
Pastor – Rev. Karl Klaus
Karl was born and raised in Baton Rouge, grew up in the University United Methodist Church, and in 1975 received his call to ministry. He began his ministry that fall as a youth director at Greensburg United Methodist Church, where he preached his first sermon. Karl is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge and L.S.U. - with a Bachelor Degree in Music in Vocal Performance. He also graduated from Perkins School of Theology at S.M.U. and along the way studied at Centenary College for one semester, majoring in Christian Education. Karl was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1987. He has been blessed to serve churches in the North Texas and Southwest Texas Annual Conferences as well as the Louisiana Annual Conference. It has been his honor and privilege to serve on many district and conference boards and committees as well as faith-based agencies over the years.
Karl and his wife, Kym, have been married for over 30 years. They have three children, all married, graduated from college, and furthering their careers. No grandchildren - yet! Karl and his family love boating and water sports. He is a Ford Mustang enthusiast, having had Ford Mustangs in his family since 1966. Karl also loves anything to do with airplanes and flying.
Karl was born and raised in Baton Rouge, grew up in the University United Methodist Church, and in 1975 received his call to ministry. He began his ministry that fall as a youth director at Greensburg United Methodist Church, where he preached his first sermon. Karl is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge and L.S.U. - with a Bachelor Degree in Music in Vocal Performance. He also graduated from Perkins School of Theology at S.M.U. and along the way studied at Centenary College for one semester, majoring in Christian Education. Karl was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1987. He has been blessed to serve churches in the North Texas and Southwest Texas Annual Conferences as well as the Louisiana Annual Conference. It has been his honor and privilege to serve on many district and conference boards and committees as well as faith-based agencies over the years.
Karl and his wife, Kym, have been married for over 30 years. They have three children, all married, graduated from college, and furthering their careers. No grandchildren - yet! Karl and his family love boating and water sports. He is a Ford Mustang enthusiast, having had Ford Mustangs in his family since 1966. Karl also loves anything to do with airplanes and flying.
Director of Youth – Kaitlin Babington
Kaitlin is a native of Slidell, LA, where her family still lives. She graduated from Pearl River High School in 2012. Kaitlin was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Slidell. She was an active member of the children’s and student ministry. Kaitlin graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2015. It is during her time at Southern Miss that Kaitlin was an active member of the Wesley Foundation. Throughout Kaitlin’s college years, she worked as an Intern for both college and junior high and high school ministry. In 2017, Kaitlin moved to Wilmore, KY to attend Asbury Theological Seminary. In May of 2021, Kaitlin graduated with her Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary. Kaitlin enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves going to concerts, a great book, relaxing in her hammock, and spending time on the beach. |
Choir Director – Katie "Walker" Walker
Walker holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in addition to a teaching certificate in vocal music. Walker is an active member of the National and Louisiana chapter of the American Choral Directors Association for which she travels annually to attend workshops and participate in masterclasses. In addition to her role as Choir Director for First United Methodist of Amite Walker currently serves as the assistant director and librarian for Northshore Community Choir in Hammond where she resides. |
Organist/Accompanist – Clytae Fulda
Music and music ministry have been important to Clytae throughout her life. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from LSU, and she did her post-graduate studies in music at Southeastern University. Clytae plays the organ for our traditional service, and she accompanies our choir in their ministry of music. |
Contemporary Worship Director - Keri Pertuit
Keri is an Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher at the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, who spends her afternoons working on her Masters degree in Music Composition from LSU. Keri received her Bachelors in Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in May of 2020. Keri is extremely excited to continue and expand her musical outreach through Amite First United Methodist Church. Currently Keri resides in Walker, Louisiana with her husband Tyler (aka the drummer), their son Caspian and their dog Pepper. |
Church Manager – Melissa Cox
Melissa is an experienced Office Manager who began her career in Business Administration while still in high school. She worked as an assistant bookkeeper for a local credit union while also attending and graduating from the Northshore Technical Community College with a diploma in Business Administration. Melissa has worked as an Office Administrator for the past thirty - three years. She also enjoys digital graphic design and experimenting with new illustration software. Melissa loves reading, camping, gardening, and adores her miniature schnauzer, Ella Mae. She attends Amite Church of Christ and during the summer volunteers at a church camp in DeRidder, Louisiana where she was a camper growing up. She has two beautiful daughters who are married and are enjoying their lives pursuits. Melissa also has three grandsons who she loves spoiling and spending all her time with. |
Custodian - Allison Singleton
Allison is working hard as our custodian as well as filling-in as part of the office staff when needed. She enjoys being part of her church family at Oak Grove Church of Christ and volunteering as part of the staff for a church camp in DeRidder, Louisiana where she was a camper growing up. Allison and her husband Cody enjoy spending their weekends camping, hunting, fishing and exploring the trails on their ATV. She also loves spoiling her fur baby, a miniature schnauzer named Tinker Bell. |