Rev. Gail Nakamura Messner, Senior Pastor

Gail Nakamura Messner is originally from Kaneohe, Hawaii. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Sociology. Gail left her position as a business administrator for an aerospace company and attended the Claremont School of Theology, graduating in 1994. She has pastored churches in Torrance and Palo Alto, California. In July 2000, she was appointed as Senior Pastor of West Los Angeles UMC. She is married to Rick Messner.

Rebecca Hirata, Assistant Lay Pastor
for Japanese Language Ministries

Pastor Becky was born and raised in Japan. She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a BFA degree. She attended Torchebear Bible School in Austria, Seoul Theological Seminary in Korea, and Talbot School of Theology, graduating in 1991. She has served as a Christian Education Director, an organist, and a Japanese ethnic minister at churches in Southern California. She started serving at WLAUMC in July 2008.