Burlingame United Methodist Church - About our San Francisco Bay Area church

Rev. Dr. L. T. Archer Summers, Senior Pastor (Email Archer)

Kevin Morgenstern, Associate Leader for Contemporary Worship (Email Kevin)

Thierry Spelle, Organist/Chancel Choir Director (Email Thierry)

Ursula Morgenstern, Office Manager (Email Ursula)

JoJo Bernardo, Security Custodian

Gina Esguerra, Security Custodian

Rev. Dr. L. T. Archer Summers, Senior Pastor

A native of the Mountain State, L. T. Archer Summers, our Senior Minister, has served churches in New England, and in the Bay Area since 2002, when The Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, to whom Archer is married, accepted a tenure-track position at Berkeley's Pacific School of Religion. Boyung is PSR's Associate Professor for Educational Ministries. Archer has two high school-aged children. Last year Clara Elaine, the eldest, spent a year as an AFS student in the Czech Republic. Clara is a flautist and does Irish dance. Landon Jack, Archer's son, is a first-year high school student; he runs cross country and track, and plays soccer and the oboe.

Archer grew up in the Methodist movement. From knee-high he was spiritually sated with optimism about our calling as Jesus' disciples; transformational hope for our lives and world, and music, the latter of which he considers our catechesis. Archer ventures that John Wesley's approach to faith was like unto an eighteenth-century "Linux." Archer serves on the California-Nevada Annual Conference's Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. In 2008, the Jewish Community Relations Council conferred the Courageous Leadership Award on Archer at its Gala in San Francisco.

Archer holds two degrees from Georgetown and three degrees from Harvard. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, and was recently nominated by its Board of Governors and appointed by the Supreme Court's Administrative Committee for membership on its Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board. Archer also is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, and has been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Kevin Morgenstern was born in Brooklyn New York and raised in Westchester County, which lies in New York's beautiful Hudson River Valley. An aspiring rock and roll guitarist and songwriter, Kevin moved to San Francisco in1973. He played and recorded with many Bay Area bands including Robert Hunter and Comfort. That band toured extensively with the Jerry Garcia Band in the late 70's and he appears on Robert Hunter's retrospective album, Promontory Rider.

In 1980 Kevin and his wife Ursula were married, settled in Millbrae California and started a family. They had three children together; two of whom currently play in the band with them. In 1987 they moved to Burlingame and in 1993 became members of Burlingame United Methodist Church. They became very active at BUMC and took advantage of the many educational and discipleship formation opportunities available, including Disciple Bible Study and Stephen Ministry and served on many committees in leadership positions.

Initially Kevin served as a guitarist with Healing Stream, BUMC's praise band. His role evolved to include singer-songwriter and worship leader. In 2003 he was named Associate Leader for Contemporary Worship and is currently the Director of Contemporary Music and Worship Leader at BUMC. He currently leads the band and congregation in musical worship at "Evenings at the River" on Friday evenings at 7:15pm & on Sundays at the 9:30am contemporary service.

Thierry Spelle was born in Paris, France. He received his early musical training there, and as a choirboy at the Cathedral of Chartres, France, where, later, he became Assistant Organist. He has held positions in Paris, France, in New York City and New Jersey, and more recently in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He holds music degrees from France, and a Master of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey. He is a resident of San Francisco.

Ursula Morgenstern

Born in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1957 Ursula was raised in Millbrae, Ca., and was the third of what would become a family of seven children. A graduate of Mills High School, Ursula attended the Bryman School and was employed as a Medical Assistant before accepting a position at Peninsula Hospitals Radiology department. She was married in 1980 and had the first of her three children in 1982. Shortly thereafter, Ursula left the work force to devote herself to raising her three children. Wellalmostbecause it was at this time that Ursula served as part time office manager for her husband Kevins business. Additionally in her spare time, Ursula took floral design classes at CSM. She became an accomplished floral designer and ran Morninglory Floral Design.

The obligations of driving to soccer games, piano and guitar lessons, serving as PTA president, keeping house, managing her husbands business and running Morninglory Floral Design was rewarding but demanding. In 1998 with her children all in school and on their way, Ursula decided to re-enter the work force. Her timing was perfect, as the position of Office Manager at BUMC had just opened. Her application was accepted and Ursula began a new career that has evolved into a ministry.

Like many of her generation, Ursula's spiritual journey began as a child, attending weekly Sunday School at both Methodist and Lutheran Churches. After leaving the church for a period of time, she renewed her faith as she began to attend BUMC in 1991. At first Ursula came primarily to give her children the same experience shed had as a child. But God had other plans and Ursula found herself becoming more committed to her church as God took center stage in her life. Ursula served as a Stephen Minister, completed the Disciple I and II in-depth Bible study program, taught Sunday School, served as the Wedding Coordinator for five years, served on the Missions team, Church and Society teams, Council on Ministries, Vision Board and currently serves on the Church Council and the Finance Team and helps to provide crafts for children at 9 a.m. Sunday Worship Celebration.

I really couldn't have a more rewarding job, Ursula says. Yes, at times its a very busy office, but surrounded by giving, caring, volunteers and a very supportive staff, I am constantly reminded of Gods presence.

Ursula and Kevin just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversay. Son Matthew is 27, and daughters Danielle and Hailey are 24 and 18 respectively. They are the joys of her life. Others joys include biking, gardening, and long walks with Kevin.