Staff

Co-Pastor

John Callaway

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John Callaway comes to Christian Temple by way of a sojourn through the southeast. Born and raised in Boiling Springs, SC, John attended Clemson University completing two degrees, a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology Education and a Master's degree in Secondary Education, English.

John taught in the North Charleston/Goose Creek area of South Carolina at Westview Middle School for two years before answering the call to ministry and heading to the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. While studying at Wake Forest, John met Katie Schlimmer and life took off!

After serving at First Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina, John was responsible for youth ministries in various locations before becoming Co-Pastor with Katie in 2019 in their first senior pastorate. Since 2007, John has been involved in leading the music at Unidiversity Youth Camp and has led in music for worship in churches and for student groups across the country. 

John is ready to begin ministering alongside the wonderful people of Christian Temple and begins work in this new vocational ministry with a strong excitement. He is incredibly grateful for this calling to Christian Temple. 

John has completed coursework in his Doctor of Ministry in Parish Risk at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 

In his free time, he is a dad to Sophie, husband, singer-songwriter, and enjoys getting out on the open road for a road trip!




Co-Pastor

Katie Callaway

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Katie Callaway was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina. Katie’s educational pursuits began at Roanoke College where she majored in Religious Studies, graduating magna cum laude and receiving entry to Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Upon graduation, she completed two graduate programs. At Wake Forest University School of Divinity, she completed her Master of Divinity and at Emory University, she completed her Master of Theology. It was during her time at Wake Forest that Katie met John and shortly thereafter, they married. 

She has served churches in North Carolina, Maryland, and Georgia. Most recently, she served as Co-Pastor alongside of John at First Baptist Church, Savannah, GA. There, she focused on creating and nurturing opportunities for education and spiritual formation in both large and small group settings.  

Katie has worked in churches throughout the southeast, primarily focusing on spiritual formation. She feels called to help congregations develop vibrant spiritual formation programs and practices by walking alongside people as they embrace holy curiosity and faith exploration. In her role as Co-Pastor, she is most excited about helping Christian Temple deepen its practices around spiritual formation and worship. 

An avid reader and writer, Katie is completing coursework in her Doctor of Ministry in Creative Writing as Public Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Her work can be found at on her personal site here.

In her spare time, Katie enjoys being Mom to Sophie, hanging out with her four-legged child--Lily, running, cycling, and writing.




Director of Music

Mike Semancik

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Mike comes to Christian Temple with a background in teaching music and working as a church musician. He currently works as the Director of Choirs and Orchestra at Baltimore’s own Goucher College. But Mike has worked in church music ministry since 2003, which is when he became the director of music at a Milford Mill United Methodist Church in Pikesville. 

Mike is currently ABD for a doctorate in Choral Conducting at Rutgers, where he is scheduled to graduate in May of 2024. Before that, Mike received his bachelor’s in Music Education as a piano major from Slippery Rock University, which is in Pennsylvania, and then went on to receive his master’s in choral conducting from the University of Delaware.

We are excited to see Mike's gifts become a part of our music experience at Christian Temple!

Welcome, Mike!




Church Administrator

Robin Picanso

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Robin started her career as an elementary school teacher in Maine, and then eventually moved home to Maryland with her husband, Frank. Robin then taught in the Howard County Public School System for several years and obtained her graduate certification in education with an emphasis on counseling. These work and learning experiences were wonderful!


After having children of her own, Robin chose to find employment primarily with nonprofit organizations where she had some work flexibility and gained valuable knowledge in business management, grant writing, and accounting/bookkeeping. Wanting more interaction with the people she served, Robin found her way to Christian Temple and now serves happily as the Church Administrator.
 




Custodian

John Jordan

Christian Temple has partnered with JPM Janitorial for 8 years which has allowed us to work alongside John Jordan. John is creative and compassionate and has an eye for making our building look great. 




Landscape Technician

Howard Saks

Howard has served Christian Temple for over a decade and has kept our property looking beautiful. When not working his full-time gig, hanging out with Nancy at the beach, or taking care of the grandbaby, you can find Howard wearing orange and purple at every game in Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium. Go O's! Go Ravens!




Director of Bells

Beau Lochte

Beau has served Christian Temple and directed our handbells and chimes since August of 2014. Our handbell choirs have made incredible music with Beau at the helm and there is room for you! Middle school ages and up, we have great involvement in our choirs. You can learn more about Beau here: https://www.thehandbellschool.org or contact him at charmcitybronze@gmail.com.




Video Specialist

Jeff Yamarik

Jeff is responsible each Sunday for making sure that those outside the Sanctuary are included in worship. Using three PTZ cameras, Jeff makes magic every time we gather together!