Senior Pastor

A true hoosier at heart, Tommy was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Southern Indiana. With every Calbert Cheaney jump shot and Damon Bailey drive, Indiana basketball left a stamp on his soul. After graduating from Duke Divinity School, Tommy lived in Durham, North Carolina, for fifteen years, serving as Director of Discipleship and Associate Pastor at Trinity Ave. Presbyterian Church. It was an unexpected surprise when God led Tommy and his family to return to America’s heartland.

Scripture has been a key part of Tommy’s faith and call to ministry. From listening to sermons on cassette tapes while mowing the yard as a teenager, to relishing Greek and Hebrew classes in divinity school, he believes in Scripture’s power to awaken the heart and transform the mind. His story confirms the saying, that Scripture is like a stream in which children can wade and elephants can swim. He hopes his ministry draws people to meet the risen Christ in Scripture, the Church, and the world.

In his work, Tommy comes alive in worship that’s joyous, communal, and contemplative. Essential to his calling is listening to people’s stories and wondering how the Spirit of God is at work. He has experience with community organizing, and believes in the power of ordinary people to bring about change that’s important to them. He’s married to Mary and has three children: Naomi, Amos, and Margot. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect over coffee or a walk.

Associate Pastor

A native Michigander, Tyler grew up in Commerce Twp., a northwest suburb of Detroit, and attended Hope College in Holland, MI. He moved to Indiana in 2021 to serve as a Lake Fellow in Parish Ministry at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, with additional ministry at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church. Immediately before coming to FPC, Tyler served as a chaplain at OrthoIndy Hospital in Indianapolis and as the bridge minister to Kingston Presbyterian Church and Springhill Presbyterian Church, yoked parishes in Greensburg, IN.

Tyler comes from a religiously eclectic family. His dad’s side includes family who are active in Presbyterian Church (USA) churches and congregations in the Reformed Church in America. Two of his older cousins are ministers in the RCA. His mom’s side, by contrast, includes an aunt who’s spiritual but not religious and uncle who practices Buddhism and married into a Jewish family. Because of the love and admiration Tyler has for his religiously mixed family, he tries to practice a Christian faith that’s less dogmatic and more curious, hoping to perceive the unexpected ways in which God is working.

With an appreciation for tradition and aspirationally gracious flexibility, Tyler considers the church’s equipment—preaching and teaching, praise and prayer, the sacraments and life together and for each other—as important resources for us as we live into God’s calls on our lives and the call to heal our broken but not irredeemable world. We need each other, and God’s calling and equipping Spirit, for that journey ahead, and Tyler is glad to be joining this community in Bloomington to travel that road together.

A graduate of Princeton Seminary (MDiv/MACEF), Tyler has also served churches in Philadelphia, PA; virtually, during 2020-21, in Queens, NY; and in Bloomfield Hills, MI, at his home church, Kirk in the Hills, where he was ordained in 2022. 

An avid and competitive runner (and generally active guy), Tyler may be seen exploring Bloomington on foot. Tyler wants to learn to garden and improve his cooking, is often drinking coffee from a colorful mug, and can sometimes be found reading while going for a walk. 

Treasurer

Communications Director

Kirma is an alumna of IU, Bloomington with a B.A. in Media Studies and African American and African Diaspora Studies. She’s worked as as assistant station manager, producer, journalist and broadcaster for various radio/tv stations throughout Central and Southern Indiana. She’s won several awards for her work in media, most recently a SPJ ( Society of Professional Journalist) Mark of Excellence award. She changed career paths and was co-owner and manager of her family’s chiropractic and acupuncture practice for 14 years managing marketing and communications. She enjoys spending time with her children, family and friends, cooking, concerts, lifting weights and traveling whenever she gets the chance.

Organist

Chris Young is Professor of Organ at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University. He has been a featured artist at national and regional conventions of the AGO, and has been heard on Pipedreams, a program broadcast on National Public Radio.

Music Director

Ryan Rogers graduated summa cum laude from the University of Houston Moores School of Music in May 2018, majoring in Piano Performance and Choral Music Education, where he served as Director of Floreat, Student Director, and Tenor Section Leader under Dr. Betsy Cook Weber. After completing his undergraduate, he served as an Assistant Choir Director at North Shore High School in Houston, TX, where he directed seven choirs, including the North Shore Senior High Chamber Choir and the show choir, Perfect Harmony. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan began editing audio for virtual performances, assembling in excess of two hundred hymns, anthems, and songs for various universities, schools, churches, and organizations throughout the country. In 2023, he graduated with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where he served as the Principal Assistant Conductor of the Yale Glee Club and Director of the Glee Club Chamber Singers. Currently, Ryan is pursuing a Doctor of Music at Indiana University, where he is an Assistant Conductor for NOTUS, and serves as Music Director at First Presbyterian Church, Bloomington.

Handbell Choir Director

Brian received a D.M. in Percussion Performance from Indiana University and currently works in the Instrumental Ensembles Divsion at the Jacobs School of Music. He has served as co-director of the Symphonic Bells of Bloomington and he has studied organ with Colin Andrews.

Childcare Coordinator

Crystal Ritter is a graduate of Indiana University where she studied Telecommunications and Business. She has worked with children and families of First Presbyterian Church since 2011. Crystal also works for the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation as the Community Events Coordinator for the Arts. In this position, she plans and organizes many events for the city including concerts, movies, art fairs, and works with other organizations to help them put on events in our city parks. Crystal has a long history of working with children. She was the Program Director of Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington's Ellettsville Unit for several years and has taught preschool programs from gymnastics to gardening.

Financial Secretary

Dave grew up in Chicago. He received a degree from Valparaiso University, majoring in English Literature and Theology. After graduation, he embarked on a long career in the restaurant and hospitality industry. After living and working in many cities around the country, he settled in Bloomington, to be with family. Dave worked for One World Enterprises for many years where he held the positions of Director of Operations and CFO. Now, in retirement, he fills his days with his joy for golf, gardening and volunteering in the community.

Dave feels very blessed that the good Lord gave him a gift for music. For many years, he has been a professional jazz pianist performing in Bloomington. He now finds his greatest passion is serving the Lord through his work at FPC and sharing his gift of music with his friends on Sunday mornings.