Director of Fellowship/ Lay Leader

Wayan Rata is currently Director of Fellowship and has been a member of Oakland since 1994.  Wayan also has been Oakland's Lay Leader for many years, and is a certified Lay Speaker.  Responsibilities as Director of Fellowship include coordinating fellowship events and fostering a spirit and culture of hospitality in all of Oakland's ministries and activities.  Wayan also helps in teaching our Class #201-Developing Spiritual Maturity, and leads a small group for men.

Born and raised in Bali, Indonesia, Wayan, now a naturalized US citizen, is a wonderful chef who frequently shares his skills throughout the congregation.  In his spare time he enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Email Wayan at

Pastor Rudy M. Bropleh is the Lead Pastor of Oakland United Methodist Church, Charles Town, WV, and Asbury Church in Shepherdstown, WV. An economist-turned preacher who is passionate about equipping and empowering others, Pastor Bropleh does a lot of work in the areas of economic empowerment and leadership development.

Pastor Bropleh started his pastoral ministry in Baltimore, growing the church from 28 to over 250. The church ran a successful after-school program, a half-way house for men, and a welfare-to-work program for women.

Pastor Bropleh began at Asbury with 93 people, 1 part-time staff, one classroom, and a $167k budget. Since then Asbury has seen tremendous growth in ministries and members. Asbury has built an office annex and a family life building, and her staff has grown to 15. Asbury’s budget has grown to 890k and over 3.5m during the years of construction.    

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV).

Indeed, God wants to pull us out of our past and help us press toward bigger things, better ways, and brighter days. On behalf of the God of tomorrow and the family of Oakland United Methodist Church, welcome to our church online! Thanks for visiting and have a successful surf!

In July 2020 Pastor Bropleh became the Lead Pastor of Oakland UMC in Charles Town, West Virginia. At Oakland he is leading by focusing on capacity-building and the three Strategic Areas of Small Group, Outreach, and Witness. His goal is to get Oakland on a solid path of vitality, stability, and growth.    

A profound preacher and teacher, He has traveled, taught, trained, and participated in numerous seminars, symposia, institutes, conferences, and workshops in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and the Middle East. He has developed numerous church development and empowerment curricula, including the 4-Pillar Church.

Pastor Bropleh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Liberia and a Master of Science degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University and a Master of Theology degree from St. Mary’s Seminary & University. He studied at Oxford University, earning a PhD in Pastoral Psychology.

Pastor Bropleh and his wife Everane are parents to five children-Raphael, Randy, Randa, Nahdi, and Nahdoe. 

Kathy is our Director of Finance & Treasurer here at Oakland United Methodist Church.  kathy, her husband Jim, and their daughter Kaitlyn, have been long standing members here at for 10+ years.

Treasurer