Who We Are...
United Church of Rogers Park is part of North Shore Co-op.
This co-op is formed with United Methodist inter-city churches on Chicago’s northside that share resources and clergy. With inter-city churches financial struggles, the co-op brings together churches by supporting each individual neighborhood church with their unique relationship with its surrounding community. It makes the United Methodism reach further on the northside of Chicago.
The North Shore co-op includes:
Grace United Methodist Church [of Logan Square]
Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church
United Church of Rogers Park
Helen Keller - an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. At the age of 19 months, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness. Of all people, she understood being alone; And yet, she once said:
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
As individuals, we have gifts that are within us. We can keep them under a bushel, or we can bring them to the community.
There is a bigger dynamic to United Church being merged with three other churches under one roof in one area here in Rogers Park.
There is a greater dynamic being part of the Northside Co-op. This Co-op has four buildings covering a very large area on the north side of Chicago. This cooperative model makes our shared resources exceeding and our common goal more reachable.
As individual churches’ resources may be limited but shared together our common goal to make disciples for the transformation of the world is fuller. Our voices are louder.
The Northside Co-op’s clergy and staff become stronger by sharing their resources. For small churches, and probably for most churches, clergy and church staff are the biggest ticket item in the budget. This Co-op model allows us to share pastoral time in a way that gives small churches the fuller staff that they actually need to live out their missions.
As Mother Teresa said:
I Can Do Things You Cannot, You Can Do Things I Cannot; Together We Can Do Great Things.”
Pastor Seth Botts
Pastor Seth Botts is originally from Mount Vernon, Missouri. He holes a master’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Missouri and is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity through Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Seth has services at The Gathering UMC in St. Louis, Missouri.
Seth has a passion for exploring how faith communities can reimage ways to welcome and invite people whom the church would traditionally excludes, specifically the LGBTQ and recovery community. With experience in the 12-step recovery, Seth seeks to encourage vulnerability and spiritual growth within the communities that he serves.
Rev. Lindsey Long Joyce
Rev. Lindsey Long Joyce received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and her Master’s of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. She is trained in community organizing, cross-cultural community building, and justice ministries. Her passion is to work for justice and peace and to build relationships.
Area of Focus is at Grace UMC and within the Co-op for Social Justice.
Rev. Ji Euh “Mori”
Pastor Mori [also known by Pastor O] has an undergraduate in psychology. Her background in clinical psychology led to her employment at Seoul National University Hospital where she primarily worked with older adults with dementia. Rev. Mori pursue a M.Div., at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She focuses on multigenerational activities, bringing children, parents, and grandparents together in faith. She is aware of the issues facing rural congregations: high suicide rates, alcoholism and drug use, and declining populations. She has a M.A. program in Spiritual Formation and Direction at Garrett. Pastor Mori is excited to work with diverse communities, colorful cultures, and all generations.
Area of Focus is at Ravenswood Fellowship and within the Co-op as Hospitality and Congregational Wellness.
Sabrina Bermingham,
Minister of Administration,
Sexton
Pastor Matt Temple
Matt Temple is a wounded healer. He has been married to his wife Angie since 1995 and their daughter Taylor turns 24 this month. Most recently, Matt has served as the Associate Director of New Church Starts with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. In this role his primary focus is on developing and supporting initiatives to establish new faith communities. Matt also gets to serve as the Co-Pastor at Newstory Church in Chicago. Newstory is a fully affirming, multi-cultural faith community located on the Northside of Chicago.
Area of Focus is with the Co-op as Church Planter.
Jeremy Ramey, Music Ministry
If you have any questions, call Jeremy at 773-960-7117.
Edvette Jones,
Artist in Residence
Need a photographer, contact Edvette at 773-761-2097
Phillip Robinson, Hospitality Coordinator
Northa Johnson, CF Volunteer Coordinator
Want to volunteer for Community Feast? Contact Northa by emailing her at northajj@gmail.com or call 312-955-0049 no texts please.