Pastor
Robin Wells
robinw@thelumc.org
Rev. Robin Wells was appointed to serve Lafayette UMC on July 1, 2018. Before serving here, Robin served as pastor of Tehachapi Valley UMC in Tehachapi, CA.
Robin began her path to ministry with Church of the Wayfarer, Carmel in 2007 and was appointed as Associate Pastor for Outreach there in 2015. With support from the Wayfarer congregation, she completed studies for a Master of Divinity degree at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and then studied clinical chaplaincy in a residency at Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, her hometown. Before returning to the Monterey Peninsula as a Staff Chaplain at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Robin served as a spiritual counselor and bereavement counselor for Silverado Hospice, Orange County, a company that specializes in Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s care.
As an endorsed Pastoral Counseling Chaplain through the United Methodist Endorsing Agency, Robin cherishes the ancient and sacred role of clergy in the art of healing. She counts it as an honor and privilege to companion people of all backgrounds, languages, and traditions in times of spiritual crisis.
Community is a core value for Robin. She cares for people, the planet, and God’s preferred future for creation. The love of Jesus and love of neighbor are central to the life of the church and her hope is to embody Jesus’ love in ways that will show others how to do the same.
Office Administrator
Lorri Sullivan
office@thelumc.org
Lorri Sullivan has served as Office Administrator since 1996. She offers gracious hospitality to all who visit our church campus. As a hub of the church, her administrative leadership undergirds all the ministries of the church. She coordinates the facility calendar for all organizations using the campus.
Lorri grew up in the San Diego area where she met and married her husband, Jim, in 1976. Lorri and Jim attended Northwest Christian University/University of Oregon and moved to the Bay Area when Jim was offered a position at Children’s Hospital in Oakland. They have two grown children, Justin who lives near Chicago with his wife and daughter and Shauna who resides in the LA area. Lorri likes to travel, read, and watch the bay behind her house.
Director of Music Ministry
Colene “Bunny” Gruhn
musicministry@thelumc.org
Bunny Gruhn earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Montana. She taught music in the public schools and has served as a church choral director for over 25 years. She sings with the Four Sisters Quartet. She has three grown daughters and six grandchildren. In addition to her love of music, she enjoys reading, knitting, and traveling. She has lived in many different places, including Geneva, Switzerland.
Joyful Beginnings Preschool Director
Carol Carter
joyfulbeginningsschool@gmail.com
Carol Carter earned her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Development from California State University, Sacramento in the 1980s. She returned to school in 2009 and earned a Master of Science in 2010 from California State University, East Bay in Education with a Curriculum Option. Throughout her career in Early Childhood Education she has attended countless conferences, workshops, and earned a variety of certificates in the field. Carol is an enthusiastic lifelong learner of Early Childhood Education. She currently teaches courses in Early Childhood Education at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg.
She is a wife and mother, married for 25 years, and has two grown daughters. Rachel graduated from SDSU in 2015 and Hannah is currently attending college in Oregon. She and her husband have been enjoying their “empty nest” and have taken up a couple of new hobbies…including kayaking!
Carol looks forward to meeting you and showing you around our school!