ABOUT US:  Our Staff

Pastor Craig Miller, OEF
Senior Pastor
Pastors Pen

Pastor Miller has been in United Methodist ministry since 1967, having served 33 years in the former Central Illinois Conference (now part of Illinois Great Rivers Conference) and the remainder in the Northern Illinois Conference. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Illinois State University, and graduate theological degrees from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Pastor Miller has found his ministry most rewarding in the areas of worship, pastoral care, and counseling, as well as policy and advocacy in ministries of social justice. A professed member of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans, he also brings with him a strong interest in ecumenical and inter-religious relationships. He has served in various capacities in denominational leadership including the Board of Ordained Ministry, and chairperson of the Board of Church and Society in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. He currently teaches a course in Vocational Formation in Church Leadership at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

When not at church Pastor Craig can be found, spending time with his family , which includes his wife Linda, a son, a daughter, a son-in-law, and two wonderful grandchildren, taking pilgrimages to Ireland and exploring his love of photography.
 

Pastor Sherry Scates
Minister of Christian Education

Sherry serves as the Minister of Christian Education at Plainfield United Methodist Church. She is responsible for educational opportunities for all ages, from infants in the nursery up through adults. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University with degrees in music and religion, she moved to Nashville, TN in 1999. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2004 and was Commissioned a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 2007. She lives in Plainfield with her husband, Tim, and children, Anna and Nathan.

When not at church, Pastor Sherry can be found, singing, dancing, playing, laughing, writing, shopping with her Mom, stretching and reading.
 

Pastor Ross Baker
Associate Pastor, Youth Ministries

Ross Baker, son of Bob Baker and Marsha Beard, was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas where he lived until he left to attend Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Oldest of four, Ross has two other sisters, Krista Hutton, 25, and Claire Beard 14. Along with his two sisters he has one brother, John Beard, 17. Ross is the proud father of one son, James Bennett Baker, and husband to his beautiful wife, Amanda Baker, whom he met while attending school at Southwestern College. Ross and Amanda have now been married for four-and-a-half years and look forward to many wonderful years ahead.
 
While the United Methodist Church has held a special place in Ross’ heart for many years, growing up and attending Woodland United Methodist Church in Wichita, Ross did not acknowledge his call into ministry until his Junior Year of College. Since then, Ross has spent several years already in the candidacy process going towards Ordination as an Elder. In 2006, Ross and Amanda began seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston Illinois, and through the Grace of God, Ross completed his seminary degree on May 15th of 2009. In Ross’ few short years of ministerial work, both he and his wife Amanda served the spirit-filled congregation of Ingleside United Methodist as Co-Pastors from 2006-2008, and he now is serving as Associate Pastor of Youth Ministry at Plainfield First United Methodist Church.

When Ross is not at Church…you might find Ross spending time crawling around on the floor with his son James; singing in the shower; attending the theatre with Amanda; watching a movie; cruising on the NASA or Space.com website; or baking in the kitchen.
 

Pastor Amanda Baker
Pastoral Intern