Holly Gaskill Bandel has served in local church ministry for 18 years, including positions as Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor and Associate Pastor. She grew up in Wylie, TX and received a social work degree from the University of North Texas. She is most passionate about ministry that reaches out and meets the needs of people in the community. Holly received her seminary degree from Duke Divinity School. Her husband Phil is a TV engineer and they have two sons, Austin and Jason. Holly is a Duke basketball fan, enjoys reading and practices yoga.
Dana Effler is the Director of Music and Arts Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Dallas where she oversees the graded choir and handbell program, the Rotunda Theatre series, and Goodrich Gallery series. She conducts the Chancel Choir, First Men’s Chorus, First Women’s Chorus, Vox Nova and the Variations Youth Choir. Under her direction the Chancel Choir has toured to Canada, England, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Scotland and Switzerland and has sung for both Southwestern division and National ACDA conventions. Beyond the church, Dana enjoys her work as a singer, guest conductor and clinician for organizations including ACDA, TCDA, Choristers Guild, AGO and The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Furman University and master’s degrees in choral conducting and in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University. Dana is inspired and energized by the wealth and diversity of talent represented in the FirstChurch family and is continually amazed at the beauty of God’s creation in and through it.
Tim Effler is the Organist/Associate Director of Music at First United Methodist Church where he serves as organist for all worship services, weddings, and memorial services. Tim also administers the handbell program and directs the Alleluya Ringers and Celebration Ringers. In addition, he serves as accompanist for the Chancel Choir and Variations Youth Choir, and is the co-director of Vox Nova. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree from Furman University in organ performance, and master’s degrees in accompanying/vocal coaching and vocal performance from Southern Methodist University. Tim has served as President of the Greater Dallas Handbell Association and the Executive Board for the Dallas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Anna Bundy Hagler is the Associate Minister of Connecting Ministries. She is a commissioned deacon in The United Methodist Church and is passionate about helping the church to meet people where they are. Anna has a BS in Communication Studies from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and a Masters of Divinity from Southern Methodist University. She lives in Dallas with her husband, Kyler, and their greyhound mix, Jax. She loves to find new coffee shops, attempt a round of golf, and read.
The Reverend Joseph Stabile is a Methodist pastor in the North Texas Annual Conference, as well as Co-Founder of Life in the Trinity Ministry, in Dallas, Texas. Reverend Stabile has served in vocational ministry for forty-five years, with combined experience in spiritual direction, retreat leadership, pastoral care and leadership, and pastoral mentoring. A former Vincentian priest, Reverend Stabile served as a Dean of Students and seminary professor, as Vocational Director for the Southern Province of the Vincentians. During his years in the Vincentian priesthood, he was Pastor of several Catholic parishes in Dallas and the Panhandle of Texas. After fifteen years as a Vincentian priest, Reverend Stabile left the Priesthood in 1987, and in 1989, his Orders were accepted in the United Methodist Church. Reverend Stabile has served eight different local churches within the North Texas Annual Conference, and has served on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He taught at Perkins School of Theology in the Certification Program for Spiritual Directors. He holds a Master of Divinity from DeAndreis Institute of Theology in Chicago, and a Master of Languages and Linguistics in Spanish from Universidad Ibero-Americana in Mexico City, Mexico. Joe lives in Dallas with his wife Suzanne. They have 4 grown children and 9 grandchildren.
Dr. Stoker is the Senior Minister of First United Methodist Church of Dallas, Texas. Serving in this position of leadership in the heart of downtown Dallas since 2013, he has forged strong partnerships with the Dallas Mayor’s Office, the Dallas Arts District, the Dallas Independent School District and local and national education and literacy advocates. His formidable leadership skills and passion for equality combined with his research in practical theology and systems theory give Dr. Stoker a unique and clarion voice in the areas of social justice, advocacy, community outreach and racial reconciliation.
Prior to being appointed as the Senior Minister at FirstChurch, Dr. Stoker served Walnut Hill United Methodist Church of Dallas, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries North Texas Conference, and First United Methodist Church of Denton. Dr. Stoker received a Lilly Foundation Fellowship and served as on staff here as an associate minister at FirstChurch in Congregational Care. He chaired the Board of the Center for Missional Outreach in the North Texas Conference, launching the “Zip Code Connection” and laying the groundwork for a public education ministry.
Dr. Stoker has served as a delegate to Jurisdictional Conferences in 2012 and 2016 representing the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Stoker is a co-founder and DISD representative for Pastors for Texas Children, a non-profit organization committed to advocating for Texas children, families and communities. He has served on the Boards of National Project Transformation, Dallas Project Transformation, the North Texas Food Bank, Methodist Health Systems, The Dallas Arts District, CC Young Senior Care, the Texas Methodist Foundation, Faith Forward Dallas of the Thanksgiving Square Foundation, is currently the Chair of the Board for La Lydia Patterson Institute of El Paso. Dr. Stoker is the co-founder of the Compassion Council and collaborates frequently with the Crow Collection of Asian Art on events in the Arts District.
Dr. Stoker is married to Megan Callahan Stoker, a registered pediatric nurse, and they have two sons: Alex and Wesley. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and earned his seminary degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Dr. Stoker completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Family Studies from Texas Woman’s University. In his spare time, he enjoys studying architecture, visiting art museums, and reading.
Minister Angela Williams has dedicated a 25-year career encouraging young people as a teacher, counselor, and school administrator. Using gifts God gave her as an educator, Minster Williams now encourages people of all ages to live up to their potential in Christ Jesus. Minister Williams was appointed as a Licensed Local Pastor in December 2014. Her joy was guiding the faith and spiritual development of children, youth, and their families. Because of her love for praising God, she occasionally led in worship by singing with the praise team.
Beyond the local church, Minister Williams serves on the North Texas Conference Leadership and Development Committee. Her community involvement includes participation in DeSoto Police and Clergy and serving on the City of DeSoto Domestic Violence Commission. Her service organization is Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., where she is a Diamond Life Member. In August 2019, Minister Williams received her Master of Divinity Degree with honors from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Her additional education includes a Master of Education in School Counseling from Dallas Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Fashion Merchandising from Paul Quinn College.
In January 2020, the Board of Ordained Ministry approved Minister Williams for Commissioning as an Elder. She was Commissioned at the 2021 Annual Conference of The North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Minister Angela R. Williams is married to Mr. Alvin R. Williams. They are the proud parents of two lovely young ladies, Ambreal Ricole Williams and Allika Roquel Williams of Los Angeles, California.