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

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Julie Weitzel

Julie Weitzel is the SonShine Singers Director at Manchester UMC. Julie was a member of Manchester UMC’s Children’s Choirs when she was in elementary school and is currently a Spanish Teacher and choreographer at Eureka High School. Julie enjoys musical theater, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She

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Molly Henley

I grew up in a rural community in northeastern Missouri and moved to St. Louis after high school.  I have a degree in Financial Accounting Systems from Maryville University.  I also have a degree in Business Administration from St. Louis Community College-Meramec. In my free time, I enjoy reading mysteries

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Melanie Knipping

As the Director of Circle of Friends Preschool, I have a passion for helping children and families enjoy a great start to life-long learning! I have an Associate’s degree in Child Development and a Bachelor’s degree in Business. I have been involved in the early childhood education field as both

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