our staff | GEUMC

Daniel F. Diss, Senior Pastor

Pastor Daniel came to Glen Ellyn in July 2017 as our pastor. Before coming to Glen Ellyn, he served as the Senior Pastor at Grace Church in Joliet. He has served congregations throughout Illinois including Genoa, Chicago, Farmer City, Champaign, Riverton, and Danville. He is a native son of Illinois growing up on a dairy farm near Taylorville. He graduated from Millikin University (BA) in Decatur, Illinois; Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois (DMin); and Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut (MDiv). He has served in local congregations, campus ministry, and the hospital settings. He is enjoys a variety of activities from painting, photography, creative writing, and nature walks to white water rafting, rodeos, and traveling around the world.

Contact: dr.daniel.diss@gmail.com

Evan Bruno, Director of Music Ministries

Born and raised in Williamsburg, VA, Evan Bruno began his professional music career at the age of 10 when he joined The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums as a fifer. He holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in choral music education from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. He also holds Level III Kodály Certification from Midwestern State University. Mr. Bruno is Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, IL, where he conducts the Chancel Choir and serves as Worship Leader for the Contemporary Ensemble. Evan’s passion for music in worship has formed a philosophy of inclusion and purpose. All are welcome and invited to sing at First Church; the limits of age, ability or other factors is not considered when making music in worship. The purpose of music in worship is not to perform but to present music for the worship experience of the entire church community. Evan moved to Chicago in 2011 to accept the position of In-School Conductor with Chicago Children’s Choir. Since then, he has worked with CCC’s Hyde Park Neighborhood Choir and in the fall of 2013, helped open the Englewood Neighborhood Choir. He assumed leadership of the Lincoln Park/DePaul Neighborhood Choir in the fall of 2014. Evan was named Manager of Choral Programs in 2017. Evan believes that music is a means for all people to reach across cultural, social, and racial barriers. He is devoted to helping singers find in music a powerful force for peace and unity. He considers himself a lifelong learner and is passionate about maintaining a familiarity with new trends, research, and quality repertoire. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Contact: music@geumc.org

Laura Hollinger Antonelli, Director of Student Ministries

Laura Hollinger Antonelli is an ordained minister in the Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Laura joyfully serves as the Director of Student Ministries here at First United Methodist Church. She previously served as Associate Dean of Rockefeller Chapel, followed by working with the non-profit Interfaith Youth Core and as Director of Religious Education at First Unitarian Church in Hyde Park, Chicago. Though she has a love of ministering to God’s beloved of all ages, she takes particular delight in working with children, youth, and young adults.

Contact: student@geumc.org

Stephanie Herlien, Director of Parent's Day Out

Contact: pdo@geumc.org

Becky Waldbusser, Director of Family Ministries

Becky Waldbusser is the Director of Family Ministries. She and her husband, Scott, live in Glen Ellyn with their daughters. In addition to her role at First Church, Becky is a third grade teacher in Lombard. She graduated from Millikin University in 2002 with her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and in 2003 from the University of Southern Mississippi with her Master of Arts in Teaching Languages. Becky has a passion for providing opportunities for fellowship as well as for sharing God's love with the Glen Ellyn community.

Contact: family@geumc.org