Our Church Lay Leadership Model

At Saint Mark, we use the Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS) model and we have one Church Council. Below explains the SAS model, a video of why it was developed, and who are our current Church Council members.

Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS)

Simplified, Accountable structure (previously referred to as the single board model or one board model) moves churches from four administrative committees (trustees, finance, staff-parish relations, and church council) to one Leadership Board encapsulating all responsibilities and authority of the previous four separate administrative committees in compliance with the UMC Book of Discipline in Paragraph 247.2.

2025 Church Council Leadership Board

Susan Spencer (she/her)

Finance Vice Chairperson

Susan and her husband Paul (then her boyfriend) joined St. Mark UMC in the late 1980s and were married here in 1990. They have 2 sons--Logan who graduated from KSU and is a R&D Test Engineer, and Reid who graduated from Georgia Tech and works at GE Aerospace in Grand Rapids, MI. Both boys were baptized and confirmed at St Mark and were active in the Youth Group. Professionally, Susan is a graphic designer, launching her own design business before Logan was born so she could work from home. Clients include Siemens, The Alliance Theatre, The Junior League of Atlanta, Jones Lang LaSalle, Baker Audio Visual, Ferst Center for the Arts at Ga Tech and Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theater. Over the years, Susan and Paul volunteered at the Breakfast Club and with the children’s ministry, stayed many nights at the original women and children’s shelter, and were handing out water at the first pride parade when St Mark declared “Everyone is welcome here”.

Tiffany Baltazar (she/her)

Church Council Secretary

Tiffany Baltazar is a learning and development leader who has faithfully served in roles at Georgia Tech, Agnes Scott College, Georgia State University, and Emory University. With a heart for helping people grow into who God created them to be, she has designed leadership programs, built meaningful learning experiences, and walked alongside individuals as they discover their purpose.
Tiffany holds an M.Ed. in Learning, Leadership, and Organizational Development from the University of Georgia and a B.A. in English Literature from Georgia State University.
She is passionate about pointing people to the truth that they are deeply known, wholly loved, and divinely placed. Tiffany’s ministry is rooted in the belief that everyone belongs in God’s kingdom and that radical kindness is a powerful way to reflect His love in the world.
In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, collecting books, and going on adventures with her family.

Mary Abbott Waite (she/her)

Church Story Keeper

A member of Saint Mark since the late eighties, Mary Abbott has enjoyed participating in many ministries of the church. She has sung in the choir and volunteered for Breakfast Club from the week she joined. The joy of singing together and serving in love and acceptance are the foundation of "doing church" for her. She has also served in many leadership roles, including member and chair of the Administrative Council, lay leader, small group facilitator, and lay member to annual conference. Striving together to embody the beloved community by accepting and loving all God's children, no exceptions, is the heart of Saint Mark's ministry and witness for Mary Abbott and "why Saint Mark must Stay Strong." Mary Abbott has deep Methodist roots--her father and both grandfathers were Methodist ministers, her mother was a church historian, and she went to Methodist colleges for undergraduate and graduate education (Wesleyan College and Duke University). Professionally she works as a writer and consulting editor.

Noey Barrera-Disler (she/her)

Church Council Chairperson & Lay Delegate to Annual Conference

After graduating from high school in Southern Texas, Noey (she/her) started her career first by joining the US Army in 1977, then moved on to receive her Bachelors in Accounting from Fayetteville State University in 1985. She continued her journey in Atlanta after graduation where she met her wife, Sheri and together raised their son, Todd. Todd was baptized and confirmed at Saint Mark. Noey and Sheri have been together for 33 years and held their 4th wedding at Saint Mark in 2014. They have been St Mark members for over 25 years. Noey and her family continue to be a part of Saint Mark because there is something reverent about simply being inside Saint Mark. It gives them a physical space to connect and draw closer to God and to realize that there is something out there bigger than themselves. Saint Mark offers many opportunities to donate time to causes Noey believes in. Noey has served as Finance Chairperson and on the Administrative Council. Upon retiring from more than 33 years of Federal service, Noey worked with Supper Club. She has also participated in several mission trips to Honduras and Costa Rica. Noey spends her time traveling - domestic and international - and enjoys being behind camera.

Michelle Levan (she/her)

Church Council Vice Chairperson & Reserve Lay Delegate to Annual Conference

Michelle Levan is the Assistant Director for the Center for Clergy Excellence, for the North Georgia Annual Conference. Michelle has been a member at Saint Mark since
2018 but has been a lifelong United Methodist. In addition to be a member, we as a congregation voted to recommend her for ordained ministry, and in November 2024
she was approved by the district committee on ministry to be a certified candidate for ministry. Michelle and her wife Rebecca are involved in the Foundations Sunday School
Class. Michelle has volunteered in our church office, she is currently the Vice-chair of Church Council, has participated in our Wednesday night programming, and always
helps when we call – even if it is last minute to participate in worship.

Joel Black (he/him)

Church Treasurer

Joel Black, CPA, FLMI, is a product of the Northeast Georgia Mountains. Educated at North Georgia College and State University and Brenau University, Joel has been a CPA since 1991. Joel moved to the Atlanta Area in 1984 to work with what is now known as Preplanning Solutions, a company that markets small face whole life and annuity insurance products to prefund funerals. As a manager in the finance organization, Joel primarily spends his time preparing and analyzing financial statements and budgets. A member of Saint Mark since 2011, Joel has served on the Finance and Endurability Committees, Administrative Council and is part of the Interactions Sunday School class, 3rd Saturday Breakfast Club volunteer group, and enjoys hosting the Open Doors ministry. Joel served as Assistant Treasurer for several years prior to becoming Treasurer.

Greg Washington (he/him)

Finance Chairperson

Saint Mark UMC and the Visions Sunday School class have been spiritual homes for Greg Washington since 2014. The sense of acceptance, diversity, and genuine welcome that is a hallmark of the Saint Mark community have been critically important to Greg and his family; Gary, Daniela, and Gabriela. While the Washington family sees itself as city dwellers, they actually split their time between Midtown and the suburban Gwinnett county.
Professionally, Greg is a retired Army officer with over 24 years of service. Following military service, Greg, who holds a doctorate in Management, became a senior executive in higher education management, serving several colleges and universities. Greg currently owns and operates a premium, education-based childcare center and serves as a contributing faculty member in Walden University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program.
Aside from being active in the church community and spending time with his daughters, Greg enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and exploring local breweries and wineries.