Melanie Childers

Melanie Childers

Director of Pastoral Care

Melanie Childers is the Director of Pastoral Care and has worked at WMC since 1998. She is a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and is ordained by the United Church of Christ. Melanie is passionate about social justice. She also loves hiking, backpacking, and writing.
Steve Marks

Steve Marks

Chaplain

Steve Marks joined the chaplain’s department in 2018. He retired from emergency services after 35 years as a Firefighter/EMT and Emergency Manager, and presently volunteers as a Red Cross Disaster Spiritual Care Team Member. Steve also serves as the Pastoral Associate and Adult Ministry Director for First Presbyterian Church in Boone and has completed coursework as a Commissioned Lay Pastor at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.
Mike Tanner

Mike Tanner

Chaplain

Mike Tanner joined the chaplain’s department in 2017. He is a retired Episcopal priest and before that a retired lawyer. His ministry in Atlanta was in a congregation consisting largely of people living with mental illness, many of whom were also poor. He currently attends St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Boone, and serves as the treasurer of the local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
Veronica Timbers

Veronica Timbers

Chaplain

Veronica Timbers joined the chaplain’s department in 2017. A licensed clinical social worker, Veronica teaches Social Work at Appalachian State University and is currently pursuing her master of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. She is a member of Faith Bridge United Methodist Church.
Tom Hollis

Tom Hollis

Chaplain

Tom Hollis joined the chaplaincy team in spring of 2018.  He is a retired United Methodist pastor from the North Carolina Annual Conference.  He holds B.A. degrees in Religious Studies and Speech Communications and Theatre Arts from Wake Forest University, and a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.  Tom pastored local churches for 35 years before retiring to Boone with his wife, Ann.  In addition to the chaplaincy service, Tom currently pastors Matney Liberty Church in Banner Elk and has recently published his first children’s book, “The Boy that Christmas Saved.”

Bob Roten

Bob Roten

Chaplain

Sarah Parker

Sarah Parker

Chaplain