Rev. Jennifer Karsner is the daughter of career army officers, who lived all over the U.S. growing up. She earned her B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland College Park (2004) and her Masters of Divinity (2007) from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. During her time at college, Rev. Jen was a Peer Minister with the Wesley Foundation. She volunteered in the Christian Ministry of the National Parks, working in Grand Teton National Park, planning and leading weekly worship services for park employees and guests. Rev. Jen has traveled in Israel and Jordan, visiting historic Biblical sites and participating in an archeological dig exploring how material objects from Biblical times inform faith. Rev. Jen interned at Glen Mar UMC during seminary. Rev. Jen served for six years as the Associate Pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy, Maryland, and recently completed the Lewis Fellows Program at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. She is a representative on the Young Adult Council of the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is married to Scott Karsner. They have 3 children: son, Peter (born in 2010); daughter, Grace (born in 2013) and son, Mark (born in 2014). The Karsner family is excited to be a part of the Asbury UMC community!
Scott Karsner (he/him) joined Asbury United Methodist Church as Youth Director in 2014. His passion for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and racial justice has guided Asbury’s God’s Garage Student Ministries into becoming a Reconciling Community with the Reconciling Ministries Network and in establishing a “Be the Bridge” group working towards racial reconciliation and justice.
Since 2004, Scott has volunteered with the Interdenominational Young People’s Conference (IYPC), a non-profit high school Christian summer conference, serving on faculty, as a Board member, and as Dean. Previously, he volunteered with Calvary UMC youth group, taught bible lessons, mentored young people through Confirmation, participated in outreach, service projects, and youth retreats, played in the praise band, led College Age Bible Study, and took Disciple 1.
Raised in New Jersey, Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Catholic University in Washington DC. During college, Scott was a Peer Minister and choir director for the University of Maryland’s Wesley Foundation (now the Terp HUB) and volunteered with his home youth group during summers.
Scott’s mission is for all young people to grow up knowing God loves them, God created them beautiful, they are good enough and they are part of God’s plan. Scott is looking forward to continuing to walk alongside and disciple the youth of Arnold.
When not doing ministry work, Scott enjoys spending time with his children and wife, Rev. Jen, and children, working part-time as a registered Architect in the State of Maryland, or hunting for vintage Pez dispensers!
Church Officers & Committee Members
Church Council Elizabeth Tawil, Chair
Committee Members - Jennifer Karsner, Pastor, Nancy Beers, Jackie Britton, Walt Bruso, Mike Campbell, Nancy Cody, Dan Haas, Alberta Stornetta, Owens Walker, and Corinne Van Hoven.
Education - Samantha Kelly and Catie Martino.
Endowment Ministry - Mike Campbell
Finance Ministry - Nancy Cody, Chair
Committee Members - Jennifer Karsner, Pastor, Walt Bruso (Treasurer), Roxanne Kuhn (Bookkeeper), Nancy Beers (Lay Leader), Jackie Britton (Chair ACCPC), Dan Haas (Chair Trustees), Teresa Lynch (Financial Secretary), Elizabeth Tawil (Council Chair), and Owens Walker (SPRC Chair).
Lay Leader - Nancy Beers
Nominations - Jennifer Karsner, Pastor/Chair
Committee Members - Nancy Beers, Jackie Britton, Pat Cody, Ashley Cox, Terri Dom, Wayne Drake, Roxanne Kuhn, Katrina Spencer, Darlene McAllister, Nancy Cody, and Jack Hogsten.
Scouting - Kristy Weight
Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) - Owens Walker, Chair
Committee Members - Nancy Beers, Eric Bowman, Wayne Drake, Pat Cody, and MaryAnn Burkhart.
Trustees - Dan Haas, Chair
Committee Members - Thomas Britton, Jeff Burkhart, Janet Kerchner, Kurt Kuhn, Richie Neale, Steve Patterson, Gary Stanlake, and Bob Hite.
Worship - Nancy Beers, Chair
Asbury Community Christian Preschool & Clubhouse (ACCPC) - Jackie Britton, Chair
Committee Members - Marilyn Betz, Phyllis Barbour, Jenny Wyrick, Rebecca Walker, and Darlene McAllister, Terri Dom, and Carol Popham.
Reconciliation Exploration Team - Pastor Jen, Ann Brady, Roxanne Kuhn, Marilyn Recknor, Raymond Shattuck, and Becky Batta.
Cemetery Manager - Hite Spencer
Funeral Reception Coordinator - Jackie Britton
Safe Sanctuary Coordinator - Karen Beer
