Pastor Laurin Vance was ordained in 1974, and has been pastor at Salem since 1992 after serving previous congregations in Northern Michigan, the Detroit area, and Minnesota.  While serving congregations, he has worked in campus ministry efforts in Indiana - Kentucky, Michigan, and California.  He has two children, one in graduate school and one in college.  He actively participates in athletics, particularly basketball and running.  He loves to travel and recently completed a Sabbatical which included visiting several states and living in Spain for two months.  One outgrowth of his Sabbatical experience has been to learn Spanish, which he is now continuing with a tutor five days a week.

"The presence of God's Spirit is very much in evidence here at Salem, and I thoroughly enjoy working with the others who are here in that Spirit." - Pastor Laurin Vance