Get Involved

Garrett-Evangelical has a proud tradition of training bold, servant leaders who will impact the church, the academy, and the world. Today, Garrett-Evangelical's students, alums, faculty, staff and friends invite you into this proud tradition and challenges you to get involved through Garrett-Evangelical, your church, your denomination, and your community. By getting involved, you are modeling the bold leadership we strive to teach our students and helping the next generation of church leaders rise up to change the world.

Council of Laity

Resources

The purpose of The Council of Laity Program is to build intentional relationships between Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and laity in local churches, relationships which recognize and celebrate that the preparation of church leaders is a partnership between the seminary and local churches.

The Council of Laity is a far-reaching network of committed laypersons who know Garrett-Evangelical (or are willing to learn more about it), embrace its mission, pray for it, serve as its ambassadors, and encourage financial support to the seminary so that it can fulfill its core purpose, "To know God in Christ and, through preparing spiritual leaders, to help others know God in Christ."

To learn more about this program click here or contact Betty Campbell, Director of Stewardship, by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 847.866.3971.

2012-13 Council of Laity Members:

Dakotas
Nancy Hallenbeck First UMC Sioux Falls, SD	David & Jane Knecht First UMC Fargo, ND
Illinois
Illinois Great Rivers
Bob & Pat Davis Faith UMC Urbana, IL	Jim Dooley University UMC Danville, IL	Jim Eckert Union UMC Belleville, IL
Sarah Graham First UMC Pontiac, IL	John Groves Wesley UMC Bloomington, IL	Jane Hoffman Dwight UMC Gardner, IL
Linda Isbell First UMC O'Fallon, IL	John & Anne Nation Monticello UMC Monticello, IL	Mary Ann Pullin Normal First UMC Normal, IL
Cliff & Sally Smith Crossroads UMC Washington, IL	Ralph Smith Calvary UMC Bloomington, IL	Kyle & Alice Spitzer First UMC Peoria, IL
Wayne Weber First UMC Champaign, IL	Mark Woods Clinton UMC Clinton, IL	Kristie Ann Zimmerman Chatham UMC Chatham, IL
Northern Illinois
Dexter Bailey First UMC Evanston, IL	Mary Bell First UMC DeKalb, IL	Richard Byrant, Jr. St. Thomas UMC Glen Ellyn, IL
Carole Cartwright Hinsdale UMC Hinsdale, IL	Charles & Connie Christiansen Roscoe UMC Roscoe, IL	Roger & Alice Crawford First UMC Park Ridge, IL
Steven Cunningham Sugar Grove UMC Sugar Grove, IL	Nancy Dorr Duel First UMC Arlington Heights, IL	Rosalie May Eiler Wesley UMC Naperville, IL
Annette Elmore Rust Memorial UMC Chicago, IL	Richard Fleming Community UMC Naperville, IL	David Frobish Our Saviour's UMC Buffalo Grove, IL
Lisa & Ed Goodale North Shore UMC Glencoe, IL	Sue Hasenyager Plainfield First UMC Plainfield, IL	John & Judith Hemingway Baker Memorial UMC St. Charles, IL
Eula Johnson St. Mark UMC Chicago, IL	Ron and Toni Larsen Thornton UMC Thornton, IL	Orpha Laurie Glenview UMC Glenview, IL
Meredith Lindgren Wesley UMC Aurora, IL	Lou Jean Moyer First UMC Dekalb, IL	Dan O'Neill Christ UMC Deerfield, IL
Debra Rogers Bethany of Fox Valley UMC Cary, IL	Warren & Kayla Wendel Oregon UMC Dixon, IL	Harold & LuRay Workman Grace UMC Naperville, IL
Indiana
Charles Foster First UMC Hammond, IN	Clayton Miller Roberts Park UMC Indianapolis, IN	Gary Taylor Irvington UMC Indianapolis, IN
Mark Van Hook Honey Creek UMC Greenwood, IN
Iowa
Jim & Gretchen Brown Eldora UMC Eldora, IA	Alice Burress Jordan Creek Church West Des Moines, IA	Diana Buter Grinnell UMC Grinnell, IA
Doug Grabinski Clear Lake UMC Clear Lake, IA	Janet Hall Aldersgate UMC Urbandale, IA	Deke Rider Grimes UMC Indialola, IA
Deborah Tierney Indianola UMC Indianola, IA	Joe Trecek St. Paul's UMC Cedar Rapids, IA	Linda Vogt First UMC Ottumwa, IA
Detroit
Dale & Barbara Glick First UMC, Birmingham Bloomfield Hills, MI
Minnesota
Marilyn Chistiansen Richfield UMC Edina, MN	Ken Hiller Discovery UMC Chaska, MN
Nebraska
Mildred “Esther” Adams Loup City UMC Loup City, NE
West Ohio
Inara Brubaker First UMC Bluffton, OH
Wisconsin
David Carlson First UMC of West Allis West Allis, WI	Mark Dallner Memorial UMC Greenfield, WI	Merry Kristine Demske Christ Church Racine, WI
Fred Ganaway First UMC Racine, WI	Bill Haack Elm Grove Community UMC Elm Grove, WI	Nancy Hansen-Bennett Cargill UMC Janesville, WI
Lee Harmon St. Paul's UMC Oneida, WI	Christina Lindsay Kenwood UMC Milwaukee, WI	Gene Olson First UMC Kenosha, WI
Paula Penebaker Central UMC Milwaukee, WI	Dave Pietenpol First UMC Green Bay, WI	James Rowland Avoca UMC Avoca, WI
Roselyn Warren Crossroads, UMC Waunakee, WI	Lu Yang Hmong Christian Community Milwaukee, WI

Leadership Churches

A number of congregations across the United States give generously to help Garrett-Evangelical educate bold leaders for the church and the world. Last year, for example, 65 churches and church organizations from 15 states supported the seminary.

