Staff
Timothy Foster
Director of Communications
Director of Communications | October 20, 2022 - Present
Timothy joined Northminster Presbyterian Church as Director of Communications on October 20, 2022. He serves the church as the primary contact between the media and the congregation while also developing communications strategies to promote the mission of NPC.
Education | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Timothy graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) in 2019 with a degree in Theology and Professional Writing. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Leadership Development from SMWC with an expected graduation date of Spring 2023. Prior to coming to NPC, he served as the communications liaison for the Athletics Department from 2019-2022 while assisting in gameday operations since 2016.
Personal
Timothy resides in Indianapolis with his wife and their three cats. In his free time, he enjoys working out, watching sports, and spending time with his five nieces and nephews.
Alexis Gonzales
Church Operations Administrator
Church Operations Administrator | October 23, 2023 - Present
Alexis joined Northminster as the Church Operations Administrator on October 23, 2023.
Rev. Karen Herbst-Kim
Associate Pastor
Associate Pastor | July 6, 2023 - Present
Rev. Karen Herbst-Kim joined Northminster Presbyterian Church as Associate Pastor on July 6, 2023.
Melissa Hopkins
Director of Children's Ministry
Director of Children's Ministry | December 2023 - Present
Melissa was named Director of Children's Ministry in December of 2023. She continues to serve in her role with children from newborns through primarily 5th grade while also organizing teachers, childcare, and lessons for church school and the Nursery.
Interim Director of Children's Ministry | February 2020 - December 2023
Melissa joined the staff of Northminster as a childcare worker in August of 2006 and she has served in a variety of positions including Church School Teacher, Bible School Teacher, Worship Arts and Music Wednesday Night Coordinator, and Childcare Coordinator. As the Interim Director of the Children's Ministry at Northminster, Melissa worked with children from newborns through primarily 5th Grade. She was tasked with organizing teachers, childcare, and lessons for church school, and the Nursery.
Education
Melissa graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1997. She has completed classes toward an Elementary Education degree at Central College in Pella, Iowa as well as classes in Early Childhood Education at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis.
Personal
Melissa enjoys traveling to spend time with family and friends across the country. In her free time, she likes to read, watch movies, and spend time with her cat Callie.
Emma Longo
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Youth Ministry Coordinator | September 2023 - Present
Emma joined Northminster as a part-time Youth Ministry Coordinator in September of 2023. She serves the church through planning and organizing youth programming, engaging with youth (grades 6-12), and connecting youth to the larger church.
Rev. Carol McDonald
Parish Associate
Parish Associate | Current
As Parish Associate, Carol serves where she is most needed at any given time including with the Mission Team, the Deacons, the Session, and regularly assisting in worship planning and leadership. She also facilitates the Northminster Reads program- a virtual book club for those who seek to confront structural racism and systemic poverty.
Education
Carol earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College in West Virginia. She also earned her M.Div. from Yale University Divinity School.
Marko Petričić
Music Associate/Organist
Music Associate/Organist | September 1, 2007 - Present
Marko serves as the principal Organist and Music Associate for Northminster. He accompanies all choirs and plays the organ/piano at all services. He also assists the Director of Music Ministries, John Wright, with instrumental maintenance, booking some visiting artists as needed.
Education
Petričić holds D.M.A. and M.M. degrees from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Ohio University. He is a member of the music faculty at the University of Indianapolis where he has initiated a program in organ and sacred music.
Personal
As an accomplished bayan-accordion performer, Dr. Petričić has won top prizes at International competitions in Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia, and the United States. He has performed for the Yugoslav National Radio and Television and with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.
Rev. Brian Shivers
Pastor/Head of Staff
Pastor/Head of Staff | November 20, 2022 - Present
Brian joined Northminster Presbyterian Church as Pastor/Head of Staff on August 17, 2022.
John M. Wright
Director of Music Ministries
Director of Music Ministries | 2000 - Present
John has served as Director of Music Ministries at Northminster Presbyterian Church since 2000. At Northminster, John oversees the choir program, conducts Bel Canto, the Chamber Ensemble, and the Chancel Choir, conducts major works with choir and orchestra throughout the year, serves as Artistic Director of the church's arts series, Sound & Spirit, and prepares liturgy for all worship services.
Experience
John previously served as the conductor of the Butler University Chamber Choir and as Director of Music Ministries in United Methodist Churches in Morristown, Tennessee and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the ICDA (Indiana Choral Director’s Association) Repertoire and Standards Chair for Music in Worship. He served as the Director of the 2016 Montreat Conference on Worship and Music, sponsored by PAM (Presbyterian Association of Musicians).
Education
A native of southwestern Virginia, John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, Vocal Performance from Emory & Henry College, a graduate teachers’ certification from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Tennessee.
Personal
In his spare time, John enjoys backpacking and landscaping, and is a charter member of the Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club.