Pastor Toni Carmer grew up in Fort Wayne, graduating from Northrop High School.  Her first call to ministry was as a registered nurse, working primarily in psychiatric/mental health nursing for nearly 15 years.  Upon hearing God's call to the ordained ministry, she went to Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and has served both small and large congregations. 

As a Student Pastor, Toni served Mount Ayr in northwest Indiana.   She was Associate Pastor at First UMC-Valparaiso for four years and then Senior Associate at Trinity UMC-Elkhart for just over eight years. Toni was appointed Lead Pastor at Leo UMC in June of 2004 and served that suburban Fort Wayne congregation until her appointment to Warsaw First in July of 2009.   Her ministry in each place was characterized by her love for all kinds of people, joy in serving, and congregational outreach.  Pastor Toni has stressed a team approach to ministry -seeing it as a partnership between the church staff and the people of the congregation.

Pastor Toni has a passion to see the local congregation live out the grace and truth of Jesus, changing the world while transforming lives one by one.  She loves Jesus, is committed to loving and serving all kinds of people, and she has a heart for the lost.   Her greatest joy in ministry is inviting and serving alongside others, welcoming persons into a relationship with God through Jesus.  Toni also feels a calling to help the people of God find their own calling, their giftedness, and serve in ministry.

Pastor Toni has also served the larger church in various leadership positions.   She has been a long-time member of the Board of Ordained Ministry, with special responsibilities for the Conference Relations Committee (leaves, change of clergy status, etc.).    She is a member of General church's Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCOSROW).   She has been elected as an alternate to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Pastor Toni is married to Scott, who is also a UMC pastor.  They are the parents of three adult children, and are about to become grandparents of a beautiful baby girl.  She loves art, music, gardening, movies, Mexican food, books and dreaming up and working on creative projects that never seem to get finished.

For those who are curious about the academic side of things, our Lead Pastor's educational background includes a Diploma in Nursing (Parkview-Methodist School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, 1976), a BSN (Metropolitan State College, Denver, CO, 1981), an MS in Counseling (Saint Francis College, Fort Wayne, IN, 1986), as well as an MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical (1991).

Pastor Ream grew up north of Fort Wayne in Grabill, Indiana where he graduated from Leo High School in 1991.  After marrying Melissa in 1995, Pastor Ream earned a Bachelor's of Science in Medical Technology at Indiana Purdue at Fort Wayne.  He worked for several years at Parkview Hospital.  During that time, Melissa and he were very involved at Leo United Methodist Church.  Through their participation in a Disciple Bible Study, Tom's call to ministry was discerned and he enrolled at United Theological Seminary where he earned a Masters of Divinity in 2002.  Pastor Ream was ordained an Elder in 2006 and has served appointments in the North Indiana Conference (Trinity UMC - Lafayette, Brushwood, and First UMC - Warsaw).  Pastor Tom and Melissa have two daughters, Kathryn and Anna.  Pastor Ream enjoys a variety of activities, including outdoor activities, reading, cooking, and family time.  He has worked with youth in summer camping, serves at an Indiana Conference trustee, and is the host pastor of the Connection Campus for First United Methodist Church.

Ann Baker was born and raised in Etna Green and Bourbon, Indiana. She moved to Fort Wayne to attend International Business College and to begin her career in the administrative professional field. She worked 25 years for Lincoln National Corporation followed by a few years as office manager for a small, private investment company. Her most recent position was with a private non-profit organization that works with children with learning disorders. Ann was very active with Fort Wayne Bethel UMC as their financial secretary and as chorister for their traditional service. She was also a member of the Chancel Choir and Bells of Praise. Before moving back to the Warsaw area, she served in many leadership roles with the Fort Wayne Central Lions Club and the District Lions. Ann spends her free time reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Michele Carter, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, has joined the staff at First United Methodist's new Counseling Connection, as the Director of Counseling. Michele has worked as a licensed therapist for 20 years in various capacities. Prior to moving to Warsaw six years ago, Michele worked for 11 years as the Director of Counseling at Evangelical Children's Home in St. Louis, Missouri and then had a private practice for five year in Waterloo, Illinois.  Michele's expertise includes individual, pre-marital, marital, and family counseling and her years of experience include counseling clients of all ages with a variety of concerns such as:  post-traumatic stress disorder; physical and sexual abuse; depression; anxiety; ADD/ADHD; relationship issues; family dysfunction; and marital discord.

Alan Chambers has been on the music staff at First United Methodist Church since August 1993.  He began as a choir accompanist (4 years), then added directing the chancel choir (3 years) and handbells (10 years).  Alan was instrumental in developing and launching Contemporary Worship at First U.M.C. and has directed the praise team, On a Wing and a Prayer, since its inception in the Fall of 1997.  In Fall 2004 be became the church's principal organist as well.  Alan holds a Bachelor of Music degree from DePauw University (1982) and a Master of Arts from Ball State University (1986), and has professional experience as a conductor, musical director, singer, keyboardist, actor, arranger and teacher.  He has sung in several professional groups in Chicago, and has worked for many theatre companies in Indiana and Illinois including the Wagon Wheel, Enchanted Hills, Round Barn, Canterbury and as Assistant Conductor and Accompanist, and was Co-Director of the Warsaw Community Choir for 3 years.  Alan has taught music at Manchester College since 2003 including applied voice piano, music theory, Manchester Choral Society, Chamber Singers and Cantabile Women's Choir, and frequently accompanies the A Cappella Choir.

Scott Avery has been a member at First United Methodist Church since 1986, and began directing the Sanctuary Choir at the church iin 1994.  In 2004 he added directing the Ginn Handbells to his list and also regularly on the praise team.  Scott earned his degrees in music from Northern Michigan (BMusEd 1978) and Ball State Universities (MM in Choral Conducting 1985), studying with the distinguished Dr. Douglas Amman in both locations.  With 30 years of choral music experience, he recently completing a 2 year term as President of the Indiana Choral Directors Association.  With Scott as the head of the Warsaw Community High School Choral Department for the last 19 years, his choirs have toured Canada and New York City, where they sang in St. Patrick's Cathedral.  They have also sung with The Lettermen and placed among Indiana's Top 10 high school choirs (I.S.S.M.A.).  Scott served as Co-Director of the Warsaw Community Choir for 3 years, and as Choral Conductor for the Indiana Ambassadors of Music for 6 years.  He has enjoyed being baritone soloist for the Bay de Noc Choral Society, Marquette Choral Society, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, and Warsaw Community Choir, and is a frequent clinician at choral festivals.