Garrett-Evangelical hopes to increase the number of partner congregations, especially those who give at the leadership level ($1,000 and above). Thus, it is establishing the Leadership Circle of Congregations to recognize and thank those churches that are playing a critically important role in helping to train their future church leaders.

Churches and church organizations (such as United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, Sunday School classes, etc.) who give $1,000 or more between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 will be recognized as charter members of the seminary’s Leadership Circle of Congregations. Members of the Leadership Circle of Congregations will receive a certificate of appreciation for their partnership. They will also receive a periodic letter from the president updating them on seminary happenings, and an invitation to visit campus and dialogue with students and faculty. The seminary also hopes to feature some of these churches in future issues of Aware.

Leadership gifts to the seminary can help in many ways. Unrestricted gifts are always welcome as they help the seminary address its most pressing priorities and ongoing expenses. Gifts can also be designated for scholarship support. In fact, a congregation may want to “adopt” a student, providing full or partial tuition during a student’s three years at seminary. Gifts for library support, faculty support, program support, and facility renovation are also welcome.

Garrett-Evangelical hopes to have at least 100 charter members in its Leadership Circle of Congregations, including rural, suburban, and urban congregations. Are you interested in learning more about the Leadership Circle of Congregations and how your congregation can join? Contact David Heetland, vice president for development, at 847.866.3970 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Members of the 2012-2013 Leadership Circle of Congregations

Barrington United Methodist Church- Barrington, IL
Bupyeong Methodist Church- Incheon, South Korea
Calvary United Methodist Church- Normal, IL
Clear Lake United Methodist Church- Clear Lake, IA
Crossroads United Methodist Church- Lakeville, MN
Elm Grove Community United Methodist Church-Elm Grove, WI
Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church- West Bend, WI
First Presbyterian Society- Evanston, IL
First United Methodist Church- Crystal Lake, IL
First United Methodist Church- Madison, WI
First United Methodist Church- Baraboo, WI
First United Methodist Church- Racine, WI
First United Methodist Church- Kenosha, WI
First United Methodist Church- Green Bay, WI
First United Methodist Church- Dekalb, IL
First United Methodist Church- Sioux Falls, SD
Grace United Methodist Church- Franklin, IN
Grace United Methodist Church- Naperville, IL
Hope United Methodist Church- Southfield, MI
Liberty Baptist Church- Chicago, IL
Libertyville United Methodist Church- Libertyville, IL
Peoria Chinese Christian Church- Peoria, IL
Plainfield United Methodist Church- Plainfield, IL
Shueyville United Methodist Church- Swisher, IA
St. Mark's Chapel- Storrs, CT
United Methodist Women- Birmingham, MI
University United Methodist Church- Peoria, IL
Waimea United Church of Christ- Waimea, HI
Wesley United Methodist Church- Naperville, IL
Zion United Church of Christ- South Bend, IN

Alum Ambassadors

Alum Ambassadors Program

In order to ensure that Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary remains one of the world’s premier seminaries, Garrett-Evangelical has created a network of alumni who support the seminary at a significant level and who encourage others to do likewise. To this end we have developed the Garrett-Evangelical Ambassador Program.

Garrett-Evangelical Ambassadors are alumni who:

Support the seminary financially each year at the leadership level - $1,000 or above – or in accordance with their ability
Assist the development office in telling the Garrett-Evangelical story
Encourage leadership gifts from others

To learn more about the benefits of being an Alum Ambassador, or how to become an Ambassador, click here.

2012-2013 Alum Ambassadors

Dakotas
Rodney Gist Sioux Falls, SD	Reuben Gums Jamestown, ND	Peary Wilson Custer, SD

Illinois
Dennis Langdon Chicago, IL	Marilyn and Bob McClean Mattoon, IL	Miley Palmer Decatur, IL

Michigan
Jennifer Jue Ann Arbor, MI

Missouri
Fritz Mutti Kansas City, MO

Nebraska
Mel Luetchens Murdock, NE

Ohio
J. Paul Jones Lebanon, OH	Noel Osborn Lebanon, OH

Wisconsin
Wes Falk Menomonee Falls, WI	Lance Herrick Brown Deer, WI	Ron Retherford New Berlin, WI
James A. Rivers Wild Rose, WI

Field Education

Without exception, Garrett-Evangelical graduates point to their field education experience as key to their seminary education. Our field education program reflects the seminary’s philosophy that students mature into ministry by knowing, being and doing.

By combining hands-on experience with our academic course series, Vocational Formation & Church Leadership (VFCL), we offer students the finest opportunity to discern, test and refine their call to ministry.

To learn how you can be a part of our field education program click here.