Staff & Mission Teams
Meet The Church Staff
Rev. Cynthia Kepler-Karrer
Lead Pastor
A native Texan born in Austin, Pastor Cynthia is a graduate of Stanford University (BA Music and Psychology) and Duke University (MDiv). Her professional and pastoral interests include developing community relationships, Biblical storytelling, bread baking as spiritual development, theological development for clergy and lay leaders, and creative music/worship arts. In addition to local church appointments and district committees, she has served the Southwest Texas and Rio Texas conferences on the Conference Board of Church and Society, Futures Committee, Board of Pensions, Order of Elders Advisory Board and currently on the Commission on History and Archives. She has also co-lead an Urban Ministry Academy (General Board of Global Ministries) for the Southwest Texas Conference and served several times as a mentor or theological tutor for clergy in the ordination process. A highlight of her most recent stint in Austin was serving as the on-set church consultant for the HBO mini-series “Love and Death” in 2021. She is a second-generation pastor. Her father, Rev. Kent Kepler, served over 20 years in mostly rural appointments in the Southwest Texas Conference. He passed away in October 2025. Her mother, Virginia Kepler, was a public school elementary teacher until retiring officially 1995. She currently resides at Morningside Ministries in San Antonio. Pastor Cynthia is still married to Clayton Karrer. Though the four-legged “kids” they had when they left in 2008 are all gone, their household is blessed with Rockford, Harley and Toothless—all very self-assured felines. After some work as a church musician, Clayton went back to school at Perkins School of Theology, graduating with his MDiv in 2016. He has since worked in HR and IT and as a “master criminal trained monkey”/”technical, spiritual and menu advisor”. He served as secretary or chairperson of the Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors board for 6 years and currently serves as President of the Rio Texas Conference Clergy Spouse Association. He has preached occasionally over the years but more regularly this past year and has, for the last three years, helped Beta-test the Disciple Bible Study app, teaching for FUMC Corpus Christi. He enjoys sci-fi, home improvement and gardening. Clayton and Cynthia together enjoy music, movies, good food, LEGOs, theological banter, and have fostered multiple cats.
Dr. Tyler Mabry
Accompanist
For over a decade, Tyler Mabry has composed and performed original music in the Austin area, in collaboration with various organizations, collectives, and performers. Mabry is a Vortex company member, music director for kidsActing, and pianist at Berkeley United Methodist Church. Persephone, his first full-length musical for adult performers, premiered at Vortex earlier this year. He has been nominated twice for a B. Iden Payne award for Best Original Score, for Persephone and for Running Wild (ACT). Other recent theater credits include the Barbarella-inspired aerial rock spectacle Agent Andromeda (Sky Candy), W. (AJRT) Cuchulain (Vortex), Stuffed! (FronteraFest), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Something for Nothing), and Jive, Kitty! (ACT). He has also composed numerous sacred choral works, including a Christmas cantata (The True Light, with Victoria Schwarz), and “I Heard the Voice of Jesus” (soon to be published by Shawnee Press). When not in rehearsals and techs, he plays with the neo-soul group Jade and the Foxtones. Tyler Mabry holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in piano performance from the University of the Ozarks.
