REV. DR. JOHN P. GARDNER - Senior Pastor
jpg@plymouthfw.org

The Rev. Dr. John P. Gardner has served as the Senior Pastor & Teacher at Plymouth Church since the summer of 1998. He has previously served congregations in Ohio, California, and Michigan. He is a graduate of Grove City College (PA.), and attended the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California where he earned both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Religion & the Arts degree (1980). In 1994 he earned his Doctor of Ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary. John is married to Vida McCray-Gardner and is the proud father of two sons, Gabriel James and George Henry.

REV. RUTH E. PHILLIPS - Associate Pastor
rep@plymouthfw.org

Rev. Ruth  E.Phillips was called to Plymouth Church in February, 2001. She is a graduate of Colgate Rochester (NY) Divinity School with a Master of Divinity degree. She was ordained in the American Baptist Churches. Her B.A. in Social Work was earned at Anderson (IN) College.  Ruth's experience in thirty-five years of ministry has included work as a chaplain in hospice, geriatric/long-term care, psychiatric, and hospital settings primarily in New York State. She taught a pilot project in HIV/AIDS education with pastors and congregations. She is mother of two adult children and is a new grandmother.

ROBERT NANCE - Director of Music
robert@maestronance.com

Robert Nance is a multi-talented musician who maintains a lively schedule as conductor, keyboardist, teacher, composer and arts advocate.

A distinguished graduate of DePauw University School of Music (Indiana), Nance earned a Bachelor of Music degree in keyboard performance, and graduated magna cum laude.  He subsequently earned a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Peabody Conservatory (Baltimore).

In addition to serving as Music Director at Plymouth Congregational Church, Nance is the Founding Artistic Director of the Heartland Chorale, the region's professional vocal ensemble now entering its Fifteenth Season.  He is also the Director of Choirs and Distinguished Lecturer in Music at the University of Saint Francis, and Director of the Philharmonic Chorus, and Director of the Professional Choir at Temple Achduth Vesholom. He performs regularly as a keyboardist and maintains an active private studio for advanced students and area professionals.

He has received many honors and awards to his credit, including guest conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a recipient of the Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship and in February of 2011 this year he appeared on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. 

Robert Nance has made Fort Wayne his home for over two decades, where he has distinguished himself as a dedicated performer and teacher, as well as a capable community leader.  For more information, log on to http://www.maestronance.com/