ASUMC Leadership
Our church leaders and team members deeply care about our congregation and surrounding community. Learn more about each ASUMC team member and find their contact info below.
ASUMC Pastor
Rev. Hannah Adair Bonner
Pastor Hannah was ordained an Elder right here in Philadelphia in 2012, after completing her Masters of Divinity at Duke Divinity in 2008. She has served both in the local church and at the general church level.
A fierce advocate for justice, Pastor Hannah has served in various ministry capacities across the country: from protesting outside of the jail where Sandra Bland spent hours in custody, to working with migrants at the Arizona/Mexico border, to striving for LGBTQ+ justice in the UMC with the Queer Delegate Caucus, and to many, many more moments of brave and faithful advocacy. She is a proudly and publicly Queer clergywoman in the United Methodist Church.
Pastor Hannah serves on the Board of Directors for the Immigration Law & Justice Network, the Board of the General Commission on Archives & History, the Board of the newly launched LGBTQ+ UM Heritage Center, and the Joint Action and Advocacy Table for the National Council of Churches. She is a published author, speaker, educator and an award-winning amateur documentarian. She served as a part of the Eastern Pennsylvania Delegation in the last round of General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
If you want to get her talking, ask about her partner, her dog Esperanza, or the last adventure she had with her 87 year old aunt.
Contact Pastor Hannah: hannah@archstreetumc.org
The ASUMC Ministry Team
Meet our Arch Street United Methodist Church team members.
Operations Director
Frank Jones
I enjoy being part of a team that cares for people like Arch Street and when I am not in the building making sure everything is in order I might be on a basketball court someplace around town.
Music Director
Samantha Herrman
Samantha graduated from Temple University with her B.A. in music education in 2015. After teaching music in Philadelphia charter schools for 4 years, she switched careers and now works for Penn Medicine as a Change Management Consultant. She recently earned her masters from St. Joe’s in Org Development and Leadership. Despite her career change, she keeps her love of music alive by teaching in-home music lessons to beginner piano students, and of course, her work as Music Director for ASUMC. Samantha’s love of music is life long, and she had been singing in her home church, a United Methodist congregation in Media, PA, since she was a little girl. Samantha started her career with ASUMC as an Alto Section Leader in 2013 and has grown into her new position as Music Director over the last 10 years. While planning all music for services and leading the choir is now a part of her job, her favorite thing to do is still sing during services to help people worship through music. A good gospel song is her favorite way to move the congregation.
ASUMC Lay Leader
Cathy Simpson
I have been a member at Arch Street for about 20 years and was appointed Lay Leader about 10 years ago. I also serve as one of the Worship Leaders. My spare time is spent attending theater, music and dance concerts and dining at unique and interesting restaurants.
Accompanist
James Dell’Orefice
An accomplished jazz pianist in the Philadelphia area, James has worked with such luminaries as Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Alan Dawson, Sonny Troy, Sammy Kaye, Ray Eberle, Frankie Lester, Bob Hope, Joan Rivers, Lorna Luft, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Petula Clark. For many years, Jim toured with Connie Stevens as her pianist and assistant conductor. He has recorded with Bobby Rydel, Al Alberts, and many other prominent local Philadelphia musicians. His musical journey has taken him to Las Vegas, Broadway, and Atlantic City through venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Wilmington Opera House, The Philadelphia Academy of Music, and the Keswick Theatre. Among the highlights of his career are command performances for Luciano Pavarotti and President Bill Clinton.
James is an avid composer of jazz and religious music and a teacher of jazz piano and accordion. James received his B.M. in Piano Performance from The University of the Arts and his M.M. in Composition from Combs College of Music.
Join Our Next Event
Join the next ASUMC worship or volunteer by checking out our events page!
Worship and Fellowship
Join us for worship online and in-person, Sundays at 11am. All are welcome.
Get plugged in with ASUMC
Check out our ministries, bible studies, and small group offerings.
Volunteer with us at The Center
Volunteer with our partner organization, The Center Philadelphia, and support our local community.