Pastors

Rev. Glenn McDonald, Senior Pastor

I’m Glenn McDonald, the senior pastor of ZPC. The “senior” part of that title seems to be confirmed by my ever-graying hair. That word also means that one of my essential tasks is overseeing the remarkable group of people who make up this congregation’s staff. Since 1983, when I helped organize ZPC, I have done most of the speaking on Sunday mornings. Alongside the staff and elders I provide leadership in seeking God’s direction for our future.

My wife Mary Sue and I are both Indianapolis natives and graduates of Purdue University, where I majored in biology. In 1978 I graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with a Master of Divinity degree. We’re blessed to be the parents of Mark, Katie, Jeff and Tyler. I love reading books, studying nature, teaching, and spelunking (that’s “wild caving”) in southern Indiana. In 1999 I co-authored with Dr. Ben Johnson a book on church renewal called Imagining a Church in the Spirit, and a series of studies on discipleship is in the works. In 2004, I authored The Disciple-Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality which describes how ZPC was transformed through making disciples rather than simply adding members. .

Rev. Scott Shelton, Associate Pastor of Discipleship

Hello, I’m Scott Shelton. I joined the ZPC staff in 1994 and am responsible for overseeing ministry to families.

This means working with all of our other ministries to weave together new and existing programs which teach and support Christ-centered marriages, parenting, and family relationships. I enjoy working with families of all ages and stages to help them think creatively how they can live out their faith at home and make a difference in the world.

I am a graduate of Baylor University with B.S. Degrees in Finance and Marketing and received my Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. The most important family I work with is my own—my best friend and wife Claire and my four kids—Jacob, Lexia, Luke and Graham. Email Scott.

Rev. Dr. Pat Smith, Associate Pastor of Discipleship

Hi, I’m Pat Smith: a listener, encourager, and friend as I seek to be a faithful follower of Jesus.

My twin passions are to care about people and encourage people to follow Jesus well. My hope is that all people who come into contact with the ZPC community will feel that they are deeply loved and highly valued by the people of ZPC and by God. I get to live out my passions and fulfill my hope in the role of Associate Pastor of Congregational Care and leader of the Adult Ministry Team.

As I seek to model “care-living” for all of us at ZPC, I also resource a wide variety of volunteer teams that minister to people in practical ways during times of special need. But the vast majority of caring takes place person to person as everyone opens up arms of love to each and every person with whom we come into contact 24/7. One writer has referred to the love followers of Christ show to others as “the mark of Jesus.” We at ZPC are privileged to have such a high calling, caring for others so they can experience the love of Christ through us.

My wife, Laura, and I are the proud parents of two sons. Elder son Caleb is Director of Youth Ministries at Crossroads Church in Ruston, Louisiana. He and his wife, Tisha, are the proud parents of Jackson and Tucker. Younger son Andrew is on the management team of Serafina, a highly acclaimed restaurant in the East Lake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.

Since earning my masters at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, we’ve invested in ministry in Atlanta, Georgia, Knoxville, Tennessee, Frankfort, Indiana, Montgomery, Alabama and, since 2006, Zionsville. Email Pat.