Resume for The Rev'd Dr. David C. Nelson
The Rev’d Dr. David C. Nelson
5835 Dakin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60634-2639
www.satchelspal@gmail.com
Mobile: 312.301.9157
Fields of Expertise
• Parish pastor
• Field education site supervisor
• Headmaster of a Lutheran school (Pre-K through 8th grade)
• Owner/Operator Behnke-McKenna, L.L.C., a funeral livery service
5835 Dakin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60634-2639
www.satchelspal@gmail.com
Mobile: 312.301.9157
Fields of Expertise
• Parish pastor
• Field education site supervisor
• Headmaster of a Lutheran school (Pre-K through 8th grade)
• Owner/Operator Behnke-McKenna, L.L.C., a funeral livery service
Education
• Doctor of Ministry in Preaching - 1992 - Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Thesis: An Informed Evangelical Witness: The Preaching Ministry
of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicag
• Doctor of Ministry in Preaching - 1992 - Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Thesis: An Informed Evangelical Witness: The Preaching Ministry
of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicag
• Master of Theological Studies - 1983 - Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Thesis: Concepts in Worship in Seventeenth Century Lutheran
Orthodoxy and Pietism
Orthodoxy and Pietism
• Master of Divinity - 1981 - Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
• Bachelor of Arts in Communications - 1976 - University of Illinois at Chicago
Work History
Interim Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois - 2019-2020
• Senior Pastor of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnwood, Illinois - 1992-2015
• Founder and Owner William Randolph Hearses (Behnke-McKenna, L.L.C.) in Chicago, Illinois - 2011-present
• Part-time Pastor and Headmaster of Park View Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois - 2008-2012
• Assistant Pastor - Edgebrook Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois - 1987-1992
• Interim Pastor - Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin - 1983-1986
• Vicar - Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin - 1982-1983
• Office manager, driver, visitation host, and numerous other things at Gibbons Funeral Homes of Chicago, Elmhurst and Itasca, Illinois - 1970-1982
• Lifeguard at University of Illinois at Chicago Circle – 1972-1976
• Senior Pastor of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnwood, Illinois - 1992-2015
• Founder and Owner William Randolph Hearses (Behnke-McKenna, L.L.C.) in Chicago, Illinois - 2011-present
• Part-time Pastor and Headmaster of Park View Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois - 2008-2012
• Assistant Pastor - Edgebrook Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois - 1987-1992
• Interim Pastor - Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin - 1983-1986
• Vicar - Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin - 1982-1983
• Office manager, driver, visitation host, and numerous other things at Gibbons Funeral Homes of Chicago, Elmhurst and Itasca, Illinois - 1970-1982
• Lifeguard at University of Illinois at Chicago Circle – 1972-1976
Representative Skills and Accomplishments:
At Saint John’s Lutheran Church
• Supervised the usual staff of a mid-sized parish – administrator, organist, sexton and, for the last six-years, a co-pastor.
• Built our website
• Created and maintained: “St.J’s In Your PJ’s” a YouTube™ channel that is linked to our website, where home bound and potential visitors can watch excerpts from our Sunday worship including hymns, prayers, and sermon. This included editing the videos from the three stationary cameras and adding graphics to create a seamless whole for posting to the Internet.
• When Saint John’s became overwhelmed with the building expenses thatarose from the numerous breakdowns that come when a structure turns fifty, I negotiated the sale and free lease back of our building to Bethany-Korean Presbyterian Church (PC-USA).
• Helped supervise and added input when necessary of the complete remodelling of our shared building.
• Served as the contact person during the rebuilding of the Moeller Pipe Organ with funds garnered from the sale of the building.
• Supervised the usual staff of a mid-sized parish – administrator, organist, sexton and, for the last six-years, a co-pastor.
• Built our website
• Created and maintained: “St.J’s In Your PJ’s” a YouTube™ channel that is linked to our website, where home bound and potential visitors can watch excerpts from our Sunday worship including hymns, prayers, and sermon. This included editing the videos from the three stationary cameras and adding graphics to create a seamless whole for posting to the Internet.
• When Saint John’s became overwhelmed with the building expenses thatarose from the numerous breakdowns that come when a structure turns fifty, I negotiated the sale and free lease back of our building to Bethany-Korean Presbyterian Church (PC-USA).
• Helped supervise and added input when necessary of the complete remodelling of our shared building.
• Served as the contact person during the rebuilding of the Moeller Pipe Organ with funds garnered from the sale of the building.
