Staff
Julie R. Harley - Lead Pastor
Julie is a graduate of Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, with a Master’s degree in Divinity. She was ordained in the United Church of Christ, and has served for 11 years in health and human service ministry and 12 years in parish ministry in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 2006, Julie completed her Doctor of Ministry in Leadership at Northern Theological Seminary, Lombard, IL.
Julie is the author of “Soul Calling: Breathing Spirit into a Life of Service,” published in 1998 by United Church Press. Julie has two daughters in high school. Her interests include writing, reading, cooking, biking and swimming. Julie became the lead pastor at First United on October 1, 2008.
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.
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.
Marylen Marty-Gentile - 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.
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.
Judith Loevy - Operations Manager
operations@firstunitedoakpark.com
Judith grew up in River Forest, Illinois and graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School. She attended Rosary Women’s College in River Forest. She spent the last 25 years in Human Resources working for large corporations in Chicago, Illinois. She is very active at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Church. Her hobby is stamp collecting.
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.
Mark Buck - Interim Associate Pastor for Membership and Mission
Mark Buck holds degrees from Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL, and Eden Theological Seminary, Webster Groves, MO. A minister in the United Church of Christ for the past 35 years, Mark has served in several called pastorates, and guided 11 congregations through the process of transition between called pastorates. He received his Interim Ministry Training through the Interim Ministry Network, Baltimore, MD, and maintains the designation of Professional Transition Specialist through that organization. Mark sees his ministerial specialty as providing a spiritual, emotional, and operational bridge for a congregation existing between called pastorates, which can be among the most productive and transformational times in a congregation’s life. He maintains professional memberships in the Interim Ministry Network, the Association of United Church of Christ Intentional Interim Ministers, and the Association of Trained Intentional Interim Ministers.
Mark resides in Highland, IL with his wife Jane. They have one son, Andrew who teaches Middle School Band, and lives with his wife Kayla in Anamosa Iowa. He enjoys Chinese Cooking, gardening, amateur photography, reading, travel and following professional baseball.