Reverend Dr. William A. Evertsberg
Senior Minister
Bill has been the Senior Minister at the Kenilworth Union Church since 2014. He was educated at Calvin College (B.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div. & D. Min.), and ordained to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1985.
Previously, Bill has served as Associate Pastor of the Abington Presbyterian Church in suburban Philadelphia (1985-1990); as Head of Staff at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan (1990-1997); and as Head of Staff at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, Connecticut (1997-2013).
Dr. Evertsberg and his wife Kathy are originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kathy is a retired dental hygienist with time now for passions like gardening, racket sports, books, and church activities. Their son Michael works for a software company in San Francisco and their daughter Taylor is pursuing a Master’s degree in Library Science at the University of Illinois. She lives in Connecticut with her husband Christian and their bloodhound Sergeant Pepper. Doogie the golden retriever works at church with Bill. His job is to greet the students when they arrive at church for the Joyful Noise Nursery School.
email: Dr. Evertsberg
Reverend Dr. Katie Snipes Lancaster
Senior Associate Minister
Katie was dedicated in the Disciples of Christ congregation in Crawfordsville, Indiana; baptized in the United Church of Christ congregation in Midland, Michigan; confirmed at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana; and ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), so she quickly identified with the deep ecumenical roots of Kenilworth Union Church.
Katie earned her Doctor of Ministry and Masters of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, and her Bachelors in Theological Studies at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. She has been a pastor since 2008, serving first as a pastor at the Center for Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice at Grinnell College, in Grinnell, Iowa, and then at First Congregational Church of La Grange, IL. Dr. Lancaster lives in Libertyville with her husband Rob and son Harrison and twins Rose and Theo.
email: Dr. Lancaster
Reverend Christine V. Hides
Associate Minister for Discipleship
Christine leads ministries of Christian education at Kenilworth Union that nurture imagination and participation in God’s vision of peace and justice in an increasingly digital world: her particular focus is with Children and Family Ministry, Adult Education, and Communications. Christine studied at Northwestern University (B.S., M.S.) and Garret Evangelical Theological Seminary (BGTS). Christine grew up on a farm located near Culver Academies, where she attended high school. In other seasons of her life, God called her to non-profit policy work, teaching in Switzerland and on the North Shore, and two suburban congregations before beginning at Kenilworth Union Church in 2018. Christine is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church. She lives in Libertyville with her husband and two daughters.
email: Rev. Hides
Lisa Bond
Minister of Music
I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. —Psalm 101:1
Lisa Bond has passionately served in church music and music education for over thirty years. In 1996, while teaching music in North Shore area schools, Lisa joined Kenilworth Union Church as the part-time Director of Children’s and Bell Choirs. Under her innovative leadership, the Church’s Music Ministry program quickly flourished to include junior high and high school choirs.
Lisa directs the Chancel Choir, KUC Youth Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Cherub/Rejoice Singers and Ringers, Bambino Choir, Alumni Choir, Junior Bell Choir and Adult Bell Choir. She closely collaborates with Kenilworth Union’s top-notch music staff, talented choir volunteers, and superb section leader soloists. She inspires the choirs to boldly profess their faith while embracing the Music Ministry mantra, “We Must Work to Bring Our Best to God.”
Lisa studied choral conducting, piano, and music education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, and a Master of Music degree from DePaul University. She frequently attends national sacred music conferences at Montreat and St Olaf Colleges, seeking out the expertise of national leaders in church music. She lives in Hoffman Estates with her supportive husband Andy and two musical children, singer and guitarist Sarah, and singer and saxophonist Nicholas.
email: Ms. Bond
Sarah Champlin
Minister of Youth, Young Adults, and Mission
Sarah is a New Trier graduate and was a faithful youth at First United Methodist Church in Evanston, where her leaders inspired her to pursue youth ministry as a career and a calling. Previously, she served in a Catholic campus ministry program at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, as well as directed the youth ministry program at St. David’s Episcopal Church in the Philly suburbs.
Sarah studied at Fordham University (B.A.) and Boston University School of Theology (M.Div.) with certificates in Mission & Ecumenism and Faith & Ecological Justice. Her many mission experiences have led her as far as India and as close as a soup kitchen operating out of her basement. When she is not off adventuring, Sarah loves to read, go birding around her neighborhood, and swim in the lake.
email: Ms. Champlin
Amy Johnson
Director of A Joyful Noise Preschool
Amy taught in kindergarten, fourth, and fifth grade classrooms before falling in love with early childhood education. She has taught every class here at AJN, from Older Twos through the Enrichment classes and truly loves getting to know all the smiling faces. Amy graduated from National-Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She is the proud mom of Bennett, who keeps her laughing and very active! In her free time, Amy enjoys reading, traveling anywhere warm, and spending time with her family and friends.
email: Ms. Johnson
John Sharp
Director of Business Operations
John Sharp, CPA, has held controller and CFO roles in growth-oriented technology companies for over twenty years, as well as varied management roles in financial corporations. Prior to joining the staff of Kenilworth Union Church, he sang in its choir and served on the business committee. He earned his bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Michigan.
email: Mr. Sharp
Rev. Dr. Gilbert W. Bowen
Dr. Gilbert W. Bowen (1931–2023) led the Kenilworth Union Church congregation as Senior Minister for 37 years. In recognition of his long and faithful service, the Board of Trustees conferred upon him the honorary title of Minister Emeritus.
Finance and Administration
John Sharp, Director of Business Operations (847) 251-4272 / Mr. Sharp
Joel Fox, Director of Media Production / Mr. Fox
Karen Gaynor, Administrative Assistant / Ms. Gaynor
Michelle Gutowski, Database Coordinator and Accounts Management / Ms. Gutowski
Marie-Pierre LeBris, Administrative Assistant / Ms. LeBris
William Rockelmann, Accounting Manager / Mr. Rockelmann
Julia Smolucha, Communications and Website Coordinator / Ms. Smolucha
Sandra Wells, Administrative Assistant / Ms. Wells
Youth Ministry
Sarah Champlin, Minister of Youth, Young Adults, and Mission / Ms. Champlin
Squire D. Prince, Director of Youth Ministry / Mr. Prince
Children and Family Ministry
Christine V. Hides, Associate Minister for Discipleship / Rev. Hides
Greta Connor, Director of Children and Family Ministry / Ms. Connor
Olga Todorchyk, Chapel Accompanist
A Joyful Noise Preschool
Amy Johnson, Director of A Joyful Noise Preschool / Ms. Johnson
Rev. Christine V. Hides, Associate Minister for Discipleship / Rev. Hides
Music
Lisa Bond, Minister of Music / Ms. Bond
Alyssa Bennett, Assistant Director of Choirs / Ms. Bennett
Barbara Falk, Rejoice, KUC Youth Choir, and Chapel Accompanist/ Ms. Falk
Eun Joo Ju, Organist/ Ms. Ju
Debora Ponko, Director of Chamber Ensemble / Ms. Ponko
Ryan Belongie, Assistant Director of Rejoice and Bell Choirs
Section Leaders: Alyssa Bennett, Ryan Belongie, Kaleb Drawbaugh, Kasey Nahlovsky, Kelsey Sandefur, Austin Sanders, and Jonathan Wilson
Staff Members: To access the staff calendar, click here.