Oversight Elder Board
This current Oversight Elder Board was affirmed by The Chapel In Green congregation by vote on July 16, 2023.
In accordance with our constitution, our Oversight Elder Board is made up of seven men, three of them being staff members, and the remaining four seats being men elected from the congregation. The Lead Pastor (Mike Castelli), the Pastor of Ministries (Happy Peterson), and the Executive Director (Joe Schaefer) are the men who fill the staff seats. Learn more about the men elected from the congregation below.
Craig Kirkpatrick
Board Chair
Craig and his wife, Terri, have been married for 49 years. Together, they have two adult children and three grandchildren. All of their children and grandchildren actively attend The Chapel in Green as well. Craig enjoys watching and playing sports, especially when his family is involved— he spent many years running with his own children, and now loves to watch his granddaughters compete in their own athletic events. Presently retired, Craig’s vocational background is in the construction industry, with experience in construction management, general contracting, surveying, and civil engineering. Craig and Terri have led multiple Bible study groups in their home over the years and are presently involved in the Men’s and Women’s Ministries at The Chapel in Green.
Craig and Terri began attending church at The Chapel in Akron, shortly before they were married. Craig accepted Christ in 1974 under the preaching of Pastor Dave Burnham and spent many years leading discipleship groups for young married couples, serving in Kids and Youth Ministry at various local churches, and serving as an usher. Craig has previously served on an oversight board at another church, has served on The Chapel’s own Board of Trustees, and sat on the Board of Directors for Refuge of Hope.
Dave Elliott
Board Member
Dave and his wife, Mona, have been married for 48 years. Together, they have three adult children and eight grandchildren. All of their children and grandchildren live nearby and attend The Chapel in Green as well! Dave and Mona enjoy traveling, spending time with family, and cheering on their grandkids at games and sporting events. Dave sells crop insurance to farmers in New York and has career experience in the oil & gas industry. He leads a small group called Bound for Glory that meets on-site on Sunday mornings at The Chapel in Green.
Dave grew up at the Canton Christian Tabernacle and accepted Christ in 1966. He spent many years attending church camps, leading Sunday School classes for kids, serving at Vacation Bible School, and teaching elective Bible classes for adults. Dave obtained a BS in Religion from Malone College and went on to take additional classes at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dave has previously served on an oversight board at another church and desires to approach his Oversight Elder Board service at The Chapel in Green with wisdom, positivity, joy, gravity, and a biblical outlook.
Tom Raddish
Board Member
Tom and his wife, Terry, have been married for 41 years. Together, they have two adult children, as well as five grandchildren who they babysit regularly, as a way to continue influencing their family for Christ. Tom and Terry enjoy fishing on Lake Erie together, gardening, cultivating their own fruits and vegetables, and raising chickens. Now retired, Tom’s vocational background is in insurance sales. Tom has been a part of men’s accountability groups and bible studies for the past 25 years
Tom accepted Christ in 1996; he and Terry began attending The Chapel in Akron shortly thereafter in 1998. Tom became active in Care Ministry, serving as a deacon and doing hospital visitation for sick and infirm members of The Chapel. Since transitioning to The Chapel in Green nearly 20 years ago, Tom has taught membership classes, baptism classes, and served as a leader in our Marriage Ministry alongside Terry. Tom currently serves as chairman of the deacons for The Chapel in Green and was previously a member of our Constitution Committee as our church prepared for restructuring.
Ray Thompson
Board Member
Ray and his wife, Linda, have been married for 56 years. Together, they have two adult children and five grandchildren. Ray and Linda like to kayak together and travel to the beach. In his spare time, Ray enjoys grilling and woodworking. A Vietnam veteran, Ray’s vocational background is in sales and marketing. Now retired, he works part-time for a local funeral home to help grieving families get through difficult times. Ray and Linda are passionate about helping couples build healthy, God-honoring marriages, and have spent almost 15 years leading the Marriage Ministry at The Chapel in Green.
Ray accepted Christ in 1978 and credits the faithful prayers of his loving wife for his spiritual transformation. Ray and Linda moved to Ohio in the 1980s and joined The Chapel in Akron in 1985. Ray served in Youth Ministry and Marriage Ministry there until the Green Campus opened, and has spent the last 20 years leading short-term mission trips to Mozambique, Bulgaria, and Mexico; investing in our Marriage Ministry; and launching an accountability group for men seeking sexual purity. Ray currently serves as a deacon and has previously served on The Chapel’s own Board of Trustees and Missions Board, and sat on the Board of Directors for Servants Beyond Borders.
