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Andy Blacksher Headshot

Rev. Dr. Andy Blacksher is the Executive Pastor at Manchester UMC. He and his wife, Kristen, met in college at Missouri State University. They have two children, Zachary & Nathan, who are both excited to be a part of a church community that offers so many opportunities for their family to be involved.

Nearly 15 years of ministry in the United Methodist Church have taken the Blacksher’s on a journey to serve with congregations in Lee’s Summit, Festus, Lake of the Ozarks, and now here at Manchester.

Andy received a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication from Missouri State, a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, and was ordained an Elder in the UMC in 2016.  He recently received his Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC.  He is also certified through the International Coaching Federation.

Andy serves the United Methodist Church across Missouri as a mentor to new clergy in the ordination process and as a coach for churches who are changing their leadership model to the Board governance model. As a creative outlet, he recently started a podcast called “Standing Shoeless: Finding God in the Ordinary.”

Other
Staff

Rev. Kurt Schuermann

Pastor Kurt brings with him a wealth of experience leading United Methodist congregations in Missouri. He served in seven United Methodist Churches in Missouri over the course of nearly thirty-five years. He also served as the District Superintendent of the Gateway Central District for eight years. Pastor Kurt has five

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Kurtis Heinrich

I was named the Director, Cantate Youth Choir in August 2019 after having attended Manchester UMC, and singing in Chancel Choir, for about four years. Outside of Manchester, I teach 6-8 grade choir at Pattonville Heights Middle School in the Pattonville School District. I have be teaching middle and high

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Austin Shariff

Austin Shariff is Manchester UMC’s new Director of Modern Worship Arts! Austin served as both the Modern Worship Leader and Youth Ministry Director at Dardenne Prairie Presbyterian Church, as well as a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON Chorus.

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