Denise Schwab, Director of Finances
I was the Finance Director with Crestview UMC, the church that gave birth to Violet Crown, for 27 years (!) and am so happy to continue this role with the new church. My children grew up in this church and still live in the Austin area. My husband and I are lucky to have 3 grandchildren living close by. We have deep roots in this church community. All 3 of the grandkids were baptized here. In my spare time, I enjoy Pilate’s classes, traveling with friends, and spending lots of time with the grandkids. Being a part of this church community has been a true blessing in my life.
denise@violetcrown.church
Janet Gurley, Director of Church Operations
I am a native Austinite, graduate of the University of Texas, avid gardener, voracious Longhorn baseball fan, and have been the Director of Church Operations for 8 years now. My husband, Harold, and I have two wonderful sons, two fabulous daughters-in-law, and six incredible grandchildren. We feel so blessed that our family lives close by so we can spend time with them. I’m retired from the State of Texas, and feel so fortunate to be working with Violet Crown. I enjoy being able to assist and visit with all the wonderful members of the congregation. Please give me a call if I can help you in any way, or if you just want to chat!
janet@violetcrown.church
Jay Cooper, Pastor
I’m the product of a Roman Catholic 18-wheeler colliding with a United Methodist bus that careened into a Presbyterian seminary before picking up speed, rolling off a cliff, and hurtling, naturally, toward an even deeper love for Jesus. Along the way, I attended the University of Texas, got married, backslid into the United Methodist Church as a pastor, saw the sights while living in New Jersey, Guatemala, Arizona, and New York City, had a silly, saucy, amazing daughter, experienced a divorce, returned to my beloved Austin to help plant this beautiful new community, and am now happily remarried. I’d enjoy sharing more about the church with you over a coffee or beer!
jay@violetcrown.church
Megan Williams,
Director of Children & Family Ministries
While I was born in Texas, the Air Force took us to several other places before we ended up back in Texas for me to complete high school. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Middle School education and then taught middle and high school for several years. My husband, Blake, and I have one son together who was baptized at Violet Crown. I am very excited and honored to work with the amazing families and children of the church!
Tyler Wallace, Music Leader
I write and perform with my band, Union Specific, and bring a great deal of musical talent to our existing talent pool in the community. I grew up in Gail, Texas (population 396!) and graduated from Austin College in Sherman, TX. I moved to Austin in 2009. My wife Alison and I live in Lakeway and enjoy board games, animation, visual arts, rock climbing, movies/tv, and taking care of Gus the dog.
Andrea Roberts, Preschool Director
I came to Violet Crown Preschool in January of 2011 and took over teaching the 4-year-old class. I have a teaching certificate in Elementary Education from UT-Austin and I taught a PPCD class (Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities) in AISD for 5 years before I had my son and daughter. After teaching the 4s class for nearly 8 years, I became the director in 2018. I am deeply committed to ensuring that each child at VCP learns in a nurturing and play-based environment. In my spare time, I enjoy live music, hiking, animals and nature, reading, and watching movies.
preschool@crestviewmethodist.org