The Rev. Dr. Joseph Fraccaro, our Senior Pastor, is a native of Chicago, Illinois.  He holds a BA from Elmhurst College, a M. Div. from Eden Seminary, St. Louis, MO. and D. Min. in Pastoral Care and Counseling from McCormick Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.  He has served at United Church of Christ churches in Missouri, Ohio and Illinois.  He has served at Bethel U.C.C. since 1987.

 

Joe is married to Letta Fraccaro. They have three grown sons, Kyle, David, and Josh.

Rev. Fraccaro served on the National U.C.C. Board of Directors of the Office of General Ministries, serves on the Board of Directors for United Caring Shelters, Inc. and was the former president of the Board of Directors for the Indiana-Kentucky Conference.  He is also serving on the Evansville Tri-State Association Committee for Church and Ministry, and is active in Habitat for Humanity. Rev. Fraccaro was one of the first to receive a Clergy Renewal Grant from the Lilly Foundation to study Science and Religion.

 

Rev. Joe is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan.  His hobbies and interests include astronomy, reading, sports and movies.

 The Rev. Michael Erwin, Minister of Parish Life, is a native of Griffin, Georgia.  He holds a B.A. from Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC, and an M.Div. from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary.  He has served as a pastor in Presbyterian churches in Arkansas and Kentucky, and was Organizing Pastor of a United Church of Christ congregation in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Michael is married to Kathy Erwin.  They are raising two daughters, Kennedy and Natalie.

Rev. Erwin has served on the boards of the Hispanic Alliance of Greater Owensboro, the Owensboro/Daviess County Ministerial Association, the Owensboro Area HIV/AIDS Task Force, La Plaza Immigrant Community Center, Grandma’s Corner Emergency Childcare Program. He was co-organizer of the first Owensboro CROP Walk.  He has participated in mission and religious exchanges in St. Louis, Appalachia, and Cuba, as well as leading two youth groups in hurricane relief on the island of Puerto Rico. Rev. Erwin habla español.

Michael plays golf and basketball, and is (still) in the middle of building a wooden sailboat.

 

Our Director of Children, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries is Kendra Schmidt.  Kendra is a native of central Illinois.  She holds BS in Chemistry with a Biochemistry concentration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL.  Kendra has worked in children and youth ministry for over six years and three years experience in young adult ministry.  She felt called to ministry her senior year of college and has worked in a church ever since.  She has taken Disciple Bible Study twice and an Old Testament class at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

 

Kendra is married to Adam Schmidt.  They are raising three children, Gracie, Adyn, and Lydia.

 

Kendra is committed to helping children, youth, young adults, and families.  As a result of a wide variety of experiences in her childhood and youth, she can   connect with people on a personal level through these experiences.  She served on many committees and organizations in Illinois centered on helping others.  Her passion lies in mission work.  She had been many mission trips all over the United States doing construction and home repair.  She also has served in Soup Kitchens on a monthly basis.  Kendra firmly believes that service to others is an important part of our own faith's journey.

 

Kendra enjoys many hobbies and interests including, traveling, sports, and scrapbooking.

 

 

 

 

 

Office Staff
Bill Barnett: Office Manager
Kelly Leibfreid: Administrative Assistant

Music Staff
Cynthia Grassman: Director of Music (Adult & Children)
Jennifer Nance: Contemporary Music Director

Custodian/Caretaker Staff
Ron Ludwig: Custodian
Phyllis Yarber: Night Caretaker