After seminary, Jim’s first call (curacy) was to the Diocese of Texas at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where he later became the Associate Rector and pastored the congregation through the illness and death of their beloved Rector, The Rev. Dr. Rhoda Montgomery. He was then called to the Diocese of Georgia as the Rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Augusta where he pastored from 2016-2022. In each case, the congregations grew significantly under Jim’s leadership.

Prior to being ordained, Jim most recently was the Regional Vice President of a manufacturing company which assisted companies in making their business plans by offering web-enabled, automated dispensing solutions that controlled inventory, managed indirect material costs while providing easy access to needed equipment and supplies.

In 1981, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Kim (Todd) Said from Speedway. They met in church, while Jim’s father was at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Speedway. Jim and Kim have two married daughters as well as four grandchildren. Before Jim’s ordination, the Saids were very active members of St. Francis-in-the Field Episcopal Church in Zionsville for over 20 years.

Both were Senior Wardens, delegates to convention, and participated wholeheartedly in the building of the community of faith. As a lay person, Jim was Senior Warden when St. Francis attained parish status and was the Chaplain for their last building campaign.

Kim has supported Jim’s ministry every step of the way first by being their main provider while Jim attended seminary. Kim has served as a preschool teacher and a yoga instructor as well as working to implement “Invite Welcome Connect” while always seeking and serving Christ in all persons.

Jim and Kim are very excited to be part of the inclusive ministry of Good Sam’s and to be back in Indiana. They live in Brownsburg and especially enjoy their spiritual practice of hiking and photographing God’s creation with their dog Luna!

Amy and her spouse Erik met in seminary at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and currently live in Brownsburg together with their three children, Becca, Joanna, and William; two dogs, Max and Nala; and three guinea pigs, Starburst, Toffee, and Mozart. Erik serves a Lutheran congregation in Brownsburg just down the road, and all three children attend the Brownsburg Community School Corporation, where Amy is an active advocate for diversity and equity.

Amy has been connected with Good Sam’s practically since her family arrived in Brownsburg, sharing good food and theological conversation together with “Theology on Tap” and “Doubters and Skeptics” numerous times before she and the children began attending regularly during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Good Sam’s has been a place of spiritual growth and nurture for Amy because of the authenticity she’s found is this community, in all its imperfections, seeking to live out the Gospel in our community and world. Though, perhaps, she has been a closet Episcopalian for awhile now, having been certified in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an experiential based Christian Education program for children ages 2-12, through training programs at St. George Episcopal Church (Nashville, TN) in 2012 and St. Catherine Episcopal Church (Marietta, GA) in 2015. When asked at a recent church picnic to fill in the blank, “You know you’re an Episcopalian if______,” her then seven-year-old answered, “If you love everyone!” and Amy knew she was home.

As a District Superintendent he supervised 96 Indiana churches, assigning pastors and guiding them and local congregations in ministry, service, and outreach. For 10 years as a Health Care Administrator, he guided staff in helping Elders with dementia find creative and legacy living opportunities, expanding value for their lives and for their families.

Cal and Yvonne enjoy world traveling, experiencing various world religions and cultures in over 40 countries. They enjoy visiting their families in Indianapolis, Columbus, Dallas, Texas, and the Quad Cities. Their family continues to grow, now including eleven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. To these they’ve added families-of-choice, now privileged to have the people and ministry of Good Samaritan Episcopal in their lives.

Both she and Calvin have enjoyed decades working alongside Muslim and Jewish Communities. Her ministry included working with Indianapolis’ four Care Coordinating Centers, assisting those with HIV/AIDS. Her advocacy leadership includes working with children and youth, LGBTQ+ Rights, Elder Rights, Peace and Justice, and the building of new lives for immigrants. Coming to Good Samaritan in its first weeks, Yvonne found her retirement call in worship, encouraging the lives of children and youth, assisting in pastoral care, and walking with Good Samaritan’s many outreach projects. She and Calvin have represented Good Samaritan since its inception in the Brownsburg High School’s Equality Alliance Club and as the church representative with the Brownsburg Police Department.

“What does the Lord require of thee but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.” (Knowing, you are of great value—and everyone else is, too!) Micah 6:8

“We are all just walking each other home.” Ram Dass

“Out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” Rumi

Barbie started with Good Samaritan in 2015. Working closely with our founding Vicar, The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne, and lay ministry leaders, Good Sam’s Kids launched regular meetings in 2016, and has grown to include:

-Good Sam’s Littles, the nursery and PreK/Kdg. group

-Good Sam’s Kids, the 1st  through 4th grade group

-Good Sam’s Explorers, the 5th  and 6th grade group

Both of Barbie’s children take part as a Good Sam Explorer and a Good Sam Kid.

“It’s incredibly important to me that my kids grow in a community amongst diversity and acceptance, where they know they are loved by God for who they are, and they in turn love others for who they are,” says Barbie. “And just as important, I want to be a part of an open-minded community of parents like me, who want for their families what Jesus wants from all of us: Love God and love one another.”

Barbie is dedicated to families at Good Samaritan. She is happy to meet with families to talk about their unique spiritual journeys at their convenience.

Kendall has been playing original music for the last 14 years. Whether with band mates in college, a lap dulcimer duo called Stories of Clockwork, or in an Americana band right here in Indianapolis, penning songs and capturing new sounds and expressions has been his heart’s aim. It’s his simple and focused determination that has allowed him to tour across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South Korea, sharing his music and love of guitar, lap dulcimer, and Asian lutes.

To Kendall, music is not only an expression, but also an extension of all creation. To play music, is to be part of something bigger. This is the earnestness that can be heard in his songs and performances, and it’s this that will continue to peel back more of his talents: “Everything that’s good comes from God, and if you take part in music, you’re taking part in God.” He lives in Indianapolis with his daughters Juniper Rose and Elowen.