Sunday 23 May Congregational Meeting: Elders Election

Cordelia Dixon Scheuermann has served 22 years as a Certified Presbyterian Christian Educator or Children’s Ministry director in PCUSA churches across the country including serving as EPC’s Acting Director of Ministry to Children, Youth and their Families during Pastor Kristy Ray’s maternity and disability leave. This past December she completed the Congregational Leadership Program through Dubuque Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Art, love to visit their first granddaughter, ski, sail, bake, garden, and bike and have recently become recertified in SCUBA. Cordelia will start a practical nursing program this summer. At EPC she is involved in Stephen Ministry, Children and Family Committee, Kids Connect, Adult Sunday School, Food Distribution, Interfaith and the Haven’s Chef du Jour program.

Christine Ollis, aka Chris, has been attending EPC since 2014, when she and her husband Harvey first began snowbirding in Melbourne Beach. She became a member in 2016. Chris first became involved volunteering at the Daily Bread with EPC. She has also worked on our Habitat ministry, planted seagrass and mangroves on our shoreline with Save our Shores, and has worked on the kitchen crew baking cookies and preparing some of our wonderful fellowship meals. Chris has been a greeter and an usher. She currently serves on the Outreach Committee and is the volunteer coordinator for the Interfaith Alliance’s food distribution effort, of which EPC is a key partner. Chris was a member of Colesville Presbyterian, Silver Spring, MD, for over 30 years, where she served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and Vacation Bible School volunteer. She also worked with the team that created and staffed a client-based choice food pantry in the church. Chris is a retired public administrator with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration in Washington, DC. She looks forward to serving the EPC family.

Originally from Chile, my family immigrated to California when I was four years old. The next few years had us moving to Pennsylvania, where we lived for the next five years until we relocated to Caracas, Venezuela. Moving again, we eventually settled in a suburb of St. Louis and I finally called a place my “hometown”.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biology I was accepted and graduated from medical school at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. It was during this time that Susan and I married. We subsequently moved to Florida where I completed my pediatric residency training at Tampa General Hospital. We were soon blessed with our eldest son, Daniel. We relocated to Miami where I completed my neonatology fellowship training and welcomed our son Alexander.

Our family moved to Melbourne in 1992 when I began work as a neonatologist at Holmes Regional Medical Center. During my tenure there, I served as neonatology section chief, chairman of the department of pediatrics, and served on several medical staff leadership committees. I officially retired in 2020. I am currently working on a per diem basis as a neonatologist at Advent Health. When not working, I am usually racing, reading, or spending time with our granddaughter Sloane.

My journey in Christ has been one of slow, steady growth. We originally joined Eastminster Presbyterian in 1995. It’s been over the past five years that I experienced a newfound inspiration and need for Christ in my life. This began with my joining a small group Bible study at that time. My interest in becoming an elder stems from the answering of Christ’s call to service. This is especially true at this moment as our church enters a time of transition.

Mark was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a youth, Mark became an Eagle Scout. He worked for 27 years with Collins Aerospace and was transferred to Melbourne in October 2013. Mark and his wife Carla have 4 children and 3 grandchildren (with another one on the way). Mark obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Iowa State University and his Master of Business Administration at St Ambrose University. At Eastminster, Mark participates in various Bible studies, is a member of the Facilities Committee and serves as an usher. He has been a driver for the food distribution ministry during COVID, and works with Habitat for Humanity. Mark enjoys snorkeling, kayaking, house maintenance and repair, travel, and reading.

Melinda Miller has lived in Brevard County since 1965 and joined Eastminster Church in 1980. As a former teacher and principal in elementary education, her focus since 1995 has been working with children in our Preschool. She serves as President of the Preschool Board.