Our Staff

  • Scot describes his ministry as "the impossible both/and of pastoral care and high-level theology." 


    "My work," he says, "is focused on expressing the entirety of God's love for our whole selves, not just our heads or our hearts or our bodies, but the entire person." 


    He comes to First United Methodist Garland from First United Methodist Richardson, where he served as Associate Pastor for Caring Ministry. 


    Previously, Scot was an Adjunct Instructor at Southern Methodist University (SMU).


    Before that, he served as Senior Pastor, Stony United Methodist Ponder and Associate Pastor, Greenland Hills United Methodist Dallas.

    While at SMU, he also assisted with Children's Worship at First United Methodist Frisco. 

    Scot holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from SMU, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of North Texas. 


    Scot and wife Jen live in Frisco with their two 'kids' - goats Carl and Gretel. They also have 15 chickens, three cats and three tanks of fish.

    Both passionate about music, they own a collection of more than 3,000 records, spanning all genre. Season ticket holders to the Dallas Opera for a decade, they enjoy symphonic, rock, techno and even a bit of jazz music. 

    Jen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, and Scot makes electronic music in his home studio when time permits.

    Scot is a hiker and mountain biker. Jen is a birdwatcher. Scot also dabbles in tech and enjoys programming for fun. 

  • Rose Sullivan Director of Music Ministries

    Rose leads all aspects of our renowned music program, which encompasses leading worship and providing music for other church activities and special events, nurturing the musical gifts of the congregation, and providing musical outreach to Garland and surrounding communities. 


    A conductor, collaborative keyboardist and mezzo-soprano with special interests in sacred and operatic music, theology and vocal pedagogy, Rose holds a Masters of Music from Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tenn., and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.  

  • Kamilya (kah-me-la) accompanies the Chancel Choir and Pure Joy! Youth Choir on the organ and the piano during Sunday morning worship and other special events. 

    A native of Kazakhstan, Kamilya holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the Kazakh National University of Arts, and a Master's of Music and a Performer's Diploma from the SMU Meadows School of the Arts. 

    She is currently pursuing a Master's in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at SMU. 

    Kamilya has attended organ master classes in Germany, and was an exchange program student at the Venice Conservatory in Italy. 

    She has won awards in various national and international competitions since she began playing the piano at age 7 in her hometown of Pavlodar. 

    This includes Diploma awards in 2019 at the 20th Open Festival - Competition of Organ Music Gatchina - St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Second International Competition for Young Composers and Organists "Baikal Toccata" in Irkutsk, Russia. 

  • Yolanda Pendleton Director of Missions, Community Engagement and Advocacy

    Yolanda coordinates our missions activities, including but not limited to support for Good Samaritans of Garland, Austin Street Center in Dallas, Project Transformation and Running 4 Clean Water. She also spearheads community outreach, including support for nearby Freeman Elementary School, and is the face of our advocacy efforts for the homeless and for racial justice. 

  • Mark Buford Director of Communications

    Mark is responsible for the church website, social media, email publications including First Week and First Reflections, electronic signage, worship bulletins, and other internal and external communications. He also produces multimedia for worship and other activities, and manages the church computer, video and building access network. 


    Mark previously served for four years as Director of Communications for First United Methodist Plano. Prior to that he spent 32 years in high-tech public relations and marketing communications with Nortel Networks and Harris Corporation. 


    Mark began his professional career with five years as a sports writer for The Morning Sun in Pittsburg, Kansas and The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. He also covered high school football and other high school sports for 30 years as a freelancer for various newspapers including The Dallas Morning News. 


    Mark holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Dallas Baptist University. He is also a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). 

  • Mary Brown Business Administrator

    Mary helps manage the business side of the church, helping ensure our financial gifts are used efficiently and effectively to further God's kingdom. 


    Her experience includes three years as Assistant to the CFO at Gateway National Bank (now Prosperity Bank) in Dallas. Mary holds an Associates Degree in Accounting from Trinity Valley College in Terrell. 


    Mary also serves as Financial Coordinator at Wylie United Methodist Church and Administrative Assistant at Our Merciful Saviour Episcopal Church Kaufman.