Staff
Rev. Dr. Julie R. Harley - Lead Pastor
Julie is a graduate of Northwestern University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She earned her doctor of ministry degree in leadership at Northern Theological Seminary. She was ordained in the United Church of Christ and holds dual standing in the Presbytery of Chicago. Julie’s ministry began in 1985, and she has served three congregations and one health and human service ministry in the Chicago metropolitan area. She is the author of Soul Calling: Breathing Spirit into a Life of Service, and has a passion for spirituality and social justice.
Julie is an advisor to doctoral students in preaching at Chicago Theological Seminary and is a participant in the Contemplative Leadership program with Shalem Institute in Washington, DC. She has two daughters, and her avocations include jogging, biking, swimming, wilderness trips, reading, movies and enjoying all the arts.
Rev. Leah Fowler - Associate Pastor for Youth and Adult Education
lfowler@firstunitedoakpark.com
Leah is a graduate of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, with a B.A. in religious studies and holds a master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta. She spent a semester studying abroad at Capital Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Leah grew up Presbyterian and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. She has served as minister for Christian Formation and Youth at Union Congregational Church in Montclair, New Jersey, and Director of Youth Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. She has led many mission trips in the U.S. and overseas. Leah enjoys travel, spending time with her partner Chris and their dog Lucy. Leah loves to be quiet with a novel, throw dinner parties with friends, and see independent movies. She joined our staff on July 26, 2009.
Rev. Rob Leveridge - Associate Pastor for Membership and Congregational Care
rleveridge@firstunitedoakpark.com
Rob is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis , where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Religious Studies, and Chicago Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity. Rob taught 6th and 2nd grades in Opelousas, LA with the program Teach for America , and has been Assistant Pastor at Galewood Community Church in Chicago, Minister for Seminary Relations at Chicago Theological Seminary, and Pastor of First Baptist Church in Iowa City , IA. Rob joined the staff of First United Church on July 1 of 2010. He is married with three children, does all kinds of stuff all the time, enjoys reading, biking, and playing guitar, and is never bored, like, ever. Rob is the author of several unwritten books.
Marylen Marty-Gentile, M.Div. - Director of Children & Family Ministries
marylen@firstunitedoakpark.com
Marylen graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, and earned a Master’s degree in Education from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. In addition, she earned a Master’s degree in Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.
Marylen’s particular interests include how children and youth grow in faith in the context of community, how art, music and ritual nurture the spiritual lives of adults and children, and how children and adults can grow in faith together. She delights that First United is a community that takes seriously children, youth and adults growing in faith and serving God together. Marylen has been Director of First United’s Church School for 16 years and coordinates the confirmation program, Quest.
William Chin - Director of Music Ministries
William Chin has a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois.
Bill is the Assistant Director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and is the founder and artistic director of The Oriana Singers, a six-voice a cappella group which tours nationally and internationally and has performed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois. He is Music Director of the Oak Park and River Forest Children’s Chorus, with whom he has recorded two CDs for GIA Publications. In addition, Bill directs the Symphony Chorus for the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, and is the conductor of the Anshe Emet Synagogue Choir in Chicago, Illinois.
Bill has been the Director of Music Ministries at First United Church of Oak Park since 2000.
Michael Surratt - Interim Organist
A native of North Carolina and church organist since the age of twelve, Michael Surratt holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in organ performance. He also has done work toward a doctorate in organ at Northwestern and a Master of Divinity degree at Chicago Theological Seminary.
Rick Steele - McCormick Seminary Pastoral Intern
Rick is in his third year in the Masters of Divinity program at McCormick Theological Seminary. He earned a Bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Roosevelt University; there he also received his certificate in Computer Sciences. Rick has had successful careers at AT&T, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and The Spencer Foundation. For the past seventeen years, Rick has been a volunteer at the Harold Colbert Jones Community Center in Chicago Heights, IL. For the past eight years, he has served the Center as the Board of Directors Vice President. Rick and his wife Ruth, of forty-three years, have two adult sons and one grandson. They have been active in local, national, and international mission fields. For the past ten years, they have spent one week of July in the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky serving those in need there.
Fred Henders - Operations Manager
operations@firstunitedoakpark.com
Fred has a Bachelor of Science in Business from Lewis University and an M.B.A. from the University of Alabama. During Fred’s corporate career he was an IT specialist for firms such as Illinois Bell, W.W. Grainger and Amoco Corporation. He also owned HobbyTown USA on Lake Street in Oak Park for 10 years. He and his wife Anne have been members of First United since 1992 and currently reside in Forest Park. Fred is a Melrose Park native and a former Oak Park resident for 15 years. In his spare time Fred enjoys reading, publishing and distributing history books, rooting for the White Sox and attending as many Alabama football games as he can every season.
Adam Wilson - Office Manager
Adam is a long time Oak Park resident with 15 years of customer service and office management experience. He is currently completing a BA in computer information systems at DePaul University and has pursued his interest in technology, social justice and sustainability through volunteering and internships with the OPRF Food Pantry, Seven Generations Ahead, I-GO Car Sharing, and the Global Foodbanking Network. Adam has been a member and fan of First United since 2010. He lives in Oak Park and is engaged to (the super wonderful) Renee Grogg. Adam became our new full-time office manager in October 2011.
Julie O’Shea - Financial Administrator
financial@firstunitedoakpark.com
Julie has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Julie joined First United as a member in 1995. She is married with three children and lives in Oak Park. As a member of the church, she has served on various committees and Church Council over the years.
Julie joined the staff as Financial Administrator in 2006, which allowed her to combine her gifts of finance and administration for the good of the church.
Joan White - Director of First United Nursery School
Joan is a graduate of Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and she has earned a Master of Education in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy degree from National Louis University, Evanston, Illinois.
Joan has been Director of First United Nursery School since 1977. She is a member of Keystone Baptist Church on the west side of Chicago and is a board member of Westside Holistic Family Services. In addition, Joan is active in the leadership of the Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education in Oak Park. Three granddaughters fill her spare time.