OUR CHURCH LAY LEADERSHIP

Saint Mark thrives due to the combined efforts of hardworking staff, experienced clergy, and dedicated lay leadership. These are the dedicated laity that lend their time and talents to help Saint Mark succeed in our goals of loving, accepting, and serving.

Click here to learn more about our staff and clergy.

Saint Mark UMC Church Bylaws

Our Church Lay Leadership Structure | 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

Tiffany Baltazar (she/her)

Church Council Secretary

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

Email Noey

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

Joel Black (he/him)

Church Treasurer

Deana Hilton (she/her)

Executive Director

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.