Becca Clancy became pastor of First Congregational Church of Geneva, UCC in September of 1999.  She received her B.A. from Smith College, and her M.A. and M. Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary.  She was ordained at First Congregational in February of 2000.  Becca has also been a member of the faculty of Elmhurst College since 1996, where she teaches classes in biblical theology.  She recently published her father's work on theological discourse, "Clear and Definite Words," and is presently working to complete her father's book on the atonement which he had nearly finished at the time of his death.

Our organist, Patricia (Gold) Alcorn, is a native of Lombard, IL.  She began her musical studies at the age of 7.  After graduating from high school, she was a music major at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa (now Graceland University) for two years.  She transferred to the American Conservatory fo Music in Chicago, where she studied with the late William Browning.  It was there she earned a Master of Music degree, cum laude, in piano performance.  She stayed on at the conservatory after graduation as a vocal accompanist for many years, working primarily with Dr. Harvey Ringel.  She joined the staff at First Congregational in Geneva in 1978, and she also works on the staff of the Helen M. Plum Memorial Library in Lombard.

Our Choir Director, Karen Howard, started taking piano lessons when she was 7, and actually had her lessons in the sanctuary of our church at that time.  She was the organist for Community Congregational Church in Elburn for 13 years before coming to First Congregational in Geneva.  She has performed in choirs, accompanied soloists, and directed children's choirs in the past, as well as serving on a number of music committees at church.  She has played for and organized the music for funerals at Conley Funeral Home in Elburn, her family's business, for many years, and also serves as Director of Publications for Conley Publications.

Our Minister of Christian Education, Catherine Erwin, is a recent graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary, receiving her Masters of Divinity.  She says of her journey through seminary that it has been a joy and a challenge; that God has opened doors for her she never knew were there.  Her undergraduate degree is in Liberal Arts-English Literature.  She enjoys music and loves to read.  She works weekly with our youth, ages 8th grade through high school, and oversees all of our Adult and Youth Christian Education programs.  She will not pass up an offer of chocolate.

Our church secretary, Lynnly Buchanan, is the proverbial Jack of all Trades.  She attended Northern Illinois University initially as an Art major, but ultimately graduated with a BA in Accountancy.  She worked for 7 years in public accounting for Ernst & Young, and then 10 years as the controller for a large union pension fund, before deciding that she didn't really like accounting much.  She enjoys this job more than any she has had.

In-care seminarian number one, Phil Potaczek, was born in 1986 in Detroit. He is a graduate from Elmhurst College and was a student of the Niebuhr Center, a Ronald Goetz scholar, and a member of Theta Alpha Kappa (TAK- National Theological Honors Society). He is currently studying at Eden Theological in Saint Louis. He is most interested in learning to play the harp, social justice advocacy, ecumenism, and the monastic life. While away at school, he misses his family and his home communities. He loves Christ, Little Ceasars Pizza, reading, Chicago, laughing, and looking up at the stars! And his favorite quote is "Sapere Aude" (Dare to Know)... he's not sure who was the first to say this.

 

In-care seminarian number two, Jillian Lindeen, is currently a senior at Elmhurst College.  She will graduate in May with a Theological Studies and Christian Ministry degree.  In the fall, she will be attending Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis.  When she graduates in three years, she will have a Masters of Divinity. She received her call to ministry while volunteering at the DuPage Convalescent Home.  After seminary, she plans to work in a nursing home as a chaplain.

In-care seminarian number three, Kyle Tade, is a graduate of Elmhurst College with a double major in Spanish and Religious Studies. He has been actively engaged in the Association, the Illinois Conference as well as National levels of the UCC since he was 13. It is in this time that he has grown to love and further cherish the denomination which has so openly embraced him and his journey. He will be attending Duke Divinity School in North Carolina beginning in the fall of 2010. He is looking forward to see what plans God has in store for him!