Interim Pastors Toni and Scott Carmer

toni.carmer@inumc.org
scott.carmer@inumc.org

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 began serving in United Methodist congregations for the next 32 years including Mount Ayr (student pastor), Valparaiso First (Associate), Elkhart Trinity (Senior Associate), Leo(Senior Pastor), Warsaw First (Senior Pastor), and then Plymouth First (Senior Pastor) from where she retired.  

She loves art, music, gardening, movies,  Mexican food, books and dreaming up and working on creative projects that never seem to get finished. She and Pastor Scott love traveling, and have recently begun the adventure of camping in a 22-foot RV.  They are complete novices at this, but enjoy checking out new places and being able to bring their 5-year-old rescued and often distraught Goldendoodle named Gracie with them.

Pastor Scott Carmer began his journey to ordained ministry with his baptism at Forest Park Methodist Church in September 1953.  His faith development continued in that church through worship, Sunday School, and Youth Fellowship.  After graduating from North Side High School, he obtained his AAS Degree from Purdue University, BA from Indiana University, and Master of Divinity from The Iliff School of Theology at the University of Denver.   Sometime later, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.  

After retirement from the active ministry, he began looking for a second chapter in life. That is when he found a rock and roll band who needed a drummer.  Other band members of this trio include a retired high school English teacher, and a retired corporate executive. If classic rock is your thing, you will like “Old Dogs, New Tricks.”  

Scott has always been passionate about society’s need for Jesus and the ability of the church to be a vessel for peace, justice, and healing in a broken world.  For all of its struggles, the church remains the greatest gift Jesus has given us.  Scott looks forward to continuing the journey of faith together with the Good Shepherd church family