Rev. Donna Banks (she/her) ______________
Senior Pastor
Upon graduation from Duke Divinity School, she joined the staff as the Associate Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. She also served appointments as the senior pastor at Saint Francis United Methodist Church in Cary, NC and Evergreen United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC, as well as District Superintendent for the Corridor District of the North Carolina Conference and Director of Student Life at Duke Divinity School. Prior to her call to ministry, Donna has previous experience from her 16-year career in the chemical industry, which afforded her the opportunity to have a succession of roles as a research chemist and in corporate sales, marketing and management. Donna is married with two daughters.
Rev. Eric Prenshaw (he/him) ______________
Associate Pastor
Eric began his ministry at Epworth in July 2024. He has served in full-time ministry for over 13 years in settings ranging from urban to suburban to rural. Most recently he served as lead pastor at Mt. Bethel UMC in Bahama and before that as associate pastor at Aldersgate UMC in Durham. Eric is passionate about nurturing the worship life of the congregation, growing young disciples through children and youth ministry, and connecting with the local community through mission. He also enjoys using music and the arts as an avenue to spiritual formation and fostering opportunities to care for creation.
Eric is married to his wife Carley and the have two young daughters. A native of Knoxville, TN, he continues to cheer for the Tennessee volunteers. He is an avid runner, loves the outdoors, and enjoys playing guitar and drinking good coffee. Eric loves Jesus Christ and loves helping others grow in their faith. His favorite scripture verse is Ephesians 3:16-19.
Victoria Lane (they/them) ________________
Coordinator of Youth Ministries
Rev. Amanda Fleishman Wilson (she/her)
Coordinator of Children’s Ministries
Amanda came to Epworth in November 2016 as Coordinator of Children’s Ministries. She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, an ordained United Methodist Deacon, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a small counseling practice serving low-income individuals and families. Amanda grew up in Maryland and Virginia but is blessed to have married a lifelong Tar Heel, J.D. They have two children. Amanda is passionate about building cross-cultural relationships, seeking both personal and social transformation by God’s grace, and helping kids grow in God’s love through the stories of the Bible and through their daily lives
Dona Gamble
Administrative Secretary
Dona Gamble was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia. After graduating from The University of Georgia, teaching 5th grade, and marrying Don, she began working as a church secretary at First UMC, Myrtle Beach, S.C. After moving to Durham, she began working at Epworth and enjoys working on the newsletter and bulletins each week, supporting other staff members in their ministries, and helping those who call, email, or stop by the office. She and her husband Don enjoy their children and grandchildren, traveling (especially to the Pacific Northwest, Montana, and Wyoming), Duke basketball, and Georgia football.
Meg Hemingway Bass
Financial Manager
Meg was born in Elizabethtown, NC to long-time Epworth members, Pat and John (Alden) Hemingway. She attended Epworth Kindergarten in 1964 and was taught by Hilda Moone. She grew up overseas in Mexico City, Mexico; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Brussels, Belgium as her dad worked in the International Division of Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company. She graduated from Duke University in 1981 with a BA in Psychology. She has two children, Lewis IV and Emily who are both life-long members of Epworth. Meg loves to read, pull for her Blue Devils and stays busy caring for her dogs, Elmo and Edsel.
Leigh Furman
Epworth Preschool Director
Leigh joined us as Preschool Director in July 2017. She moved to Durham in 2002 and started at Epworth Preschool as a parent in 2003. Leigh began teaching in the preschool in 2008. She graduated from UNC-CH in 1996 with a BA in Psychology. While her husband, Jeff, was in the Navy, Leigh received her Masters in Leadership of Teaching in 2001.
Leigh is Tar Heel born but spent most of her childhood in New Bern, NC. She and Jeff were thrilled to settle in the Durham/Chapel Hill area to raise their three children, Abby, Molly, and Will. When Leigh is not at Epworth, she enjoys spending time with her family. They love to go for family hikes but more often you can find Leigh on the sidelines of soccer games, watching tennis matches, on deck at swim meets, and cheering for the Tar Heels.
Theresa Shebalin
Nursery Coordinator
Theresa grew up in Florida but considers Durham “home.” She moved to the Triangle area in 2001 to pursue a PhD in archaeology at UNC, which she completed in 2011. Theresa now works as a 5th grade science teacher and swim coach at Durham Academy, runs archaeology summer camps in Morganton, NC, and of course cares for Epworth’s youngest members on Sunday mornings. She rarely has “spare” time, but when she does, you’ll find her playing with her son, Stefan.