Staff at Resurrection Lutheran Church
Co-Pastorate of Resurrection Lutheran Church
is a unique and vital position of the church. Our pastors are called to Preach and Teach the Word, Extend the Sacraments, Receive in Baptism, and inspire and challenge RLC to listen for God’s guidance, discern God’s will and follow God faithfully. Our pastors, each a
member of our professional leadership team, inspire and support this congregation’s understanding of ourselves as a “priesthood of all believers” and that as laity we have responsibility to lead this congregation as God calls us in mission. Presently our pastors are sharing a full-time position.
 Pastor Mary Armstrong-Reiner returned home to Illinois after living in Atlanta, GA, the past 8 years. She is a native of the Quincy/Hannibal, MO, area, where her father and two brothers farm. Her other brother, Tim, is an American Baptist minister. Besides keeping busy with their two sons, Christopher and Samuel, Mary helps with Christopher’s therapy and coordinates the parents support group for the Autism Society of McLean County. She loves to cook and read and catch a nap now and then. She also enjoys baseball, but not the Dodgers! Pastor Mary’s passions for the church are extending the Word, sacrament, preaching, and education for all ages. She also loves social ministry and pastoral care. |
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 Pastor David Armstrong-Reiner comes to us from his native California via Atlanta, GA, where he was working on his doctoral dissertation on the book of Revelation. Most of David’s free time is spent playing with his and Pastor Mary’s two boys, therapy with Christopher, keeping up on the Los Angeles Dodgers, reading, cooking, and doing his daily Sudoku puzzle. Pastor David’s passions are extending the Word and sacraments, preaching, and education for all ages. His great loves also include adult education and pastoral care. |
 Kathy Neil, Ministry Leader for Discipleship Evangelism, is responsible for “championing” RLC’s ministry to reach out, connect with people, invite, and receive all people into our community. A goal is to weave discipleship into the fabric of all RLC ministries. This position facilitates the LOVnMM (Life on the Vine New Member Ministry) Team, Community Relations, and other teams involved in outreach. This is presently a part-time position.
Kathy,born in Thief River Falls, MN, was a farm girl until 5th grade when her Dad took a position at Lutherdale Bible Camp in Elkhorn, WI. Kathy graduated from Wartburg College with teaching certificates in elementary and early childhood education. Kathy, Bill and their son Matt joined RLC in 1985. Their son David was the first baby baptized at our Royal Pointe location. Kathy remembers that “We joined because we met people we wanted to be with”. Kathy had worked 20 years in the field of early childhood education before retiring to work for RLC. Kathy enjoys reading and several art forms. She is currently pursuing certification in Spiritual Direction. |
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 Kathy Eckert, Ministry Leader for Spiritual Formation is a lay professional minister who supports RLC’s vision by fostering spiritual growth, healthy families and relationships, and fellowship/community/ caregiving. The primary focus of this position is to intentionally develop and facilitate ministry opportunities that expand an individual or group understanding of their place in the family of God, in the Body of Christ, and in God’s neighborhood. This position is liaison to the many education teams, and small groups among other ministry teams.
Kathy graduated from Concordia College in Seward, NE, with a teaching degree in theology and history in 1980. She went on to be certified as a Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod Director of Christian Education. Then in 2002, Kathy was commissioned as an Associate in Ministry with the ELCA. Kathy enjoys camping, touring the country by motorcycle, reading, playing the piano, and concerts of all kinds of music. She is involved in the Storybook Project at Decatur Correctional Center for women and volunteers at Good Samaritan Inn food program. Kathy’s husband, Martin, is the ISU campus pastor. They have a son in Arizona. |
 Nikki Houseman, Ministry Leader for Administration and Finance
The Ministry Leader for Administration and Finance (MLAF) is responsible for supervising and facilitating the administrative operations of the congregation. Responsibilities involve administration of the physical, financial, and human resources of the congregation. The MLAF has direct responsibility for some tasks and empowers members of the congregation to complete other tasks. This position works closely with both the Support and Personnel Teams at RLC as well as with many other volunteers. The Ministry Leader for Administration and Finance is a part time position – 28 hours per week.
Nikki and her husband, Thad, are originally from Ohio and moved to Bloomington in 2006. Nikki is the oldest of 8 children and played soccer at Otterbein College where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Nikki loves being a mom to their four children. They all like to play softball and soccer and jump on their back yard trampoline. She and Thad play co-ed softball with their church, Eastview Christian in Bloomington where they are active members. |
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 Jerry Worden, Music Director for Blended and Contemporary Worship
This is the lead role in planning, coordinating, choosing, arranging, rehearsing, and presenting worship music for the blended and contemporary worship services and for other services as initiated. This position requires about 20 hours per week depending on the needs and schedules of the church and the season. This position has regular involvement with the Worship Team, other musicians, and church staff members. Also included is supervision to sound technicians and those in similar roles for audio-visual aspects of worship.
Jerry leads the Praise Band with his wife, Libby, on vocals. They have been members of RLC for more than 20 years and have raised their 3 children here. Jerry put in 27 years with the Town of Normal police department. He enjoys radio control airplanes and riding motorcycle. Jerry has served with Walk to Emmaus, ChristCare, and RLC’s Congregation Council. Since he was 6 years old, Jerry has been involved with music. Jerry feels “blessed to work with an abundance of musically talented individuals who give of their time to the music of RLC.” |
COUNCIL MEMBERS 2008
David Ashley
Leisa Barbour
Andrew Baumann
Helen Haggerty
Joel Janisewski
Don McAuley
Mark Scott
Madis Smit
Karen Young
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