Our Staff

Rev. Ken Green, Senior Pastor and Head of Staff
Rev. Green is originally from Seattle, Washington, where he met his wife, Tassie, who is also an ordained minister. They have two children. Ken attended the University of Washington, earning a B.A in Speech Communication in 1984 and a Masters degree emphasizing instructional communication in 1987. Ken graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with his Masters of Divinity degree in 2001.

Rev. Green comes to First Presbyterian Church of La Grange after serving as the Associate Pastor for Young Families and the Discipleship of Children at the Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, a 4,200-member church that is extremely well known and respected within the denomination.

Prior to his ordination, Rev. Green was a trainer in Management & Communication for the Boeing Co. and a tenured faculty member at Seattle Central Community College where he taught classes in speech communication. He also has 14 years experience as a lay volunteer at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, where he served as an Elder and on numerous committees including a Pastor Nominating Committee and a Church Officer Nominating Committee. In addition, he served as a small-group leader and a leadership team facilitator, and he participated in mission trips.

Rev. Green serves as moderator of the session and as head of staff. In addition to preaching, he provides pastoral care for the congregation and assists boards and committees in their ministries. He also works with session on the reevaluation and implementation of the church’s strategic plan.


Rev. Rebecca McClintock, Associate Pastor
Rebecca joined the staff of FPCLG in summer 2009 as Associate Pastor. She is involved in pastoral care and youth and children’s ministries as well as many other areas within our church. She brings a particular affinity to contemplative prayer that is expected to impact our worship.
 
Rebecca brings hands-on experiences in many areas. These experiences include Clinical Pastoral Education with the Phoebe Ministries Nursing Home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a Seminary internship at San Geronimo Community Presbyterian Church in Northern California, and experience as Worship and Hospitality Coordinator for the seminary from which she received her divinity education.
 
Rebecca has led changes within contemporary services, delighted in the guidance of curriculum for children’s ministry, and enjoyed being in the classroom teaching Sunday school. Her depth and breadth of knowledge and commitment reflects an Ohio upbringing that was grounded in the Presbyterian Church. She is an avid reader and delivers thought-provoking sermons that connect scripture to everyday occurrences.
 
Born near Wooster, Ohio, Rebecca shadowed her accountant father who taught Sunday School and was also ordained in the church as a deacon and an elder. She also learned from her mother who taught bible study and served on CNC committees. She has grown up in the church and witnessed first-hand how faith communities and pastors function. This experience struck a chord within her early on, and it later fueled her aspirations.
 
Rebecca received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Wooster College and went on to earn her Master of Divinity degree as well as a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. Spiritual Direction is the practice of guiding others in where they see God in their lives.


Susan Dudek, Coordinator for Children's Ministries
Susan coordinates our church school volunteers and works closely with the Associate Pastor, Curriculum Advisors and Children's Ministry Committee to develop and implement curricula that are lively, interesting and instructive. She brings administrative and child development experience gleaned from her other career as a nationally-certified flute teacher who teaches in several area high schools as well as her own flute studio. Susan and her family have been members of FPCLG for over 20 years.



Judy Monzella, Youth Ministry Coordinator
Judy joined the staff of FPCLG as the Youth Ministry Coordinator in the summer of 2008. Her role is to manage the day to day details in support of the church's youth ministry. This includes ensuring compliance with the Child Protection Policy & Procedures as well as working closely with the Associate Pastor and Youth Committee to assist in the planning, preparation and implementation of curriculum, events and retreats. Judy and her family have been active members of the church since 1992.



Jason Fahrenbach, Director of Traditional Music
Jason conducts the Sanctuary (adult) and Cherub (preschool) Choirs and coordinates the direction of the Handbell, NOW Music and Crusader Choirs. He has conducted the Sanctuary Choir in works such as Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata,” Mozart’s “Missa Brevis” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria.” Jason is also the Music Technology and Chorus Teacher at Walt Disney Magnet School in Chicago. He holds his Bachelors in Music Education from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Dr. Joe Grant and Dr. Chester Alwes, and is working towards his Masters of Education at North Park University. Jason is an active member of national and local music organizations such as MENC, ACDA and IMEA.

Henry Sybrandy, Organist
Henry has graced the keyboard at our church for many years. Another staff member with a University of Chicago connection, he works at the University of Chicago administration office, commuting from Hyde Park for rehearsals and services. Henry writes weekly music notes for the Sunday bulletin explaining how the music selected for the service ties to the themes of the sermon, anthem or church calendar.




Doreen Sterba DeZur, Director of Handbell Choirs
Doreen directs two handbell choirs at our church for both youth and adults. In addition, she teaches general music in both public and parochial schools while maintaining a private music studio for piano. She also has given piano concerts throughout the Midwest and in the Yucatan.






Anna Riddle, Director of Youth Choirs
Anna comes to us from Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, Minnesota, where she served as Children’s Choir director, confirmation mentor, youth group leader and Sunday School teacher.  While attending St. Olaf College, Anna was president of the Philharmonia Orchestra and was also a singer in the world-renowned St. Olaf choir under the direction of Anton Armstrong.  Anna directs both our Crusader Choir (for children in grades 1-5) and NOW Music (grades 6-12).




Ray Tabor, Contemporary Worship Leader
Ray started playing Christian music 30 years ago. He is a singer, songwriter and guitar player who has a passion for using his musical talents to glorify God. A pastor once told him that he felt one of Ray's callings in life was to be God’s minstrel. Ray has always taken that to heart--his focus is on playing to an audience of One. He has lived in Lyons for the past 28 years where he and his wife Leslie have raised five sons.




Pat Eagan, Property Supervisor
In his role as Property Supervisor, Pat truly is a jack-of-all trades. He is responsible for the maintenance of the church building, grounds and equipment. He is here onsite when needed, and he works closely with the property committee to communicate needs and discuss the allocation of limited dollars for building repairs. He is called upon to help others with a myriad of jobs. Pat celebrated 30 years with FPCLG in summer of 2006.




Beata Kernan, Financial Secretary
Beata came to First Presbyterian Church in January, 1999, from an accounting background with law firms working in the Loop. She likes working with figures. She never had to work with a budget until she came here. Working with the various committees and their accounting needs makes the job very interesting.

One of Beata's hobbies is collecting horse figurines. Many, many years ago, she had the real thing (a grey half-Arab) and went to horse shows in Illinois and the neighboring states.


Jen Stockbridge, Pastors' Secretary
Jen is our part-time Pastors’ Secretary.  Jen and her husband Paul have been church members since 2000. They served as editors of the Church & Home newsletter for six years.  Jen is also a Faith Forest Ranger and is on the Communications Committee and the Vacation Bible School Planning Team.  She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, with a major in education and a minor in psychology, received a Masters degree from National-Louis University and taught for seven years at Greenwood School in South Holland, Illinois.


Carol Denlinger, Church Secretary
Carol joined our staff as church secretary in May 2009 after substitute teaching in Western Springs for over eight years. She worked in the development department at the Robert Crown Center for Health Education and has served in numerous volunteer roles at the Theatre of Western Springs, Young Life, District 101 schools and other local organizations. Carol received her B.S. degree in Business from Valparaiso University and spent the majority of her professional career in human resources at Chicago Title and Trust Company. She and her family live in Western Springs.

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