Our Pastors and Staff

We have a team of four ministers!

During each Sunday in a month, one of our dynamic Pastors will lead worship. Imagine coming to church and seeing and hearing something new each Sunday! Below is a brief introduction to each member of our ministry team.

Pastor Ken Blanchard
(After 10 years serving two churches, Ken retired from pastoral ministry effective July 1, 2022.) He was appointed Pastor of the Agawam United Methodist Church in Feeding Hills on July 1, 2012, and later as Pastor of Christ Church United Methodist in Southwick. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from UMass and a Master’s Degree in Applied Theology from Elms College. He completed additional coursework via Wesley Theological Seminary. Previously a Certified Lay Speaker with the United Methodist Church, and a former member of the UMC District Ministry Team, Ken was approved as a Licensed Local Pastor in February of 2012. He is also an avid pickleball player, photographer, and guitarist. Pastor Ken and his wife Meri reside in Enfield, CT. They have been married 44 years, and have one son, a daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters.

Ira Cameron, Licensed Local Pastor
Ira and Simone Cameron Have lived in Ware MA for the past 41 years, on the land that was once my grandfather’s homestead where they raised their two sons, Scott and Michael. We have been blessed with two wonderful grandchildren. Simone and I just celebrated our 56th anniversary earlier this year. I’m excited to be involved with the ministry team that will be serving your church in West Springfield. I look forward to getting to know all of you much better than I do now, having served as a supply pastor in both of your churches in West Springfield over the past many years.

In Ware we attended the United Church of Ware, which is a federated church, consisting of both United Church of Christ and United Methodist denominations. I was very involved in the youth ministry of that congregation and the camps and conferences ministry of the UCC. I was dean of the junior/senior high school summer music camp at Craigville on the cape for eight years, until I started attending Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC, taking the Course of Study to become a Licensed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church. Since 1993 to the present, I have served as an LLP for churches in Uxbridge, Ludlow, Monson and South Hadley Mass; and now in West Springfield. I presently am appointed as Sacramental Minister for the Commonwealth West District; I serve on the Commonwealth West District Committee on Ministry as its Registrar, as well as the District Committee on Superintendency. I also try to make myself accessible to churches in the district as pulpit supply if I’m available. I look forward to working closely with all of you, as we continue the proud Methodist heritage that you and the West Springfield UMC continue to share with your community.

Brigita Naegeli, Certified Lay Minister
I live in Suffield, CT and am a member of UMC-Enfield, CT. I am active on our Leadership Board and SON (Sharing, Outreach, Nurture) team. I have been a Certified Lay Minister (CLM) since June 2019. I am also a member of the Seacoast District Lay Servant Committee. One of my favorite ministries is leading and participating in small group book studies during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Our church holds these studies together with Hazardville UMC in Enfield. Pastor Ken has also participated and helped lead study sessions and I am so happy to be on the West Springfield UMC ministry team with him. At home, my husband Mark and I have 2 German shepherds. I also enjoy reading, gardening, walking, nature, and jigsaw puzzles. I am looking forward to serving this congregation and being in ministry together.

Rick Rabe, Licensed Local Pastor
Hello West Springfield UMC! For some of you, this will be hello again! I am excited to be returning to lead worship and offer pastoral care at WSUMC with my fellow ministers as part of an exciting worship team. After retiring from ministry for a bit I stepped back in to provide pulpit supply and interim ministry for about 7 months at the Monson-Glendale UMC. Well, as they say a pastor never really retires! My wife, Julie, and I along with our two cats Zelda and Mojo are happy to be rejoining WSUMC. I’ll be leading worship services about once a month while my teammates provide for worship on the other Sundays. As I often do, I will start you off with a challenge! Invite someone you haven’t seen at church for a while to join you at worship! What a great opportunity to experience worship with four different ministers! I hope to see you all very soon!

Administrative Staff

Secretary: Caroline Portono

Organist: William O’Neill