At Park View Lutheran Church and School
• This position was originally designed to be an outreach ministry of Saint John’s because Park View could not support the salary of a full-time pastor.
• In return for some of my time and leading worship on Sunday mornings, St. John’s would receive modest financial remuneration.
• I was also to serve as Head Master of the School (This was the best part!)
• Oversaw maximum school student population of approximately 45 students
• Supervised and gave pastoral support to six full-time andtwo part-time faculty members, one of whom was St. John’s co-pastor, who taught music.
Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Threats of the Arrangement with Park
View and Saint John’s Lutheran Churches
• This position was originally designed to be an outreach ministry of Saint John’s because Park View could not support the salary of a full-time pastor.
• In return for some of my time and leading worship on Sunday mornings, St. John’s would receive modest financial remuneration.
• I was also to serve as Head Master of the School (This was the best part!)
• Oversaw maximum school student population of approximately 45 students
• Supervised and gave pastoral support to six full-time andtwo part-time faculty members, one of whom was St. John’s co-pastor, who taught music.
Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Threats of the Arrangement with Park
View and Saint John’s Lutheran Churches
Strengths
• It gave Saint John’s a sense of mission to the wider church
• It gave both church communities opportunities to worshiptogether
• The added responsibilities of serving both churches and the school community enriched me greatly and renewed myenthusiasm for ministry
Opportunities
• Allowed us to experiment with the possibility of doing“two-point parishes” within the Synod
• Allowed me to learn how to work with a larger staff of more diverse personalities
• Gave me the immeasurable joy of being around the students
• Allowed me to substitute teach on occasions.
• It gave Saint John’s a sense of mission to the wider church
• It gave both church communities opportunities to worshiptogether
• The added responsibilities of serving both churches and the school community enriched me greatly and renewed myenthusiasm for ministry
Opportunities
• Allowed us to experiment with the possibility of doing“two-point parishes” within the Synod
• Allowed me to learn how to work with a larger staff of more diverse personalities
• Gave me the immeasurable joy of being around the students
• Allowed me to substitute teach on occasions.
Weaknesses
• Deprived Saint John’s of the benefits of a full-time pastor as I would have to rush off after our 9:15 worship to lead Park View’s worship at 11:00
• Doubled my work load as there was more than two of everything
• Park View expected more than a part-time pastor (especially one with another parish) could deliver in terms of services to parishioners and outreach to the community
Threats
• While our Lord was not addressing this issue specifically when he said: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (St. Matthew 6:24 [NIV])
• We never despised each other as churches but both felt cheated in terms of how I divided my time.
• I also felt I was cheating on them because when I was at Park View I knew there were things that needed to be done at St. John’s and vice versa
Discoveries:
• No person, no matter how well organized, can fill a position of a full-time pastor at one church and an half-time pastor at another
• When the arrangement was ended I took a nap that lasted about two-and-a-half weeks
• Deprived Saint John’s of the benefits of a full-time pastor as I would have to rush off after our 9:15 worship to lead Park View’s worship at 11:00
• Doubled my work load as there was more than two of everything
• Park View expected more than a part-time pastor (especially one with another parish) could deliver in terms of services to parishioners and outreach to the community
Threats
• While our Lord was not addressing this issue specifically when he said: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (St. Matthew 6:24 [NIV])
• We never despised each other as churches but both felt cheated in terms of how I divided my time.
• I also felt I was cheating on them because when I was at Park View I knew there were things that needed to be done at St. John’s and vice versa
Discoveries:
• No person, no matter how well organized, can fill a position of a full-time pastor at one church and an half-time pastor at another
• When the arrangement was ended I took a nap that lasted about two-and-a-half weeks
Co-convener of the Professional Leadership Conference of the Metropolitan Conference 2009-2012, an annual two day event at resorts in Lake Geneva, Delevan and Williams Bay, Wisconsin
• With the help of a dedicated committee we oversaw the scheduling of speakers such as:
• Dr. Barbara Rossing, Professor of New Testament L.S.T.C.
• The Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA
• Dr. Martin Marty, Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago Divinity School
•The Rev’d Nadia Boltz-Weber, Pastor, Church of all Saints and Sinners, Denver, Colorado
• Dr. Eugene Winkler, former Senior Minister First United Methodist Church – Chicago Temple, Chicago, Illinois
• Dr. John Bell, composer and author from the Iona community in Scotland
• Arranged lodging and food for 90–100 pastors
• Arranged for massage therapists, reflexologists, estheticians, tee, tennisand court times for what we euphemistically called “Sabbath Experiences”
• With the help of a dedicated committee we oversaw the scheduling of speakers such as:
• Dr. Barbara Rossing, Professor of New Testament L.S.T.C.
