Church Leadership
Francine Miller Gary
Was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended John Hope Elementary #26 in the Indianapolis public school System and is a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School. She attended Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana and graduated from Indiana University Fort Wayne, Indiana receiving her Bachelors’ Degree. She maintained the Dean’s List for four consecutive years.
Fran has had a career in social services dating back to 1997 where she has offered guidance and support to children and families. Fran established and maintained relationships with assigned families in which parents’ dependency needs were met and parenting skills were improved. She also, coordinated outreach programs promoting importance of parental involvement. Along with her husband they were Foster parents and their home was licensed as a Therapeutic Foster Home. In recognition of Community Service and Scholastic Promise, she successfully obtained the Honor of Membership into the National Omicron-Psi Honor Society, March 2004.
Fran has served in various positions in Indiana Conference Women’s Missionary Society as the Vice president of the local WMS in Bloomington, Indiana, chairperson of the Health Polk Rural Missions and the Black Women’s Agenda to name a few.
In addition her participation in the WMS Fran is a volunteer as a member of the Indiana Conference Choir, The Historic Wayman A.M.E. Choir, and was a member of the Carlton Chaney Singers choir. Fran is a member of the Family Clergy Organization of the 4th Episcopal Church. She is a volunteer for the Wayne Township Host Mentoring Reading Program, the “Race for the Cure Cancer Walk” and “The Get Tested for AIDS” Community Drive.
Presently, Fran is the “First Lady” of the Historic Wayman A.M.E. Church and is employed with the Wayne Township Community Schools as a Parent Liaison serving two elementary schools, Bridgeport Elementary in Indianapolis and Robey Elementary in Claremont, Indiana. Prior to this position she worked for Cummins Behavior Health Systems as a School Based Care Coordinator.
Fran is married 47 years as of June 24, 2025, to Reverend William Gary and together they are the proud parents of three daughters and grandparents to six granddaughters, two grandsons, and one great-grandson.
Fran stays physically active playing sports and enjoys spending time at the gym, watching reality TV programs and shopping. She stands firming on the Word of God and 2 Corinthians 1:24; “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand…” is her foundational text that she believes that if she can just help somebody along this Christian journey than her living will not be in vain.
William L. Gary
Native of Indianapolis, Indiana; the eighth child of nine children of Robert and Leanna Gary. He graduated from Arsenal Technical High School and was a member of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church before leaving the city to attend college.
Pastor Gary graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, which also included graduate studies in the school of Religious Studies, IU School of Education, Associate Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, Trinity Theological Seminary, Edwardsburg, Indiana and has attended many seminars and workshops such as ICAM in Atlanta, Ga., Christian Theological Seminary “Pastor’s Peer Study Group” and Ashland Seminary, Ashton, Ohio “Pastors of Excellence” Program in order to strengthen his leadership skills. In addition to the ministry, he had a career in the banking industry dating back to 1979 and was promoted to a Retail Banking Officer in a Louisville, Kentucky bank prior to relocating to Elkhart and full-time ministry.
He was licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church April 23, 1979, and was ordained an Itinerate Elder during the Indiana Annual Conference at Bethel, Indianapolis August 28, 1983. His pastorates include Beulah, Washington (1983), Bethel, Princeton (1983), Bethel, Jeffersonville (1985), St. James, Elkhart (1993), (led the congregation in completing a building program for a 1.6-million-dollar church), Turner Chapel, Fort Wayne (2000), St. John, Indianapolis (2004) and Allen Chapel, Indianapolis (2009) and in October 2014 he was assigned as pastor for the Historic Wayman Chapel, Kokomo, Indiana.
Pastor Gary has served on numerous community boards and is the recipient of several community service awards and honors, including the “Key to the City” and “Commander of the Port”, Jeffersonville, Indiana. He presently serves on the board of trustees for the 4th Districts’ Camp Baber Children’s Camp, Cassopolis, Michigan. He became the first African American pastor to serve as the president of the Howard County Ministerial Association and presently serves as Chairman of the Board for Coordinated Associated Ministries of Kokomo.
Pastor Gary is married 47 years, June 24, 2026, to Francine (Miller) Gary and together they are the proud parents of three daughters, grandparents to eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Pastor Gary enjoys touring Historical Landmarks, traveling, powerwalking, hiking, bike riding, developing, and maintaining friendships.
His ministry has been one supported by II Corinthians 5:18 and Psalm 139; Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. “How Great Thou Art” is one of his favorite hymns of the many hymns of the church.
Dr. Michael C. Carson
He serves as Consultant for the Indiana North and Sacred Soaring South Districts of the Indiana Annual Conference in the areas of Fund Development and Spiritual Formation.
He is the Co-Founder and Lead Coach for Refreshing Ministry.
He served as a Senior Pastor for thirty-years in the A.M.E. Church
He is a syndicated columnist and also serves as an editor.
He serves on the staff of Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church in Kokomo, Indiana.
He has served as a Professor and Adjunct Professor for various educational institutions.
He serves as Chaplain at Community Howard Regional Health in Kokomo, Indiana.
He holds his Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary.
He holds his Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
He did his Clinical Pastoral Education Training at Bethany Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
He graduated with his Bachelors of Arts Degree from Earlham College.
He graduated from Hammond High School in Hammond, Indiana.
He is an Indoor Cycle Instructor.
Pastor Mike is married to Evangelist Catherine L. Carson. They have a twin daughter and son and eight grand children.
Mike is committed to assisting persons effectively negotiate their life journey in the Lord!