Leadership

Staff

  • Executive Director

    Rev. Hartzog, the Executive Director of the Wesley Center, was born in San Diego, California and has traveled extensively throughout the United States. Trained as a violinist, Director Hartzog has performed at notable concert halls such as Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Christel De Haan Fine Arts Center, and the Hilbert Circle Theatre and recently recorded a first solo violin album Seven Solos. Having grown up in a pastoral family, Director Hartzog has been active in Christian ministry, the worship arts, and social outreach initiatives. Director Hartzog was a member of the original visioning team of the Wesley Center in 2017. After beginning undergraduate studies at Indiana University, Director Hartzog has served churches in Indiana and St. Louis.  While working in St. Louis, Director Hartzog has trained and served as an emergency medicine technician and urban rescuer. Director Hartzog has volunteered on a technical bike patrol unit with the National Park Service and is widely known for creative culinary skills and artistry. Lastly, Director Hartzog has recently been appointed to serve at the Office of Interfaith Spiritual Wellness at The IU Kelly School of Business.

Board Members

  • Chairman of WLLC Board

    George Hartzog is a United Methodist minister and, currently, serves as pastor of the Fairview United Methodist Church. He has pastored churches in Los Angeles and Chicago and has been active with several United Methodist boards and agencies as well as other interfaith, academic, civic and student organizations. While serving in Los Angeles, he volunteered with Big Brothers of America and Friends Outside (prison visitation). He accepted the invitation from the Board of Trustees of the Navajo Mission School to help lead the school into its second century of service.  Prior to his call to the ministry, he worked as a counseling psychologist, National Park Ranger, and as a legislative aide with the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Following the United Nation’s Conference on the Environment and Development, he was invited by Indiana University to be a visiting faculty member to inaugurate an interdisciplinary program of environmental ethics.

  • Board Member

    Randy McFarland, a businessman, has served in managerial positions of major grocery stores, a service industry in which he began when he was fifteen years of age. He was encouraged by his father as a youth, “Son, one of the best ways to serve others is to provide them good food. People always need to eat.” Born and raised In Linton, Indiana, Randy has been a member of the ecumenical Church all his life: Baptist, Christian and United Methodist. He has held major leadership positions at Fairview United Methodist Church for more than twenty years serving as Chair of Finance and Staff-Parish Relations as well as the Board of Trustees and the Church Council. He was one of the Founding Directors of the Wesley Center guiding its initial design, financing and construction. His wife, Kim, is a chef specializing in Indiana cuisine and canning fruits, vegetables and making seasonal jellies and jams. They share four children and have seven grandchildren. Having a unique gift as a “team-builder,” Randy has been successful in business, church and among his family.

  • Board Member

    Darlene Harbuck was born and lived in New Albany, Indiana and was a member of the DePauw Methodist Church. At age fifteen, Darlene left home to care for her father’s sister who was severely stricken with rheumatoid arthritis. What was to be for two weeks became nine years. After completing high school, she enrolled in Indiana University to become a teacher. For more than three decades, Darlene served as an elementary and junior high school teacher. She met her future husband who was the Director of Music at her church and they had two children, a son and daughter. Her husband died tragically at an early age and Darlene raised their two children as a single mother. Among the many activities as a single mother the family became fans of IU basketball and she still has season tickets for the team. During her childhood, her grandmother started an interdenominational mission in New Albany Her grandmother’s testimony, “God will provide.” was not only the bedrock of her successful mission program, but was the inspiration which has guided Darlene throughout her life. Darlene is a long-time member of the interdenominational Bible Study Fellowship and has been an active leader at Fairview United Methodist Church, serving as Lay Leader, parish visitor, frequent preacher and representative to the Indiana United Methodist Annual Conference. Noted for her study of the scriptures and daily intercessory prayer, she also has championed the role of women in church leadership and the community.

  • Board Member

    Debbie Shields is a lifetime member of Fairview United Methodist Church. She was an elementary school teacher for more than thirty-seven years and has been active with teaching children in church and leading children’s choirs. As a youth, she served on the United Methodist District Youth Council and was a counselor with children’s and youth summer camps. Playing the guitar and singing have been special talents and she has been a member of several chorales and is still active with the Bloomington “Music Makers.” One of her most enjoyable and noted ministries has been as a member of the United Methodist Lay Witness Mission in which she traveled throughout Indiana. Currently, she is the Secretary of the Church Council of Fairview United Methodist Church and the Secretary for the Church’s Annual Charge Conference.