• The Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA
• Dr. Martin Marty, Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago Divinity School
•The Rev’d Nadia Boltz-Weber, Pastor, Church of all Saints and Sinners, Denver, Colorado
• Dr. Eugene Winkler, former Senior Minister First United Methodist Church – Chicago Temple, Chicago, Illinois
• Dr. John Bell, composer and author from the Iona community in Scotland
• Arranged lodging and food for 90–100 pastors
• Arranged for massage therapists, reflexologists, estheticians, tee, tennisand court times for what we euphemistically called “Sabbath Experiences”
Since Retirement from Full Time Parish Ministry
• At Fourth Presbyterian Church
• Reorganized and restarted the Monthly Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfast
• Arranged breakfast
• Arranged for Speakers
• Taught in Academy for Faith and Life
• “The Reformation: More Than Martin Luther”
• Preached and Presided at Several Churches around the Metro Chicago Synod
• At Fourth Presbyterian Church
• Reorganized and restarted the Monthly Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfast
• Arranged breakfast
• Arranged for Speakers
• Taught in Academy for Faith and Life
• “The Reformation: More Than Martin Luther”
• Preached and Presided at Several Churches around the Metro Chicago Synod
Began William Randolph Hearses – “Classic Cars for Classy Funerals” in 2011
• Purchased my first hearse on an impulse in the spring and had it completely refurbished.
• Incorporated the business as Behnke-McKenna, L.L.C. (Named after the first funeral home at which I was ever employed)
• Marketed the business to friends I had made from my years in the funeral industry
• Designed the website: www.davidnelson.us
• Purchased and rebuilt a Flower Car in fall of 2012
• Traded the first hearse for a second that was a true classic car (over 25 years old) in the summer of 2013
• Purchased my first hearse on an impulse in the spring and had it completely refurbished.
• Incorporated the business as Behnke-McKenna, L.L.C. (Named after the first funeral home at which I was ever employed)
• Marketed the business to friends I had made from my years in the funeral industry
• Designed the website: www.davidnelson.us
• Purchased and rebuilt a Flower Car in fall of 2012
• Traded the first hearse for a second that was a true classic car (over 25 years old) in the summer of 2013
Responsibilities:
• Keeping accurate financial records
• Getting the cars to the right place at the right time
• Staffing, if I don’t take the funeral out myself
• Keeping the cars clean and in mint condition
• While at Funerals my responsibilities include”
• Line cars up in the parking lot of the funeral home
• Lead funeral cortege safely from funeral home, to church to cemetery
• Making sure everything goes perfectly for the family and the funeral director
• Getting the cars to the right place at the right time
• Staffing, if I don’t take the funeral out myself
• Keeping the cars clean and in mint condition
• While at Funerals my responsibilities include”
• Line cars up in the parking lot of the funeral home
• Lead funeral cortege safely from funeral home, to church to cemetery
• Making sure everything goes perfectly for the family and the funeral director
Spare Time Activities
• Frequent Usher at 10 A.M. service and for funerals at Fourth Church
• Watch far too much hockey and baseball
• Swim and follow a general workout regimen
• Attend as many concerts, operas, and plays as my budget will allow
• Love mysteries and hate board games
• Frequent Usher at 10 A.M. service and for funerals at Fourth Church
• Watch far too much hockey and baseball
• Swim and follow a general workout regimen
• Attend as many concerts, operas, and plays as my budget will allow
• Love mysteries and hate board games
References
Elaine and Thomas Jorndt
TheMrsEJ@msn.com
Mobile: 847.528.6536
TheMrsEJ@msn.com
Mobile: 847.528.6536
Janis and Dr. Scott Smith
DrScoot@gmail.com
Mobile: 708.574.7508
DrScoot@gmail.com
Mobile: 708.574.7508
Patty and Paul Park
paul36park@gmail.com
Home:847.729.9336
paul36park@gmail.com
Home:847.729.9336
The Rev’d Patrick J.M. McGuire
pb1552@aol.com
Mobile: 630.988.9781
pb1552@aol.com
Mobile: 630.988.9781
And almost any funeral director you can think of. Ask for a list of complete names.
Vital Statistics
Born: December 15, 1953
Reside in: Chicago, Illinois
Partnered
Reside in: Chicago, Illinois
Partnered
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