Meet Salem's Team!

 

whetstone-ed

Pastor Emeritus Ed Whetstone served as Salem’s pastor from 1977 to 2010.  In recognition of his service to Salem, the Church Council voted to name him  Pastor Emeritus upon his retirement in June 2010.  After early years in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Hagerstown, Maryland, he attended Gettysburg College and the Lutheran seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained in 1971. He and his wife Vicky are parents of two grown children and proud grandparents of three grandsons in St. Paul. Since youth his most cherished bible passage is Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God?”

Mary Miller has been Salem’s Director of Music and Organist since 2001.  Previously, she held the same positions at Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church in Ellicott City.  She comes from a musical family where the piano and organ were played constantly.  Following in her mother’s and brother’s footsteps, she started piano lessons as a child.  In 1989 she began studying piano at the Peabody Preparatory under the direction of Miss Beth Jovich and then at the Conservatory under the direction of Mr. James Warthen.  Her organ studies have been under the direction of Michael Britt.  She has earned a Certification in Church Music from Colby College in Maine. Mary plays for all Salem’s worship services, as well as directing our music program and three of our five choirs at Salem.

Jeff Tsai became Salem’s Office Manager in January 2024.  He is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Mary’s Ecumenical institute in Baltimore with a thesis emphasis on child safety. He has a master’s degree from Towson University in Experimental Psychology and another from United Lutheran Seminary with a focus on Biblical Studies. His faith solidified while an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he became active in campus ministry and was baptized. Being a man of many interests, he majored in Psychology, Anthropology, and Economics. Jeff has been a Maryland resident for most of his life and is an active disciple of the Church of the Holy Apostles and Saint Stephen in Arbutus. You probably won’t see Jeff much on Sundays, but welcome him in the office during office hours.

Sid Meier is Salem’s Director of Saturday Music.  He has served as the Director of Contemporary Music at Faith Lutheran Church in Cockeysville for over ten years.  Sid enjoys singing with the worship team and leading on keyboard or guitar. During the COVID pandemic, Sid worked with the Salem-Faith Virtual Choir to record, mix, and create music virtual choir videos for our joint online worship services.  He also enjoys reading, technology, golf, and designing computer strategy games.

 

Joey Morgan is Salem’s Worship Technology Manager and Sexton.  He is responsible for live streaming the Saturday evening and Sunday 11:00 a.m. worship services and selected other services, weddings, and funerals.  He also video-records the Fourth Monday Bible Study and other events for uploading to YouTube.

Our Lay Leaders

2025 Church Council

President:  Emily D’Avella
Vice-President:  Lisa Yerkey
Secretary:   Matthew Fairchild
Ray Giuliani
Guy Davis
Carolyn Moore
Michael Petry
Ron Bruce
Janet Van Sant
Pat Krenzke Jennings
Veronica Merriman
Mary Oliver

 

Call Committee for Senior Pastor

Melanie Gibbons
Zoe Dell
Meghan Tress
Pete Salmon
Michael Fitch
Anthony Liberto
Sharon Rossi

Committee Leaders

Altar Guild:  Mary Krebs 
Archive Commitee:  Judy LeGath 
Arts Commitee:  Tricia Morgan 
Child Protection Commitee:  Linda Fleischer 
Children’s Ministry Commitee:  Eileen Merriman,  Zoë Dell 
Christian Fellowship Commitee:  Darla Sando, Pam Wilsey 
Communicatons Commitee:  Guy Davis, Karen Amy 
Evangelism Commitee:  Nicki Fatherly 
Finance Commitee:  Ken Wolfram 
Guardians of Eden:  Ken Scarlatelli, Sharon Schueler 
Historic Old Salem:  Sharon Stanton 
Memorial and Bequests:  Paul W. Krabitz 

Prayer Tree Coordinators:  Karen Amy, Barbara  Beem 
Property:  Rusty Schaefer 
Refugee Task Force: Beth Rodgers
Salem Players:  Lisa Yerkey 
Scholarship:  Sue Gdovin 
Social Ministry:  Mary Kay Willing 
Stewardship Commitee:  John Brohawn 
Technology Support Commitee:  Lisa Yerkey 
Ushers:  Mary Krebs, Ray Hamelin 
Youth Ministry Commitee:  Melissa Miller and  Veronica Merriman 
Worship Life:  Jane Stolte