Cheryl Arnold was born in Medina County, Ohio. She was baptized as an infant at Montrose Zion UMC; as a teen, Granger UMC was her church home. While at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, she spent two summers with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks—first in Rocky Mountain, Colorado, and then in Acadia, Maine.

Cheryl met Bob Westbrook in graduate school. After earning their PhDs from the University of Georgia, they took jobs as Psychology professors—Cheryl at Hendrix College in Arkansas, and Bob at Bridgewater College in Virginia. After dating 7 years, they married a few days before Bob moved to Arkansas to serve as Hendrix’s Registrar/Assistant Dean. While in Conway they joined Grace UMC, where Bob was baptized. When Bob was offered an administrative position at Marietta College in 1998, Cheryl joined him and wound up teaching as an adjunct professor for 10 years.

Cheryl and Bob visited Christ UMC their second Sunday in town. Nine months later, she was hired as Christ’s Lay Ministry Coordinator, training and overseeing teams in Visitation and Home Communion, coordinating an After School ministry with Washington Elementary, and working with Christian Education. Bob and Cheryl both played in Christ’s handbell choir and brass ensembles, worked with the Youth, and assisted with worship behind the scenes.

After enrolling in a lay ministry program at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C., Cheryl began feeling a call to pastoral ministry and entered the Local Pastor licensing track. She was appointed Associate Pastor at Christ in 2014 and completed Course of Study in 2019. In December 2024, she was appointed to Gilman as Lead Pastor. Preaching and teaching are some of Cheryl’s favorite responsibilities; pastoral care feels like a holy calling.

In their free time, Cheryl and Bob enjoy gardening, fishing, hiking, and spoiling their cats. They’re looking forward to being in ministry with the Gilman family while continuing to partner with Christ and the Marietta Circuit as these UM churches work together for the good of our community, and for God.