Rev. Vikki Schwarz
Associate Pastor
Victoria (Vikki) Schwarz is the Associate Pastor and Music Director at Berkeley UMC. She grew up in various locations, including Rantoul, IL; Phoenix, AZ; Sumter, SC; and Topeka, KS, before her father transitioned from the Air Force to civilian life. Afterward, she lived in Wray and Merino, CO (on her Grandpa Jones' farm) before settling in Sterling, CO, in 5th grade. Vikki graduated from Sterling High School, earned an Associate in Music from Northeastern Junior College, a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Education and Composition and a Master of Music with a focus on Music Theory, Composition, and Choral Conducting from Colorado State University. She later pursued advanced studies in Music Theory at the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Master’s in Ministry Practice from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Vikki is an ordained Deacon in Full Connection in The United Methodist Church and is certified in Music Ministry through The UMC. Vikki has taught elementary music and middle school choral education in central Texas schools for several years. She has served as the Music Director at Berkeley UMC since 1999 and as the Associate Pastor since 2021. An active composer in choral music, she has had works published through Hal Leonard (including Advent Jubilate, Prepare, Make Room, Lonesome Valley/We Shall Walk, Shine on Us, Love Always Echoes True, and When Mercy Was Born) and Fred Bock Music Publishing (Depth of Mercy). Along with long-time collaborator Tyler Mabry, she has written and performed several church cantatas, including The True Light (2014), Lonesome Valley (2017), Voices of Advent (2019), Earth Shall Ring (2023), and a short-form cantata with Brad Croushhorn, From Darkness to the Dawning of Light: The Nativity in Word and Song. Beyond her work in school and church music, Vikki is the lead composer and music director for Archive Theatre (where she also serves on the Board), Diverse Space Dance Theatre, and Interwoven Theatre. She is a Resident Artist for the VORTEX Theatre and has worked as a composer, musician, and/or sound designer for Ground Floor Theatre, Bottle Alley Theatre, The Wimberley Players, kidsActing, Austin Children’s Theatre, Trouble Puppet Theatre, Austin Gilbert & Sullivan, Paramount StoryWranglers Camp, and more. Vikki has been nominated for B. Iden Payne and Broadway World Awards for her theater work. Additionally, she is a theater reviewer for Broadway World Austin, has written articles on the History of Hymns for Discipleship Ministries, book reviews for WorshipArts Magazine, and runs a daily media post called Miss Vikki’s Bite-Sized Classical Music Trivia. In her free time, Vikki enjoys crocheting, traveling with her family, visiting with friends, and spending time with her grandkids!
Jennifer Rose Davis
Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Rose Davis is graphic designer, costumer, mask maker, artist, actress, singer, musician, and all-around Renaissance woman. She has BFA from the University of Texas in graphic design, a B.A. in vocal performance from Texas State University As a graphic designer, she has primarily worked in the entertainment industry and for non-profit arts organizations creating packaging and supplemental materials, visual identity, posters and promotional design, and web graphics. In the theatreical world she specializes in detailed and historically accurate costumes, mask making, and creating epic historical costume dramas as the Artistic Director and founder of The Archive Theater.
Serving our Neighbors
Berkeley is very active in missions throughout our community.
Mission Fund
Berkeley UMC (BUMC) has funds available for ministry and missions as a result of interest on our endowment fund. The Endowment Committee will receive applications for funds from BUMC members who would like to support specific ministries. These funds will be available for ministries to the community in which members are involved or supporting ministries that are meaningful to members. Click HERE for the Mission Fund Application Form
Local Schools Outreach
The church is actively committed to supporting the students and staff at Cunningham elementary across the street. As well, our church supports Widén Elementary in East Austin with fundraisers, volunteering, and other efforts. For more information, contact the office.
Berkeley UMC Ministry Teams
Our ministry teams are growing to meet the spiritual, emotional, social, and physical needs in the community. Some teams are already formed and functioning, others are being resurrected and expanded. We’ve listed our ministries below, take a look and let us know what you’re interested in. If you would like more information, or would like to be involved in one of our teams, email office@berkeleyumc.org
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Children and Youth Ministries Team: Create and plan programs to help children and youth in the congregation and community develop and grow in faith and community.
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Social Justice Team: Partner with others in the community to address issues of social injustice in Austin and globally.
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Mission Team: Research and find national and global missions impacting and reaching others with the good news and love of Jesus Christ in order to find ways to support these ministries.
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Outreach Team: This team will focus in outreach and in witness in three areas:
1. Help Berkeley members learn how to be a witness to those in their sphere of influence.
2. This team will create opportunities to connect with neighbors of Berkeley UMC.
3. This team will follow with guests to Berkeley UMC to make connections and help find places to get involved.
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Worship Team: Vision and plan direction of worship services at Berkeley UMC. Meet with pastors and musicians to plan weekly worship services.
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Media Team: Runs media for worship services, etc.
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Adult Education and Discipleship Team: Create, plan, and lead programs to help adults in the congregation continue to grow in faith, discipleship, and leadership.
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Spiritual Connection Team: Create and lead programs and services to help members of the community to connect with God and the community through spiritual practices:
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Stewardship Team: Create and plan programs to continue to meet financial needs of the Berkeley Community.
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Facility Care Team: Will care for the physical needs of Berkeley UMC campus: regular mowing, etc. and occasional repairs and other care for the property.
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Congregational Care Team: Our Mission Statement: “With communion, meals, cards, phone calls, and transportation, the Congregational Care Ministry of Berkeley United Methodist Church will serve God by addressing the concerns and needs of the active, inactive and homebound members experiencing life changes.” We also help match up people with needs in the congregation with those who can help.