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

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 e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 847.866.3971.

2011-12 Council of Laity Members:

Dakotas
Mark and Nancy Hallenbeck First UMC Sioux Falls, SD	Jane Knecht First UMC Fargo, ND
Illinois
Illinois Great Rivers
Jim Dooley University UMC Danville, IL	Jim Eckert Union UMC Belleville, IL	David and Deborah Gentry Calvary UMC Normal, IL
John R. Groves Wesley UMC Bloomington, IL	Harold and Linda Ann Isbell O'Fallon First UMC O'Fallon, IL	John D. and Anne L. Nation Monticello UMC Monticello, IL
Mary Ann Pullin Normal First UMC Normal, IL	Cliff and Sally Smith Crossroads UMC Washington, IL	First UMC Peoria, IL
Mark Vandermyde First UMC Decatur, IL	Wayne G. Weber First UMC Champaign, IL
Northern Illinois
Dexter M. Bailey First UMC Evanston, IL	Richard Byrant, Jr. St Thomas UMC Glen Ellyn, IL	Carole Cartwright Hinsdale UMC Hinsdale, IL
Charles & Connie Christiansen Roscoe UMC Roscoe, IL	Roger and Alice Crawford First UMC of Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL	Steven N. Cunningham Sugar Grove UMC Sugar Grove, IL
Nancy Dorr Duel First UMC Arlington Heights, IL	Rosalie May Eiler Wesley UMC Naperville, IL	Richard D. Fleming Community UMC Naperville, IL
Lisa and Ed Goodale North Shore UMC Glencoe, IL	Peter and Chris Greulich Northbrook UMC Northbrook, IL	Mel Griffin Our Saviour's UMC Schaumburg, IL
Sue Hasenyager Plainfield First UMC Plainfield, IL	John and Judith Hemingway Baker Memorial UMC St. Charles, IL	Eula Johnson St. Mark UMC Chicago, IL
Ron and Toni Larsen Thornton UMC 821 Highland Ave.	Orpha M. Laurie Glenview UMC Glenview, IL	Bruce & Margie Madden Sycamore UMC Sycamore, I
Lou Jean Moyer & Mary Bell First UMC Dekalb, IL	Dan O'Neill Christ UMC Deerfield, IL	Debbie Rogers Bethany of Fox Valley UMC Aurora, IL
Tom & Carolyn Swider Cary UMC Cary, IL	Warren and Kayla Wendel Oregon UMC Dixon, IL	LuRay Workman Grace UMC Naperville, IL
Indiana
Charles E. Foster First UMC Hammond, IN	Thomas McKaig Peru Main Street UMC Peru, IN	Clayton C. Miller Roberts Park UMC Indianapolis, IN
Jim Nutt Epworth UMC Indianapolis, IN	Gary Taylor Irvington UMC Indianapolis, IN	Mark Van Hook Honey Creek UMC Greenwood, IN
Iowa
Jim and Gretchen Brown Eldora UMC Eldora, IA	Alice Lecky 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	Deborah Tierney Indianola UMC Indianola, IA
Joe B. Trecek St. Paul's UMC Cedar Rapids, IA	Linda Vogt First UMC Ottumwa, IA
Detroit
Dale and Barbara Glick First UMC, Birmingham Bloomfield Township, MI
Minnesota
Marilyn Chistiansen Richfield UMC Minneapolis, MN
Nebraska
Mildred “Esther” Adams Loup City UMC Loup City, NE
West Ohio
Inara Brubaker First UMC Ada, OH
Wisconsin
Dan Benning Grand Avenue UMC Port Washington, WI	David J. Carlson First UMC of West Allis West Allis, WI	Mark A. Dallner Memorial UMC Greenfield, WI
Merry Kristine Demske Christ Church Racine, WI	Marilyn DeWitt Midland UMC Mazomanie, 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
James Rowland Avoca UMC Avoca, WI	Blake Scharine First UMC Whitewater, WI	Roselyn Warren Crossroads, UMC Waunakee, WI
Jack H. Werner Emmanuel Community UMC Menomonee Falls, 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 e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Members of the 2009-10 Leadership Circle of Congregations

Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Barrington United Methodist Church, Barrington, Ill.
Bupyeong Methodist Church, Incheon, South Korea
Calvary United Methodist Church, Normal, Ill.
Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, Iow.
Crossroads United Methodist Church, Lakeville, Min.
Daily Christian Chapel, Rosedale, Ind.
Elm Grove Community United Methodist Church, Elm Grove, Wis.
Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Eureka United Methodist Church, Eureka, S.D.
Evangelical United Methodist Church, Ottawa, Ill.
First Presbyterian Society, Evanston, Ill.
First United Methodist Church, Chicago, Ill.
First United Methodist Church, Green Bay, Wis.
First United Methodist Church, Madison, Wis.
First United Methodist Church, Racine, Wis.
First United Methodist Church, Waukesha, Wis.
Kenilworth Union Church, Kenilworth, Ill.
Liberty Baptist Church, Chicago, Ill.
Libertyville United Methodist Church, Libertyville, Ill.
Peoria Chinese Christian Church, Peoria, Ill.
Stanwood United Methodist Church, Stanwood, Was.
Troy First United Methodist Church, Troy, Mich.
United Methodist Women, Glencoe, Ill.
University United Methodist Church, Peoria, Ill.
Wesley United Methodist Church, Naperville, Ill.

Field Education

Garrett-Evangelical graduates point to their field education as key to their seminary education and many of you remember the challenges and rewards of testing your own academic work, theology and pastoral gifts in your own field education experiences.

Our field education program works in concert with the three-year Vocational Formation & Church Leadership course series. Combining an academic program with hands-on experience, we continue to offer students the finest opportunity to discern, articulate and test their call to ministry in a wide variety of field sites including churches, chaplaincies, social service agencies and international missions.

We work to maintain a close partnership with an excellent and growing group of ministry professionals in the immediate area, surrounding states and abroad, and it is because of these partnerships that we can continue to provide such an outstanding program.

If you wish to employ your energy, vision, experience and feel called into partnership with us by mentoring a field education student please read more about our program or contact Wendy Kneer, Field Education Program Manager, 847.866.3961 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .