Jared Priset
Pastor Jared started serving Aurora UMC on July 1^st, 2010.  He grew up in Buffalo, NY and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Roberts Wesleyan College, located in Rochester, NY, in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in History and Criminal Justice.  Pastor Jared then went on to service as a Police Officer in Fairfax County, VA (outside of Washington D.C.) from July 2003 – July 2007.  As a police officer he was awarded a Meritorious Action Award and MADD award for his service.  After his 4 years of service in law enforcement he moved to Ashland, OH and attended Ashland Theological Seminary from September 2007 – June 2010.  He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.  Throughout his final two years of law enforcement and his three years in Seminary, Pastor Jared worked as a Youth Director at Rosemont Alliance Church in Rosemont, MD and at Christ UMC in Ashland, OH.  Pastor Jared has been married to his wife, Meredith, for eight years and they have a daughter named Maggie and a son named Elias.

Pastor Jared is excited about serving at Aurora UMC and working in the Aurora community to bring the love of Christ to anyone and everyone.  He has a passion for seeing people come into a reconciled relationship with Almighty God through the person of Jesus Christ.  Whether he is working with children, teenagers, or those advanced in years, Pastor Jared’s prayer and heart’s cry is to teach others about the Christian faith.

Stan Krawson
Stan Krawson was hired June 1, 2011 as Director of Music at Aurora UMC. He leads music during the worship service and directs the adult choir, bell choir and the praise team. Previously, Stan led music programs at Christ Methodist Church and Bethel Lutheran Church in Canton, and St. Jacob Lutheran Church, Massillon. He has sung regularly with St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church Choir and the Canton Comic Opera Company. Stan is “retired” but works part-time as a substitute teacher in schools of the Canton – Massillon area and is a travel escort for Fidelity Tours of Massillon and U.S. Coach of Alliance. He is secretary of the Perry Township History Club and active in restoring the 1893 Genoa one-room Schoolhouse. Stan has been married since 1976 to Saundra, who works as a nursing supervisor for group home facilities. They have two grown daughters, and two grandchildren.

Thelma Dunaitis
From October 1994 to March 2007, Thelma served as secretary and bookkeeper for Aurora United Methodist Church. She is delighted to be back at Aurora UMC, providing clerical support to the pastor and members as we reach out to our community with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Thelma grew up in the college town of Ypsilanti, and graduated from the University of Michigan in neighboring Ann Arbor. Some of her favorite authors are Dorothy Sayers, Diane Mott Davidson, C.S. Lewis, and Elisabeth Elliot. She and her husband, Randy, are the parents of two grown sons. Randy and Thelma are avid square dancers who spend much of their time visiting various clubs in the Cleveland area. They enjoy traveling at every opportunity, and have visited most of the 50 states.

Ra and Kay Walker and Becky Walker
Ra, Kay, and Becky Walker are the custodians at Aurora UMC.  They have filled this position for over six years.  Even though this is the case, they have been members of Aurora UMC for over forty years and have a heart for this church.  Ra states’ “making the church look good” is a top priority for him.  Ra, Kay, and Becky have a passion to see the church facility maintained well so it can be used in the most effective way possible for worshipping God, church ministries, and community organizations.  Ra and Kay have three grown children (one being Becky), six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.