurkey, Organist

William G. Zurkey received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Music Degree from Cleveland State University . He has since completed additional course work in doctoral studies at Kent State University .

For the past eighteen years, he has been Director of Choral Activities at Avon Lake High School where he conducts the Chorale, Da Cantari Choir, Musika Nova, Women’s Chorus, Merples, (Chamber Ensemble), Men’s Chorus, and teaches AP Music Theory. His choirs have been selected to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association Professional Conferences in 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004, and the Midwest Kodaly Music Educators Regional Convention in 2001.

Active in Ohio public school music for many years, Mr. Zurkey has served OMEA as a District Honors Choir festival guest conductor, Regional Chair for the All-State Choir, member of the large group contest music selection committee, and the OMEA solo & ensemble required music for senior high school revision committee for both the ninth (1991) and tenth edition (1998). He serves as an adjudicator in Ohio and Michigan . He has also served the Ohio Choral Directors Association as Northeast Regional Chairperson in 1991-92, and 1999-2001, and as the Ohio High School Repertoire & Standards Chair, 2001-03. He is currently serving as Historian of the organization. Mr. Zurkey has also served on the Ohio Department of Education Curriculum Writing Team for Arts Academic Content Standards in Music.

Mr. Zurkey can be found in the 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2004 edition of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Honor Graduates of Avon Lake High School have recognized him as a distinguished staff member for “Excellence in Education” for the past twelve years.

Mr. Zurkey has also coached football at various levels, and is presently on the Division II State Runners-Up Avon Lake Coaching Staff as the Head Eighth Grade Coach. He is also organist at the Bay United Methodist Church in Bay Village, Ohio.

Patricia Thomas, Financial Secretary

Patti Thomas serves as the Financial Secretary to Bay United Methodist Church. She is responsible for all bookkeeping functions within the church, and works closely with the Church Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair to help manage the Church’s finances.  Feel free to call Patti with any questions you may have about your financial statements. 

Patti is a member of this congregation and serves on the Education Committee.  She has two children.

Jennifer Perrine, Co-Nursery Coordinator

JJ Perrine has been a member of the church since she was confirmed here at BUMC in the early 1980's. She received her BA in Elementary Education from Wittenberg University and has a Master's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in Supervision and Pre-administration. For the past 12 years JJ has taught 5th grade at Bay Middle School. At Bay UMC she has taught Sunday School in the Toddler Room and the 3-4 year old room for the past 4 years. JJ and her husband, Jim, have 3 boys.

Angie Manos , Co-Nursery Coordinator

Angie has been a member of Bay United Methodist Church for ten years, since she moved to Bay Village. She was actively involved in the youth church until graduation from Bay High School in 2006. She attended the Senior High meetings, and was a member of core council. She has participated in the Appalachian Service Project for the last 5 years. She recently transferred to Cleveland State University to major in Early Childhood Education. Angie hopes to be an elementary school teacher in a public school after graduation.