Benjamin R. Bishop
Transitional Senior Pastor
Following a career in the advertising agency business, Ben entered the ministry after attending McCormick Theological Seminary. Ben served the First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Michigan for eight years. He moved back “home” to the Chicago area and for six years and served Kenilworth Union Church, first as its Executive Minister, then as the Interim Senior Minister. Ben comes to St. Pauls, excited about doing ministry in a historic, urban church, while helping to guide the congregation through its special season of change and discernment, as St. Pauls searches for a new Senior Minister.
Ben's e-mail is
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Avena A. Ward
Associate Pastor
Avena A. Ward was called to be associate pastor at Saint Pauls in August 2000.
Born in Houston, Texas, Avena has called Chicago home since 1972. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. Rev. Ward comes to ministry after a career as a market analyst for a real estate developers. She also worked with her husband, Tom Corbett, in his building inspection and construction consulting firm while their two children, Sean (25) and Coco (22), were growing up. Tom and Avena live in the Old Town area of Chicago. Avena's ministry at Saint Pauls focuses on congregational life, spiritual formation and pastoral care. She is also Moderator of the Chicago Metropolitan Association, Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Avena's e-mail is
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Jeffrey P. Carlson
Associate Pastor
Jeff was called as an Associate Pastor to Saint Pauls in August 2002.
He grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from Oregon State University, majoring in French. Jeff taught English in Amiens, France, before moving to Chicago to attend seminary and pursue his call to ministry. He began his theological education at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and completed a Master of Divinity at Chicago Theological Seminary, all while rendering sartorial advice at Marshall Fields. Jeff enjoys teaching and preaching, and his responsibilities at Saint Pauls include adult education, outreach and ministry with young adults.
Jeff and his partner Joseph JaQuay live in the West Loop. Jeff's e-mail is
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Thomas R. Henry
Pastor Emeritus
Tom Henry retired as senior pastor on June 30, 2010 after 36 years of service. Together with his wife and partner-in-ministry, Colleen Yoder Henry, Tom served St. Pauls and the Lincoln Park community with distinction and unparalleled commitment for eight years as an associate pastor and 28 years as the senior pastor.
To recognize Tom’s “distinguished ministry” and “faithful and exemplary service to St. Pauls,” the St. Pauls Congregation honored him as its second Pastor Emeritus. Of the nine senior pastors in the 167-year history of St. Pauls, only the late Rev. Gerhard Grauer, who was Pastor Emeritus from 1964 until his death in 1987, had been so designated.
In 1989, the Chicago Theological Seminary conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of Tom’s “excellence in urban ministry.” Tom earned his Master of Divinity, and Colleen her Master of Arts in Religious Education, from CTS in 1969.
Tom and Colleen have two adult children, Anya Kompare and Brendan Henry, and two granddaughters, Colleen Kompare & Beatrix Kompare.
Tom's e-mail is
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Sharon Phillips
Director of Youth and Family Education
Sharon Phillips has been the full-time Director of Youth and Family Education since 2002, after serving two years in a part-time capacity.
A longtime member of Saint Pauls, she adapts and directs the annual Bible Story Theater presentation. Sharon is a speech and dramatic arts graduate of Beloit College in Wisconsin, but grew up in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. A professional actor and director for more than 30 years, she has served Chicago's off-Loop theatre as an educational outreach director, a managing director and as President of the League of Chicago Theatres. Sharon met her husband Bill Freise at St. Pauls. Their combined families include her son Brendan, daughter-in-law Andarte and grandchildren Oliver & Liga who are all Saint Pauls members -- and Bill's daughter Kathy, son-in-law Mark Atkinson and grandson Will - now living in Virginia, but formerly active at Saint Pauls.
Sharon lives in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago. Sharon's e-mail is
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 Kurt Hansen
Music Director
Kurt R. Hansen has served as music director since September, 1991.
Kurt is a senior lecturer in the voice and opera program in the School of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston. He conducts Saint Pauls Chancel Choir in an eclectic repertoire of traditional and contemporary works. Kurt also has an active professional career as an operatic tenor and recitalist. He has sung in Europe and South America as well as throughout the United States. A special aficionado of Bach, Kurt has sung the role of the Evangelist in Bach's Weinachts Oratorium at New York's Lincoln Center and with The Orquestra Nacional de Colombia in Bogota. One of his fondest memories is singing the role of Rodrigo in Verdi's Otello with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to celebrate Sir Georg Solti's 75th birthday in an internationally telecast tribute. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Northwestern. Kurt is married to Terry Brancaccio Hansen, a professional singer on the voice faculty at Northwestern. They have two children, Kristofer and Alex.
Kurt and his family live in Glenview in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Kurt's e-mail is
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 Kevin Dzierzawski
Organist
Kevin started playing the organ at St. Pauls in 2004 and joined the staff in 2005. He previously was the Director of Music at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Northfield, Illinois. While at Ascension he was the organist, directed three choirs, and founded an RSCM based Girls Choir. A Pi Kappa Lambda graduate from Northwestern University with degrees including BMus (Church Music) and MMus (Organ Performance), he studied with Wolfgang Rübsam, Richard Enright, and Simon Preston (artist in residence). Other organ teachers include Marilyn Biery and Lawrence C. Smith.
Equally comfortable at the piano, Kevin studied at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan for four summers, and has participated in Master Classes with Nelita True and Kenneth Drake. Teachers include Ruth Petersen, Natalie Matovinovic, Nancy Visser, and George Lucktenberg (harpsichord).
A native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Kevin moved to Cheshire, Connecticut before returning to Evanston to attend Northwestern. He currently resides in Downers Grove.
Katrena Fielder
Financial Secretary and Business Manager
Katrena's e-mail is
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 Kathy Kikke
Church Office Administrator and Wedding Coordinator
Kathy's e-mail is
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Gary Dieboldt
Church Office Administrator
Gary's email is
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Edward Puschmann
Maintenance Supervisor
Edward's email is
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Miguel Sanchez
Maintenance
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