Rev. Paul Womack and Rev. Natalie Hanson

Lead Pastors

E-mail Rev. Paul Womack and Rev. Natalie Hanson

Serving on the pastoral team at Hurlbut are the Revs. Natalie Hanson and Paul Womack, ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church.

Natalie is a native of Western New York, born in Jamestown. A graduate of Wesleyan University (BA) and The Divinity School of Harvard University (Mdiv), she served congregations in Rochester, Buffalo, and Jamestown, as well as serving as a District Superintendent in the Upper New York Conference. Her pastoral interests at Hurlbut focus on Prayer, Spiritual Formation and Worship.

Paul is a native of Tennessee, received his BA degree from Middle Tennessee State University, Mdiv from the Vanderbilt Divinity School, his MA in Religious Studies from Canisius College and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Colgate Rochester. Serving in the Rochester area, he developed an interest in ecumenical and inter-faith work, and served as Hurlbut’s Pastor between 2008-1014. An Army veteran, he served tours in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (the latter two as a Chaplain). His pastoral interests include the cultivation of inter-faith understandings, theological studies, teaching and preaching.Both Natalie and Paul are familiar to many in the Chautauqua larger community, from their participation in Worship Services during the Chautauqua Season and his previous service with the congregation.

Rev. John A. Jackson

Pastor

E-mail Rev. John A. Jackson

Rev. Jackson is a licensed local pastor appointed to Hurlbut in 2017 to serve as Associate Pastor. He currently serves as Pastor until a replacement can be found for Rev. Carmen Perry. Prior to this appointment, he served as pastor of North Harmony UMC in Sherman, NY for six years. He has served and continues to serve the United Methodist Church in several conference and district level capacities and is involved with the Robert H. Jackson Center and the Ecumenical Community of Chautauqua. John is retired from careers in engineering and law and the avocation of commercial pilot/flight instructor. He continues to serve as a professional mediator, which he describes as a ministry of helping people resolve disputes in constructive ways. He and his wife Juanita relocated to this community in 2007.

Debbie Caruso

Ministries Coordinator

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Debbie Caruso lives in Panama NY and has worked at Hurlbut Church as the church Ministries Coordinator since 2001. Prior to coming to Hurlbut Church she was employed at Private Industry Council in Jamestown NY for 7 years and before that 16 years for Chautauqua Opportunities Inc starting in the Mayville office and then moving to the Dunkirk office. As well as her duties at Hurlbut Church, Debbie handles the house reservations, is the off season hostess, and does the bookkeeping for the United Methodist House on the Chautauqua Institution grounds. She also volunteers for Chautauqua County 4-H serving on the Family and Consumer Science committee, organizes the county 4-H Fashion Revue, and does some judging for county presentations. She also volunteers on Saturday mornings for the Chautauqua County Habitat for Humanity working on site at their home renovation projects. Debbie is married to her husband Tom who is retired from the Jamestown BPU. They have two children Andy and Amanda and three grandchildren Nicola, Ben, and Emma.

Wendy Marlinski

Music Director

Alena Ramirez

Custodian and Meal Ministry Coordinator

Zach Stahlsmith, M. Div

Minister of Technology

Utilizing his Masters of Divinity, years of Church involvement on the local, conference, and jurisdictional level, as well as years of experience as an Audio/Video Technician and Engineer, Zach helps Hurlbut Church expand it’s ministries beyond the walls of the church building and the grounds of Chautauqua to friends near and far. Through live-streaming worship services, upgrading church technology, and engaging in the art of worship, Hurlbut Church is equipped to share the Gospel through multiple avenues. Zach holds an M.Div from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, and a Bachelors of Arts Degree focusing in Religion and History from West Virginia Wesleyan College. Contact Zach at zachstahlsmith1@gmail.com