the Staff of fpc bloomington

  • Rev. Tommy Grimm

    Senior Pastor

    A true hoosier at heart, Tommy was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Southern Indiana. With every Calbert Cheaney jump shot and Damon Bailey drive, Indiana basketball left a stamp on his soul. After graduating from Duke Divinity School, Tommy lived in Durham, North Carolina, for fifteen years, serving as Director of Discipleship and Associate Pastor at Trinity Ave. Presbyterian Church. It was an unexpected surprise when God led Tommy and his family to return to America’s heartland.

    Scripture has been a key part of Tommy’s faith and call to ministry. From listening to sermons on cassette tapes while mowing the yard as a teenager, to relishing Greek and Hebrew classes in divinity school, he believes in Scripture’s power to awaken the heart and transform the mind. His story confirms the saying, that Scripture is like a stream in which children can wade and elephants can swim. He hopes his ministry draws people to meet the risen Christ in Scripture, the Church, and the world.

    In his work, Tommy comes alive in worship that’s joyous, communal, and contemplative. Essential to his calling is listening to people’s stories and wondering how the Spirit of God is at work. He has experience with community organizing, and believes in the power of ordinary people to bring about change that’s important to them. He’s married to Mary and has three children: Naomi, Amos, and Margot. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect over coffee or a walk.

  • Ryan Rogers

    Music Director

    Ryan Rogers graduated summa cum laude from the University of Houston Moores School of Music in May 2018, majoring in Piano Performance and Choral Music Education, where he served as Director of Floreat, Student Director, and Tenor Section Leader under Dr. Betsy Cook Weber. After completing his undergraduate, he served as an Assistant Choir Director at North Shore High School in Houston, TX, where he directed seven choirs, including the North Shore Senior High Chamber Choir and the show choir, Perfect Harmony. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan began editing audio for virtual performances, assembling in excess of two hundred hymns, anthems, and songs for various universities, schools, churches, and organizations throughout the country. In 2023, he graduated with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where he served as the Principal Assistant Conductor of the Yale Glee Club and Director of the Glee Club Chamber Singers. Currently, Ryan is pursuing a Doctor of Music at Indiana University, where he is an Assistant Conductor for NOTUS, and serves as Music Director at First Presbyterian Church, Bloomington.

  • Dr. Chris Young

    Organist

    Chris Young is Professor of Organ at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University. He has been a featured artist at national and regional conventions of the AGO, and has been heard on Pipedreams, a program broadcast on National Public Radio.

  • Kirma Swords

    Communications Director

    Kirma is an alumna of IU, Bloomington with a B.A. in Media Studies and African American and African Diaspora Studies. She’s worked as as assistant station manager, producer, journalist and broadcaster for various radio/tv stations throughout Central and Southern Indiana. She’s won several awards for her work in media, most recently a SPJ ( Society of Professional Journalist) Mark of Excellence award. She changed career paths and was co-owner and manager of her family’s chiropractic and acupuncture practice for 14 years managing marketing and communications. She enjoys spending time with her children, family and friends, cooking, concerts, lifting weights and traveling whenever she gets the chance.

  • Crystal Ritter

    Childcare Coordinator

    Crystal Ritter is a graduate of Indiana University where she studied Telecommunications and Business. She has worked with children and families of First Presbyterian Church since 2011. Crystal also works for the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation as the Community Events Coordinator for the Arts. In this position, she plans and organizes many events for the city including concerts, movies, art fairs, and works with other organizations to help them put on events in our city parks. Crystal has a long history of working with children. She was the Program Director of Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington's Ellettsville Unit for several years and has taught preschool programs from gymnastics to gardening.

  • Dr. Mary McClellan

    Treasurer

  • Dave Schwandt

    Financial Secretary

  • Brian McNulty

    Handbell Choir Director

    Brian received a D.M. in Percussion Performance from Indiana University and currently works in the Instrumental Ensembles Divsion at the Jacobs School of Music. He has served as co-director of the Symphonic Bells of Bloomington and he has studied organ with Colin Andrews.