Rev. Dr. Larry Norris - Senior Pastor
Rev. Larry R. Norris was appointed as Senior Pastor of CUMC July 1, 2010. His early life was spent in a military family and he lived in many places. After high school in Lansing, Michigan, he attended Michigan State University, Asbury Theological Seminary. He was ordained Elder in 1975. Later, he received his PhD in 1979 at Michigan State University. In 1986, he completed a full time, two-year clinical internship through the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at Interfaith Counseling Service in Scottsdale, Arizona.
For twenty-five years he was appointed to serve at Cook Native American Ministries in Tempe, Arizona (formerly Cook College). Cook is one of the seven historic racial-ethnic schools of the Presbyterian Church USA, and its mission is to educate, empower, and equip Native people for leadership in their churches and communities. As President, he was privileged to travel widely throughout the country and preach and teach in both Native and Anglo churches.
Earlier in his career, Rev. Norris served pastoral appointments at Velda Rose UMC in Mesa, Arizona, Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, Michigan, and First UMC in Mesa, Arizona. He was also the part-time senior pastor at Christ UMC in Phoenix, as well as the UM Native American Gathering in Phoenix on two different occasions. Rev. Norris is married to Dr. Debra Norris, a school psychologist at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona. They have eight children.
Rev. Norris believes strongly in the United Methodist affirmation that we are a community of faith with “Open Minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors.” He says that, “The church is to aggressively dismantle the brunt of discrimination and prejudice, be both a prophetic and pastoral voice to all of God’s people, and a home where people can seek and find the presence of Jesus Christ in their lives.”

Donald E. Morse - Minister of Worship and the Arts
Since 1982, Don Morse has served as Minister of Music, Worship and The Arts at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where he coordinates all musical ensembles, worship experiences, the visual arts, theatre arts, and communications. He is a graduate of Boston University School for the Arts, and The School of Theology at Boston University, with degrees in Sacred Music, Organ Performance, and Choral Conducting, and completed additional graduate study at Westminster Choir College at Princeton.
He has held regional and national offices in the Music Educator's National Conference in the American Choral Directors Association, and in the American Guild of Organists. As a choral conductor, he has been guest clinician for numerous regional and all-state festivals, national religious gatherings, MENC Choral Festivals, AGO Conventions and Services, and ACDA Choral workshops and conventions.
Mr. Morse is President of the Board of Trustees for the Alliance for Arts and Understanding, an international organization seeking to foster cultural awareness and acceptance through the fine Arts. He also serves as Festival Director for many of that organization's international Music Festivals. For the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Discipleship, he has served as chair of the Music, Worship, and Arts Section. Additionally, he serves as consultant to many churches and schools in the areas of organ design, staff development, hymnody, and facilities planning.
Please take a look at the Music and the Arts page for more information about our ministry.

Stephen Hilderbrand - Minister of Contemporary Worship
A native of north central Ohio, Steve relocated to Phoenix in March of 1987.  He “found” Central United Methodist Church on Christmas Eve that year and has been associated with UMC ever since.
His association with church music began when he was four years old, standing on a stool in the church basement, singing “Jesus Loves Me” at a church potluck.  While attending the Ohio State University, he was hired as director of music for Brookshire United Methodist Church, where he served as organist, directed two adult choirs, a bell choir, and supervised the children’s music ministry.  During this time Steve was also active in professional theatre as a singer/dancer/actor and rehearsal accompanist, and later expanded into musical directing and conducting.
At Central Church, Steve was a founding member of and the first artistic director for, Central Community Theatre (CCT).  His contributions helped CCT become a respected member of the Phoenix theatre community.  Currently, he is responsible for the 9:30 Contemporary Service, where he serves as Worship Leader and Music Director/pianist.
In addition to his position at Central Church, Steve serves as resident musical director for Theater Works in Peoria, Arizona and is a flight attendant, trainer and curriculum developer for US Airways.

Program Staff (in alphabetical order)
Gail Davis - Parish Nurse (ext. 128)
Marilyn Seese - Director of Education (ext. 111)
Brad Sheets – Youth Director (ext. 122)
Twyla Thompson - Parish Visitor (ext. 103)

Support Staff (in alphabetical order)
Helen Clark - Membership Secretary (ext. 109)
Kevin Gorman - Arts and Business Administrative Assistant (ext. 107)
Norma Heubach – Wedding & Funeral Coordinator (ext. 126)
Susie Szakal - Church Administrative Assistant (ext. 108)
Girma Tilahun – Building & Grounds Superintendent (ext. 112) 
Dr. Craig Westendorf - Music Associate, Organist & Bellmaster (ext. 106)

Children’s Instructors 
Marilyn Seese
Billie Nightingale
Julie Couch
Betsy Morse

 Youth Instructors
Brad Sheets
Phyllis Sheets
Mark Matteson