Here is information and biographic descriptions for our ministers, staff, and lay leaders. To contact them, visit Contact Us.

Ministers: The Congregation

There are currently over six hundred members of the congregation with many others calling Northaven their church home. Vital worship and music, interest in the arts, outreach to the city of Dallas, sensitivity to matters of inclusiveness and warmth of fellowship are only some of the things that continue to attract people to this intimate and active congregation.

Eric Folkerth, Senior Pastor

Eric has been pastor of Northaven since 2001. He served eleven years as associate pastor at Highland Park UMC in Dallas. At Northaven during his tenure, the new church building has been constructed and more than 220 new members have joined. Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, and Nepal. He has worked with lay persons to build ten homes, and one Community Center, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dallas. Eric is an award-winning, singer-songwriter whose first CD was released in 2000. His wife, Dennise Garcia, is a State District Judge in Dallas County. They have one daughter, Maria.

Mary Clair Lowrance, Minister of Congregational Life

Mary Clair is a native of Fort Worth and a graduate of Brite Divinity School at TCU. She served as an ordained elder for over ten years in the Central Texas Conference in churches such as First United Methodist in Arlington and FUMC Fort Worth. During her years of service, Mary Clair's experience as an associate minister included areas such as youth ministry, Christian education, older adult ministries, and evangelism. She has also served as a pastor-in-charge. She brings a wide range of experiences in the local church ministry with her. Mary Clair voluntarily surrendered her credentials as an Elder in the UMC when she took a position as pastor of Christian discipleship at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. Most recently she has served as chaplain and bereavement counselor at Community Hospice of Texas. She functions among us as a committed and faithful lay person, and is pleased to serve God's people at Northaven. Mary has a son, and lives in Fort Worth with her partner, Jaye.

Stephanie Rhoades,  Minister of Music and the Arts

Stephanie earned her BA in Music from Yale University and then immediately came to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University where she received her Master of Sacred Music degree with a concentration in choral conducting. She served as Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Coppell for six years, directing both vocal and handbell choirs for adults, youth and children. She then served as Associate Director of music at Grace Presbyterian Church in Plano for five years, working primarily with children and youth handbell choirs and children’s vocal choirs. She began playing the violin and trumpet at an early age and then learned to play the piano and handbells in addition to her choral training. Stephanie has been a guest clinician and handbell festival conductor for events from Las Vegas, Nevada to Montreat, North Carolina. Her leadership experience includes serving as President of the Dallas Chapter of Choristers Guild, President of the Greater Dallas Handbell Association, and chair of Area IX of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. She has taught 1st & 2nd grade music at Parish Episcopal School for five years. In addition to teaching, she conducts an auditioned community handbell ensemble, Concert Bells of Fort Worth. She loves learning almost as much as she loves teaching, and has a passion for sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with others. 

Beth Schuessler, Minister to Children

Beth earned a BS in Elementary/Special Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Teaching Certificate from the State of Texas in 1982. She also has a Masters of Theology from Perkins School of Theology and has served churches in England and Austin, Texas. As an associate minister, Beth's early ministry was focused in Christian Education. A "shift" in call occurred when her children were born and Beth spent the next 17 years primarily parenting full time. During this time she was in and out of the classroom as teacher, tutor, volunteer and mentor to countless children. Beth has many hobbies, but especially enjoys making fine jewelry as an accomplished silver/gold smith. Beth is married to Wade, who is a banker. Together they are raising their youngest daughter, Holly. Their oldest, Annelise is a student at The University of Texas at Austin.

Andy Packard, Organist

Andy attended SMU, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance under Dr. Carol Leone in 2004. While at SMU, Andy cultivated an interest in the pipe organ after spending several summers working for organ builder Roy Redman, and he began taking secondary organ lessons with Dr. Larry Palmer. This interest blossomed and in 2005 Andy moved to Rochester, New York, to pursue further study in organ performance at the Eastman School of Music with Dr. Hans Davidsson, completing the Master of Music in Organ Performance degree in the fall of 2007. Currently Andy continues to work part-time at the Redman Organ Company and enjoys doing free-lance accompanying for a variety of vocalists and instrumentalists. Andy shares his home with Callie, a healthy calico cat. When not rehearsing or studying, he is passionate about art, architecture, independent film, gardening, and digging through the stacks for a great read at various booksellers from Fort Worth to Dallas.

Mindy Dague-Lowery, Office Administrator

Mindy joined our staff in February of 2008 as our Office Administrator. She was previously in administration at University Park UMC in Dallas at their well known day school. She has over 14 years experience working in Non Profit leadership positions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Mindy is a native Texan and lives in Garland with her husband, Todd Lowery. She has two sons, Spencer and Travis.

Kathy Delsanter, Director, Northaven Cooperative Preschool

Kathy has been director of the Co-op School since 1974. She grew up in New York and has BA and MS degrees from Cornell University in psychology and child development and a PhD in early childhood education from East Texas State University. She has taught on the adjunct Child Development faculty at Brookhaven College. Kathy has a daughter, Michele, and a son, Doug.

Chuck Cummings, Building Supervisor

Chuck joined the Northaven staff in September of 2005. He has over 25 years experience in managing large facilities while overseeing each building’s custodial and landscaping needs. Chuck is a drummer who has performed with several bands in the past few years. (Cornerstone, Third Story) Chuck and his wife, Barbara have three daughters, Amanda, Amy, and Abbey and three grandchildren, Emily, Noah, and Nathan.

Stephanie Stevens, Administrative Assistant

Stephanie serves as our administrative assistant on a part-time basis.

Key Lay Leaders

Chair, Leadership Council: Charles Axe

Chair, Program Council: Martha Stowe

Chair, Staff-Parish Commission: Carole Carsey

Chair, Trustees: Open

Lay Leader: Betty Boyer