Staff & Lay Leaders

Mike has 34 years of experience as ordained clergy. He grew up in the Lutheran church (ELCA), was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has “privilege of call” in the United Church of Christ, having served UCC congregations for the last 22 years.  Mike holds an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and a D.Min. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He and his wife Janine have two grown children.

Mike is passionate about dogs and pizza (Chicago deep-dish-style pizza, to be specific). He is passionate about preaching – “Preaching is the most important chance a pastor has to inspire, challenge, teach, comfort, and shape Christian identity.” And he is passionate about IAF-style community organizing, a model of faith- and broad-based organizing that we at First Church are familiar with in our work with GBIO – “If we are to serve Jesus’ vision that all may have life, and have it abundantly, then we have to organize people and money to effect change on the specific issues people care about.”