Meet our Staff

The pastors, staff and leadership here at Ashland First United Methodist Church are folks who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for one of our pastors or any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them. You can contact the church office at offmgr@ashlandmethodist.org.

  • REV. Dr. BRETT STROBEL

    Senior Pastor

    Brett has over 30 years of pastoral experience. He holds an MDiv from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and a PhD in Theological Studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation with his residency at Christ Church College, Oxford University, UK. He has served churches in the Oregon-Idaho Conferences: Lake Oswego UMC; Parkrose UMC (Portland); Newman UMC (Grants Pass); and Christ UMC (Portland). He and his wife Melinda have two grown sons. They are both excited to back in Southern Oregon.


  • Rev. Dorita Betts-Borgerson

    Minister of Spiritual GROWTH & OUTREACH

    Dorita was born & raised in Brazil, as the daughter of Methodist missionaries, She moved to Oregon in 1989 with her husband Bruce and has served in three churches in the Rogue Valley.  Dorita has a B.A. and a Master's Degree in Christian Education and is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Dorita’s passion is to create spaces where people can form meaningful relationships, with one another and with God, while growing in their faith journey and serving the world through actions of justice and mercy.


    Dorita and Bruce have raised two wonderful children, both now young adults, and together they also created a third beloved “offspring” – a fuzzy, free-spirited puppet named Sherman. A lifelong athlete, Dorita enjoys cycling, running and volunteering as a volleyball coach at the YMCA and Ashland High School.

  • CHRISTINE JONES

    Church OPERATIONS Manager

    Chris was born and raised in Ashland, her family home just down the road from church.  She remembers every Saturday night being spent at her grandmother's house folding the bulletin, as her Grandmother, Hilda Kinney-Beyers, was church secretary back in the 1960s. She is married to another Ashland native Tim Jones, between the two of them they have four grown daughters and three grandchildren.  Two of their daughters serve the church teaching the younger children every sunday. Chris's spare time is spent outdoors camping and reading.  





  • Chris Bingham

    Music Director

    Born and raised in Ashland, OR, Chris began musical studies at the age of 5 with Piano Teacher, Tedi Sacco. He fell in love with Choir during high school with Russ Otte at Ashland High and continued singing with Paul French at SOU. Upon graduation, Chris moved to Los Angeles and began graduate studies in Choral Music from University of Southern California. While in California, Chris sang with Jo-Michael Scheibe, Donald Brinegar, and took part in many tours and guest appearances. Since graduating, Chris has worked, primarily in churches, throughout the country. He was Director of Music Ministries at St. Andrew's Episcopal church in Encinitas CA, and Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Bristol TN. Chris believes that a church music program ought to deliver a diverse array of musical styles and encourages everybody to participate whatever way they feel most comfortable.