Staff

Rev. Dr. Sanford Brown | Senior Pastor
206.622.7278, ext 104

Rev. Dr. Sanford “Sandy” Brown became pastor of First Church on July 1, 2008, bringing with him over 25 years of experience as a pastor and community leader. From 1982 to 1992, Rev. Brown led United Methodist churches in Fall City and Kirkland, Washington. Beginning in 1992 he served as senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Wenatchee.

Rev. Brown returned to the Puget Sound region in 2001 to serve as executive director of Deaconess Children’s Services, a 25-person social service agency that helps vulnerable children and families in Snohomish County. In 2003, Rev. Brown became executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, an ecumenical agency that brings together 400 churches in 17 denominations for cooperation, social service work, and social justice advocacy.

During his years ministry, Rev. Brown has been a tireless advocate for positive social change. In 1989 he was elected to the board of the Lake Washington School District. In Wenatchee, he won a high profile battle to overturn an illegal mayoral election. Over the years, he has served on many public bodies – including the Chelan/Douglas County United Way and the Snohomish County Human Services Council. He served as a founding member of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County and directed its advocacy efforts from 2006-2008.

He is married to Dr. Gail Van Norman, a clinical medical ethicist and University of Washington professor of anesthesiology. He has two grown sons, Luke and Matthew.

Rev. Brown graduated from the University of Washington in 1978 (B.A. History), and earned a master’s degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1982 and a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1997. In 2005 he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Garrett-Evangelical. A member of First Church during his college years, Rev. Sandy is proud to serve as its pastor.

To read more about Dr. Sandy Brown, visit his wikipedia page.

 

Elizabeth Blanton | Director of Outreach & Communications

206.622.7278, ext. 105 | elizabethb@firstchurchseattle.org

Elizabeth Blanton moved to Seattle in January of 2013. Prior to joining the staff at First Church, Elizabeth worked at a law firm and as a photographer’s assistant. She also taught ESL, delivered Meals on Wheels, and volunteered at a Cambodian church ministry in South Carolina. Elizabeth has a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. She enjoys photography, crafting and blogging, as well as hiking and traveling with her husband Ben.

 

Elisabeth Ellis | Organist/Accompanist
206.622.7278

Elisabeth Ellis is a Seattle-based collaborative pianist who specializes in working with vocalists. She earned her Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from Michigan State University, where she participated in many recitals, led opera scenes programs, and coached and performed in MSU’s production of Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera. She also served as Studio Pianist for Molly Fillmore, Metropolitan soprano. Since moving to Seattle, she has become very active in the local music scene, working with several opera, choral and ballet groups and performing in concert with the Kirkland Choral Society, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Ladies Musical Club, Ballet Bellevue and others. She loves working with area vocalists in coaching, lessons and recitals.

 

Duuna Evans | Food Services Coordinator/Host

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glenn Gregg | Music Director
206.622.7278

First Church Music Director Glenn R. Gregg has been a professional in the field of choral conducting for nearly 30 years. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington, and a Master of Music degree from California State University, Northridge. Dr. Gregg also serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Kirkland Choral Society, a 90-voice community chorus on the Eastside. Glenn, his wife Jane, two daughters Jodie and Anna and their Labradoodle, Luna, live in North Seattle.

 

Julie Kern | Office Coordinator

206.622.7278

Julie is originally from Vancouver, WA. She moved to Seattle in 2012 after doing two years of volunteer service with the AmeriCorps program. Julie spent one year in Tacoma, WA working with Habitat for Humanity and one year traveling across the Southwestern region of the United States doing disaster recovery and environmental stewardship. Julie graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. In her free time Julie enjoys doing yoga, traveling, kayaking, and going to any sort of dance performance, especially Pacific Northwest Ballet.

 

Eric Liljegren | Church Business Administrator
206.622.7278, ext 102

Eric is a lifelong Seattle-area resident, raised in the Evangelical Covenant tradition.  Eric, his partner Scott Shiebler, and son Isaac live in Shoreline and currently attend Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church.  “Serving First Church is spiritual vocation for me.  I’ve come to love this community and truly enjoy coming to work every day.”  In addition to his love for the progressive Christian church, Eric enjoys sailing, hiking and camping, and motorsports.

 

Dan Rounds | Bookkeeper

206.622.7278

 

Carina Schubert | Director of Young People’s Ministries

206.622.7278, ext. 106

Seeking a new adventure and a place to establish roots, Carina Schubert and her husband Scott moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2008. Carina spent four years as the Development Manager for New Horizons, a Seattle non-profit serving homeless youth.  Carina grew up in the Midwest and moved to Southern California to study Youth Ministry at Azusa Pacific University. Carina also served as an Associate Youth Director at a church in California for three and a half years before moving to Washington state. In June of 2012 Carina and Scott’s first child Xavier was born.