The GPUMC staff is ready to serve you.
GPUMC is served by a small but mighty staff that is devoted to the mission of the church and welcomes the opportunity to serve you.
The office is open from 9 am to noon Monday through Thursday and by phone from 9 am to 2 pm weekdays. If you need to be in the building in the afternoon, please contact Kristyn in advance to make the necessary arrangements.
Contact the office by phone at 313-886-2363 or by email at office@gpumc.org.
David Eardley
Senior pastor
Rev. David Eardley joined GPUMC as its senior pastor in July 2022. Previously, he had been senior pastor at Rochester St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for nine years.
David was born and raised on Detroit’s eastside and attended the now-closed Mt. Hope UMC on Seven Mile Road and youth group at Redeemer UMC in Harper Woods. David graduated from Lutheran High School East in 1985 and earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1989.
He received his call to ministry during his junior year at the University of Michigan. Upon graduation, he began the candidacy process and then attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., graduating in 1993 with a master of divinity degree. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Judith Craig at the 1992 Detroit Annual Conference.
In 1993, David began his first appointment at Grace UMC in Britton in northeast Lenawee County. He was ordained an elder by Bishop Donald Ott at the 1995 Detroit Annual Conference.
In 1997, David was appointed to First UMC in Ann Arbor as an associate pastor under the leadership of senior pastor Rev. Al Bamsey. David met Sara while working at Ann Arbor First, and they were married in June 1999.
In 2001, David was appointed to Christ UMC in Bay City and in 2006 to Frankenmuth UMC. In 2013, David was appointed to St. Paul’s UMC in Rochester as senior pastor.
In 2006, David served on the Detroit Conference Board of Ordained Ministry from 2006 to 2018, including six years as registrar. In 2018, David was asked to serve as a clergy member on the Commission on the Annual Conference Session, and he assumed the chairperson role in 2020. David has also held several leadership roles in the Rochester Rotary Club, including serving as club president since June 2021.
Emily Bianchi
Director of children’s ministries
Emily Bianchi has been GPUMC’s director of children’s ministries since the summer of 2019. She leads Chancel Chat with the children during Sunday morning worship service and has created a welcoming environment for our youngest worshipers. She has enhanced our Sunday School program and has worked to create quarterly mission projects that kindergarten and elementary school children work on during Sunday School. Emily is also working with our middle school and high school students, both helping them prepare for their annual mission trip to Henderson Settlement, Ky., and by incorporating monthly mission projects in their year-round activities. Emily has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from University of Michigan-Dearborn. Emily grew up and now lives in St. Clair Shores with her husband and two children.
Giustino Carrano
Music director
Giustino P. Carrano, a conductor, tubist, and baritone, joined the GPUMC staff as music director in June 2022.
Giustino also serves as choir director and music teacher at Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills. During the summers, he also is part of the voice faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in northern Michigan. He has had several other positions at Blue Lake, including production manager and vocal coach for the International Choir Ensemble of the Blue Lake International Exchange Program. He has also worked as a private instructor, elementary school brass clinician, and interim director working with choirs, bands, and orchestras.
Giustino received his master of music in performance, with secondary studies in orchestral conducting from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and a bachelor of music in performance with a duel specialization in voice and tuba, from the University of West Florida.
As a vocalist, he has performed in numerous operas and concert engagements. As a tubist, he has primarily performed in smaller chamber appearances, as well as performing as tubist and trombonist with the East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra.
Douglas Dykstra
Organist
A lifelong Grosse Pointer, Doug Dykstra has been organist at GPUMC since 1979. He accompanies the Chancel Choir and also plays as a soloist on the piano and organ several times during each Sunday morning worship service. Doug began playing piano at age eight and was introduced to the organ while attending Hope College where he majored in music literature and history. He did post-graduate work in music at the University of Michigan School of Music, Ann Arbor.
Kristyn Walker
Church administrator
Kristyn Walker joined GPUMC as church administrator in 2018. Kristyn manages all aspects of the church office, serving as the first contact for many people reaching out to the church. Kristyn spent her childhood in Kansas and moved to the Detroit area at age 13. She graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School. She is the mother of two daughters.
Heli Kharod
Nursery attendant
Heli Kharod has joined the GPUMC staff as the nursery attendant. Heli is a 4th-grade teacher at the Hanley International Academy in Hamtramck. She has two bachelor’s degrees, one in microbiology and a second in education. A native of India, she emigrated to the United States in 2014 after teaching at an international school in Gujarat for several years.