Meet our leadership team
We Are Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.
Lance Clay
Lead Pastor
Pastor Lance Clay
My wife, Robin and I are honored to be a part of the Hastings community, serving at Hastings First United Methodist Church. We have two sons, Phillip and Talon, and have served in ministry in Nebraska since 2001. I have served in various areas of ministry including Children and Youth, Mission Team leadership to France/Switzerland, Cote D’Voire, and Peru, Evangelistic outreach ministries, Family Camps and pastoral ministry over 40 years. Areas of ministry have included multiple states and at times secular work (I suppose like the Apostle Paul making tents?), so that, other opportunities of ministry were possible. I have served local churches and was 8 years appointed to the Episcopal Office of the Great Plains Conference as District Superintendent of the Prairie Rivers District. My passion, however, has been pastoral ministry. I believe it is our calling to build relationships for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our world. I believe that the calling of every congregation is to bring people to a faith in Christ that reaches into every community emphasizing ministries that builds others up, reach out with services of justice and mercy, and draw others to experience for themselves the love of God.
Brandee Schram
Director of Impact Ministries
Brandee Schram
Tanjie Petr
Administrative Assistant
Tanjie Petr
Hugo Madera
Director of Traditional Music
Hugo Madera
As a composer, Hugo Madera aims to provide a new perspective on Latin-American choral music by creating a bridge between the two cultures, implementing musical elements and styles influenced by a diverse choral background.
Barbara Sergeant
Organist
Barbara Sergeant
Joe Vanderpool
Contemporary Music Coordinator/Technology Coordinator
Joe Vanderpool
Joe is married to Holly, and has two children. He currently works with Alternative High School Classes at Aurora High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Hastings College, and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from UNK. He is thrilled to be able to blend two of his joys in Music and Technology to enhance Worship Services at FUMC.
Brad Hartman
Brad Hartman
Janet Schmidt
Custodian
Janet Schmidt
Deana Flint
Part-Time Cleaning