Vision & Accountability Team Archives
Members: Cheryl Martin (Chair), Frank Kandel (Vice-Chair) CoraLyn Turentine (CR1), Mark Stocksdale (CR2), Carol Bixler (CR3)
Pastoral Representatives: Brian Bither, Craig Oury
(For more records, consult the file cabinet upstairs across from the copy machine.)
Our Pastors
Mennonites believe in the “priesthood of all believers,” which means that no Christian has a closer connection to God than others by virtue of his or her status and that all Christians must offer one another support and accountability. At the same time, we believe that God calls people into specific leadership roles, which does not elevate them above the community but equips them to serve it. Our church has five commissions that lead the various aspects of our congregational life.
Pastor Phil Schmidt
Phil grew up in Kansas, Ohio, and Indiana, graduating from South Adams High School in Berne. Phil grew up as a “PK” (Pastor’s Kid) and enjoyed faith formation in several Mennonite congregations. Phil attended Goshen College, where he met his wife, Mary, and studied Youth Ministry. After college, Phil and Mary moved to Fresno, California for studies at the Mennonite Brethren seminary. Highlights from seminary years included camping on the weekends and summer cross-cultural trips.
After graduating from seminary, Phil pastored for over 13 years at two Mennonite congregations, one in Kansas and one in Indiana. Currently, Phil is serving as an Interim Pastor at Shalom before and during Craig’s sabbatical. Phil enjoys finding new insights in familiar and unfamiliar scripture passages because these new insights can help us all grow deeper in faith.
Phil is physically present in Indianapolis on Sundays and Mondays and working remotely from Goshen the rest of the week. Please feel to reach out for conversation or to schedule a visit. He can be reached by email at phil@shalommennonite.com
Pastor Craig Oury
Craig grew up in Northwest Indiana in Valparaiso, graduating from Chesterton High School in Chesterton. Craig grew up attending a Mennonite church in Valparaiso and at an early age enjoyed the community of people from all generations. While in college getting a BS in Mathematics Craig felt the call to ministry. After graduating he decided to explore theology and polity of several denominations. After discovering he truly identified as Mennonite he attended Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN to gain a more focused Anabaptist theology and history.
After graduating from seminary Craig pastored a Mennonite congregation in Maryland for 15 + years before accepting a call to Shalom. Craig enjoys building relationships with people in and out of the church. Some of Craig's favorite Biblical passages include ones where people, especially the disciples, just don't quite get it right. Because following Jesus can be difficult even for people who spent much time with Jesus in person.
Craig is available Monday-Thursdays at the church and takes Friday as a Sabbath. Please feel free to call, text, email, or stop by to talk about anything, major or minor, or baseball and Cubs-related. He can be reached by email at craig@shalommennonite.com.
