Development and Marketing Staff This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 773.896.2432 John ThomasSenior Advisor to the President After nearly 35 years of ministry, first as a pastor of suburban and urban congregations in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, then as the national ecumenical officer of the United Church of Christ, and finally as its General Minister and President for ten years, I bring significant experience of the church in various settings and in ecumenical and global contexts. While each ministry, like politics, may be local, and must be deeply rooted in the life of its particular time and location, each place is always subject to the distortions and idolatries of parochialism in time and space. Each of my ministries has endeavored to nurture a “catholic” sense of the church’s life, so that wherever we find our primary place of belonging, we know that we are part of something bigger than this place, older than our memory, richer than our understanding, and with a reach of concern far beyond our own front door. Equipping transformational leaders by helping to situate them in this broadened context is a primary task of theological education and a particular focus of my teaching.
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 773.896.2433 April LewtonDirector of Annual Giving & Community Engagement The Rev. April Lewton is the Director of Annual Giving and Community Engagement for Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). As part of her work, she focuses on nurturing and strengthening the relationships between local congregations, alumni of CTS, and supporters of the Seminary. Additionally, she seeks out partnerships and opportunities for collaborations between CTS and the diverse community-based organizations located around the Chicago metropolitan area. As a member of the CTS staff, April knows and appreciates the important role that theological education, opportunities for learning, and dialogue on faith and religion are for the world today - perhaps more so now than ever before. Prior to joining CTS, April worked in development and fundraising for a national, faith-based social service agency in St. Louis, Missouri, focusing on church relations, major donor acquisitions, and annual fund giving. Her development work helped to support a nationwide scholarship initiative for young people interested in working in social service and/or ministry in religious communities and churches. She has also worked as a community organizer for immigration reform and immigrants’ rights with the Asian American Institute, a social justice, advocacy organization working with the Asian American communities in and around Chicago. April received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religious Studies from Chapman University in Orange, California, and her Master of Divinity from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is currently seeking dual-standing with the United Church of Christ.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 773.896.2434 Nell StiglerDevelopment Office Assistant Ms. Eula “Nell” Stigler provides administrative assistance, database maintenance and event planning for CTS’ Office of Development and Marketing. Joining CTS in March of 2009, Nell brings over 30 years combined experience in office management and general accounting. In addition to working for corporate giants such as Hewlett Packard and Reuters America, she draws from her experience as Office Manager for Call to Action, a Catholic movement working for equality and justice in the Church and society.
Maria Hetman Development & Marketing Associate Maria Hetman coordinates publications and communications for CTS and supports the Seminary’s initiatives, including engagements with the broader public. As Editor of CTS’ biannual magazine, Tower News, Maria is delighted to engage with students, alumni/ae, faculty, staff, and friends in telling the story of CTS. She is excited to have a supporting role in the Seminary’s strong, progressive commitment to fostering tolerance, understanding, and justice in our world, particularly around the issues of LGBTQ rights, interfaith dialogue, oppression and poverty, and the environment. Prior to her work at CTS, Maria worked as a writer and program developer in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the field of human rights and justice. She has also worked in adult literacy, both in direct service and as a program assistant, with immigrant communities in Chicago. She holds a M.A. in Sociology and Social Anthropology from Central European University in Budapest and a B.A. in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York. Her other interests and commitments include environmental sustainability, hiking in the great outdoors, and the cultures and languages of the region which is often referred to as Southeast Europe. |
