Leadership, pastors, staff

Steve Morton, Senior Pastor

Pastor Steve Morton joined Hopewell as Senior Pastor in July, 1997. Growing up in West Chester, PA, Steve's pre-college years were centered around his involvement in the West Chester United Methodist Church, where he held a part time job and was very active in both youth and adult ministries.

Steve began his education at Grove City College and continued his preparation at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in December 1983.

His first charge in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church was a six-month assignment at Kellersville in the Pocono Mountains, before moving on to Faith United Methodist Church in Reading. Steve came to Hopewell after seven years as Senior Pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in Ephrata, where he grew Sunday morning worship attendance to more than 260.

Steve married his wife, Joan, in 1989, and they have two children, Jordan and Jessica.

Read Steve's MONTHLY BLOG

Barbara Hartman, Pastor of Outreach

Barbara Hartman (Pastor Barb) came to Hopewell eight years ago from Christ United Methodist Church in Lancaster, PA where she served as senior pastor. Barbara's mission at Hopewell is to focus on our Outreach Ministries. She has a passion for bringing inner peace and wholeness to broken lives.

Pastor Barb graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1965. She is also a graduate of Springfield College with a Bachelor Degree in Recreation and Youth Leadership and has a Masters of Social Work and Community Organization from University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore, Maryland. Pastor Barb's daughter, Kimberly Sturm, lives in Fogelsville, PA with husband Jeff and four children, Matthew, Kevin, Alicia, and Travis.

Vicki Pry, Pastor of Caring Ministries

Vicki Pry, Pastor of Caring Ministries, has been a member of the Hopewell Church staff since June 2001. She is a United Methodist Local Pastor appointed to the church by our conference. Her areas of ministry include: Caring Ministries; preaching; staff support person for worship; Older Adult Ministries and Special Parents Group.

Vicki is a graduate of the University of Delaware, having majored in Physical Education. She later obtained her Elementary Education certification from Immaculata University. Her Local Pastors' coursework is ongoing and is in conjunction with Wesley Theological Seminary.

Prior to her calling to formal ministry, Vicki was a kindergarten teacher in the Downingtown Area School District for 15 years.

Vicki and her husband, Dick, have lived in Downingtown for 27 years and raised their three daughters in this congregation. They feel so blessed to have their daughters, sons-in-law and six grandchildren living in the immediate area and worshiping here at Hopewell!

Dan Hepner, Pastor of Discipleship Ministries

Dan Hepner was appointed in a quarter time position to Hopewell Church by our conference in 2008. Pastor Dan came to Hopewell Church after serving for the last two years as part time Pastor at Glenmoore United Methodist Church. He is a United Methodist Local Pastor and Hopewell Church is Dan's second conference appointment.

His areas of ministry include preaching and worship leadership, teaching and adult education, new member ministry and discipleship.

Dan is a graduate of West Chester University, majoring in Criminal Justice. Currently Dan is enrolled as a part time student at Evangelical School of Theology in their Masters of Divinity program. Prior to his calling to ministry, Dan worked in law enforcement and currently continues his career in the insurance business.

Dan and his wife Donna have lived in Downingtown since 1985 and have been members of Hopewell Church since 1986. Dan and Donna are the parents of four daughters, all being raised in Hopewell's congregation.

Hopewell Staff

Senior Pastor -- Steven Morton

Pastor of Outreach -- Barbara Hartman
Pastor of Caring Ministries -- Vicki Pry

Pastor of Discipleship Ministries -- Dan Hepner
Director of Youth Ministries -- Jon Marcus

Youth Ministries Assistant -- Kristin Smith

Missionary to South Africa -- Jen Lisowski
Director of Children's Ministries -- Patty Wiehler
Children's Ministries Assistant -- Cheri Miller
Director of Hopewell Christian School -- Donna Hepner
Director of Lay Ministries -- Shauna Ridge
Director of Music Ministries -- George Haimbach
Director of Technology -- Deb Collins

Organist -- Sandy Frombach
Church Administrator -- Sheri Kentner

Controller -- Carey Burke
Membership/Financial Assistant -- Suzanne Knight
Church Secretary -- Lynne Kreher
Office Assistant -- Kim Schywstell
Security and Grounds -- David Williams

CONTACT HOPEWELL STAFF