Reverend John Butchko grew up in the Lakeside United Methodist Church. He holds a B.S. from Western Kentucky University and received his Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt in 1980. He began his ministry in the East Ohio Conference with the South Amherst and Henrietta churches and has served Milan, Avon and most recently Brunswick United Methodist Church. Rev. John is experienced at Stewardship and Finance and has served as the development officer for the Berea Children's Home and Family Services. He is currently on the board of Wesleyan Senior Living. Rev. John is a celebrated and engaging preacher. He is married to Barbara Kanary and they live in the Old Brooklyn area of Cleveland. He has 2 adult sons.

A long-time United Methodist minister, Reverend Warren Tropf was the pastor of Westlake United Methodist Church from 1962 to 1986. Rev. Tropf earned a B.A. degree from North Central College and a B.D. from Yale Divinity School. Ordained in 1950, Rev. Tropf served as Pastor at Windham and Nottingham United Methodist Churches and as Associate Pastor one year at First United Methodist Church, Cleveland. Rev. Tropf and his wife Joan lead summer Vespers services at Lakeside community, where they now reside. The Tropfs have three children and nine grandchildren.

Stephanie helps keep the office running smoothly and coordinates the communication needs of Westlake UMC. She is also employed part-time at the Lakewood Public Library working in the Children and Youth Services Department where she has been conducting preschool story times and teen book discussions for the last 11 years.  Stephanie holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology with specialization in Mayan Archaeology from the University at Albany, SUNY, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Cleveland State University. She is an active member of Lakewood Congregational Church. Stephanie lives in Lakewood with her two sons.

As director of the church’s Christian Education ministry, Linda is responsible for providing learning opportunities that enable all members of the congregation to become disciples of Christ and integrate their faith into everyday life. Linda is an Ordained Permanent Deacon who holds a Masters in Christian Education from Ashland Theological Seminary. Prior to joining WUMC, she served as Minister of Education at Brecksville United Methodist Church, as Director of Christian Education at North Olmsted United Methodist Church, and as Director of Christian Education at Church of the Advent Episcopal. Linda has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Ellie assists the congregation in its mission to “relate to others with love and justice.” In this capacity, she supports the work of the Compassion Connection, Hospitality and Marketing, Outreach & Evangelism teams. With these teams, she works to develop programs to invite, welcome and connect new people to the church and their faith.  Ellie is an Igniting Ministries & Rethink Church trainer.   She has 15 years of experience in marketing and product development and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Miami University. She and her husband Jerry have a son and a daughter.

Andy is responsible for creating a comprehensive worship ministry for the church and for administering the music ministry, including directing adult vocal choirs. His experience includes four years as Director of Choral Activities for the New Philadelphia, Ohio city schools and serving as Director of Music for Eastview United Methodist Church in Columbus. He currently serves as the Music and Worship Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association and secretary of the Ohio Choral Directors Association. He is also a member of the Choristers Guild. Andy earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music from Miami University. He is married to Jennifer Call, who directs the Children's Choir. Together they have two sons.

Leslie Bauer has been a church organist since 1975 and the organist of WUMC since 1993. She has also been a legal secretary at various law firms in North Carolina, Texas, and Ohio. Leslie is on the Executive Committee of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Leslie has a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance at Texas Christian University and earned the status of Colleague of the American Guild of Organists in 2004. She and her husband Paul have one daughter.

Ardith McCloy oversees the church's handbell program and directs the Monday Morning and Joyful Noise adult handbell choirs. Before WUMC, she was Director of Music at Brunswick United Methodist Church and a school band director in Sandusky and Pennsylvania. A member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and the Northeast Ohio Handbell Directors Association, Ardith holds a Bachelor of Science in Music degree from The Ohio State University and received Church Music Certification from Baldwin-Wallace College. She also participated in post-graduate studies at Pennsylvania State University. She and her husband George have one daughter.

Kay is responsible for the programming for the youth in grades 7 - 12. She enjoys helping the youth explore and live out their faith through mission & service opportunities, Bible study, and fellowship connections. Kay was born in Lakewood and was active in her youth group. Kay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from The Ohio State University. Following graduation, Kay did volunteer work in multiple United Methodist churches across the U.S. while moving with her husband during his military service. After moving to Westlake in 2000, they joined Westlake UMC and Kay volunteered for nearly five years with the youth before assuming her current position. She and her husband Bill have two daughters.

As congregational leader of the Stephen Ministry program, Gretty recruits, trains, and oversees the work of the church's Stephen Ministers. She is certified as a Stephen Leader by Stephen Ministries in St. Louis and has been a teacher, committee member, and participant in the activities of WUMC since 1972. She and her husband Bob have two children.

Nicole provides child-care during worship services and other functions at the church. Nicole is a tremendous asset for the children and families of Westlake United Methodist Church. She has always wanted to work with children and, at age 12 she started baby sitting. Nicole has taken classes at Tri-C in Early Childhood Education and she is currently on working on her CDA. She works full time at Hyland Software where she works with the three and four year olds in a Montessori setting. Her dream is to one day have her own day care center.