Rev. Mark S. Jones, Sr. first came to WPC as a seminary intern in November 1994. In mid-1995, he became Director of Children & Family Ministries and served in that position until March, 2005. Over the past 19 years Mark, while working to complete a Master of Divinity degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary, served at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church; Presbytery of the Pacific (COM, NomComm, & PJC); Synod of So. CA & HI (Synod Commissioner and NBPC-SC Coordinator); and the General Assembly (ACREC); and served as CRE Stated Supply Pastor for Community United Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles from Nov 2012 to Jun 2017. Mark returned to WPC on July 1, 2017. He currently serves as Pastor for Mission, Outreach, &Pastoral Care. He is a member of People Assisting The Homeless (PATH) Board of Directors, and the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health Clergy Round Table for Service Planning Area (SPA) 5, and the West Region Representative of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus (NBPC). Mark brings a passion for mission, a deep faith in and love for God and God’s people. Romana, his loving wife of 50 years (11/14/23), and he have three children, Mark Jr., Sylvia, and Matthew.

Rev. Paula Mann joined the staff of WPC as Executive Associate Pastor in April, 2022. She grew up in Dayton, Ohio as the middle of 5 children. Paula has a degree in mechanical engineering and enjoyed a 27-year career in project and quality management at General Motors and Alcoa in Ohio and Indiana. She eventually entered seminary and served as the Pastor at Palms Westminster Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles which lead to her decade long commitment to our Presbytery and our Synod. Most recently, Paula worked as the Business Manager for the  Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. Paula is married to Kathy Mann, a life-long Presbyterian and they live in Westchester, CA.

Anne has served WPC in several roles over the last 20 years involving membership and lay ministry. Her institutional knowledge is put into practice by helping maintain the church membership database and coordinate the overall WPC membership process. Her primary passion is encouraging our congregation to take full advantage of opportunities for service and spiritual growth. Serving on the Membership and Lay Ministries Committee, Anne assists in planning the New Member Seminars, helps organize the new member mentor program, and leads the Spiritual Gifts Course. Anne is also a part of the planning team for the annual women’s retreat. She and her husband live near the ocean. When not at WPC, you may find Anne aboard a sailboat on Santa Monica Bay…or somewhere on the seven seas. 

Marin began her calling in children’s ministry as Director of Children and Youth at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Rolling Hills, CA. There she discovered that the tools assembled over 20 years as an actor and teaching artist- immersive story play, song, art and games- were the very things needed to help naturally support children in their early spiritual formation. In Sunday School at WPC, Marin ensures a sacred space to create and belong, to develop empathy, to delve into the rich narratives found in the Bible, and to center one’s self in the love of God and the goodness of Life.As a teaching artist, she has led students through the process of creating performance art in camps and workshops at Nashville Children’s Theatre, Metro Parks, The Theatre Bug and has served in residencies through The Nashville Shakespeare Festival at Bellhaven Christian Academy and The Harpeth Hall School, where she directed productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night, respectively. Marin is currently seeking a Masters of Divinity at Claremont School of Theology. She, her husband Tyler, their daughter Tegan and sweet old dog Rosie Cotton find every opportunity they can to get outside and soak up the beautiful nature of Southern California.

Sarah Davis (formerly Ilger) has worked for WPC since November 2017, first as Administration & Contributions Coordinator, then as Director of Operations starting in 2021. She oversees the church office, facility staff and building management, and church communication. Sarah is a Los Angeles native and has spent the past 15 years working in churches. She has worked as an Operations Manager and Worship & Music Director at Knox Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, as well as Hope Chapel of the Valley in Canoga Park. With a background in Management, Accounting, and Administration, Sarah loves working behind the scenes to help churches succeed. Sarah enjoys singing, playing guitar, and piano in her spare time. Sarah married Mike Davis in June, 2024.

Linda Melody Martinez joined the WPC staff in July, 2023. She is a dedicated mother of four with a servant's heart for God's people. Linda previously worked as an Administrative Assistant at Rock Church L.A. serving the community of South Central Los Angeles for the past 7 years. She has also worked for a local charter school. Linda brings to us a wealth of experience in church and school administration. Linda is blessed to now have the opportunity to join WPC team and is looking forward to all God will do moving forward. 

Brianne previously served as Director of Early Childhood Education at the Leonard I. Beerman Early Childhood Center at Leo Baeck Temple. She has extensive experience as a teacher as well, including her role as Lead Preschool Teacher at Temple Isaiah. Brianne carries a BA with Emphasis in Illustration and Art Education from the California College of The Arts and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College. She has worked in both religious and secular settings and has served as a California State Mentor Teacher at Santa Monica College and is an Executive Committee member in The Association of Child Development Specialists.  

Jake feels particularly called to youth ministry; as a teenager, he became involved in a large youth program after having been raised without a strong church connection and truly began to feel at home in church. He knows how important formation is in youth ministry, actively working to make sure his programs grow and develop faith in Christ as opposed to only being “fun” without substance. His ministry focuses on the whole family, equipping parents as well as youth to grapple with issues of faith. He holds a M.A. in Theology from Talbot and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen; in 2018 his paper “Apocalyptic Convivence” was presented to the Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Social Analysis program at the American Academy of Religion. He and his wife Nikki have a young daughter Liora, who keeps them busy and entertained.   

We welcomed Dan Redfeld to our WPC family and to his new role as our Director of Music in 2018. Dan brings 15 years of experience directing church choirs, both in Culver City and Pasadena. Having stepped away a few years ago, Dan began to feel the “itch” to get back at it last Christmas Eve, when he realized how much he missed participating in the richness of the church’s Christmas choral tradition. Not only is Dan an experienced church musician, he is an award-winning composer, conductor, orchestrator, pianist and producer. Dan received his training at Boston’s New England Conservatory before transferring to UCLA, where he graduated with a degree in composition with an emphasis in conducting. Dan is married to renowned violinist, Elizabeth Hedman.  For more information about Dan, visit www.danredfeld.com.

Laurel has been studying and performing music all her life. She began studying organ with Joanne Peterson beginning in middle school, and had her very first paid gig as a church organist when she was sixteen. At school and church, she sang in choirs, performed in plays and musicals, and was often asked to do public speaking. Laurel enrolled in college at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and began studying classical voice and working as an accompanist for other voice students. She graduated from UW-O with a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in vocal performance. Laurel relocated to Los Angeles in 2010. In addition to teaching lessons, she performs professionally as a singer, organist, and pianist with musical groups all over the greater L.A. area, including Pacific Chorale, the Charles Dickens Carolers, the chancel choir of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, Schola Enchiriadis at St Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena, and many others. Laurel joined WPC in 2023.

Javier has been at Westwood Presbyterian Church for over 20 years and does everything from maintaining the cleanliness of the Church and Preschool, set-up and tear down of special events, repairs, and general handyman tasks. Javier’s wife, Lourdes, also works for WPC and together they have two adult sons. When he’s not working, he likes to relax at home with his family and his dogs.

If you would like to contact Javier or Lourdes Torres, please call the church office at (310) 474-4535.

We are pleased to welcome our Interim Director of Student Ministries, Michelle Whelan! To ensure that student ministries is robust, and to free Jake Putich for his additional responsibilities of creation care, we are grateful to Michelle for taking on this role! She has often filled in for Jake in his absence, and has now graciously agreed to take this on at 15 hours/week. Michelle is a psychotherapist in private practice, focusing on family counseling. Married to Brett Whelan, their two children (Juliette, 17, and James, 13) have been part of WPC since Preschool. Their family has been active in many different ways. Our search for a permanent Director will continue. Please extend your thanks to Jake and Michelle!