Emmanuel Episcopal Church

After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees at Johns Hopkins University, David experienced a call to ordained ministry and went to seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Pastoral Care from Northern Seminary and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Bexley Seabury. Following seminary, he completed a graduate certificate in pastoral counseling. After several internships, Rev. Dave began his ministry career at Emmanuel as the Assistant Rector and was elected the 14th Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in 2020. He is currently studying liturgy in the Doctor of Ministry program at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

As the Rector, Rev. Dave is responsible for overseeing the spiritual life of the parish, supervising the staff, and various administrative tasks (which he strangely loves). He has also designed our live-streaming system and discovered that video production makes a great hobby!

As a bi-vocational priest, Rev. Dave will continue to work full-time outside the church and part-time at Emmanuel. He has been married to his wife Stacy since 2006 and they share a passion for promoting healthy relationships. Rev. Dave specializes in marital and pre-marital counseling and relationship enrichment programs. He is a practitioner member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.

A native of Philadelphia, Rev. Kate Spelman earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and her Anglican Diploma from Berkeley Divinity School. She has served churches of pastoral and program size in the dioceses of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Chicago. During the week, she serves as Director of Communications and Programs for The Village Chicago. Rev. Kate has also served as a faculty member on the Episcopal Preaching Foundation's Preaching Excellence Program, a deputy to General Convention (2018) and on the Diocese of Chicago's Nominations, Clergy Compensation and Bishop Search & Nomination Committees, as well as Equality Illinois' Community Advisory Group. In her spare time, she likes to work out, cook, read good books and watch terrible TV. She and her wife have a small son with a big personality. 

The Rev. Bill Rimkus has been a Deacon in the church for thirty-five years, twenty-one of which have been in service here at Emmanuel. Deacon Bill is the father of five children and grandfather to six. Although retired, he currently works part-time for the Federal Monitor’s Office. Deacon Bill also enjoys painting in various media. (Take a look at our Youth Group gathering space downstairs or the scenery for our Children’s Christmas Pageant- Bill's artwork is amazing!) One of Deacon Bill's many gifts to the church is his powerful preaching which offers sermons that both challenge and inspire our congregation.

As the Parish Administrator, my role is to assist the Rector in compiling and preparing the service bulletins, announcements, and prayers for the parishioners on a weekly basis. I also serve as the church communication hub, helping to coordinate the many ministries that serve the community within the church, and the organizations that use the church for their meetings and social events.

I was born in Coventry, England, married with two adult children (how did that happen!) and have lived in the U.S for the last 18 years. What I admire most about being part of the Emmanuel team is the diversity of this community and the generous, caring spirit of this beautiful old church and its parishioners.

George has over twenty-five years’ experience as a liturgical musician, directing the choirs and preparing rehearsals, anthems, hymns and service music.  Additionally, he has designed a personal website for the purpose of teaching choristers to learn and practice in a "virtual rehearsal" space. George has led a series of "Technotyme" workshops for church musicians to assist them developing their own music databases and web sites. Previously, he has instituted a children’s choral program and concert series, a performing arts series and formed a committee to administer fundraising, marketing and receptions and planned a major capital campaign for the purchase of a new pipe organ.  Along with teaching keyboard to students he is versed in many instruments and vocal skills.

As with most church musicians, George has a full-time position outside the church. He is a Grants Officer/Information Systems Analyst for the Illinois Arts Council in Chicago. He lives in La Grange Park with his wife, Hilary. They have two children. 

Choir practice is on Wednesday nights at 7pm. All are welcome!

As the sexton, Clarence handles the maintenance and cleaning of our physical plant. He works on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am-2pm and on Saturday from 9am-5pm.

The Altar Guild is the liturgical partner of the Priest.  As one Altar Guild manual puts it, "We are the ones chosen to prepare for the meeting of the people with God." We care for the objects used in worship. We handle them carefully and respectfully, because those objects have been dedicated in prayer for use in worship for the glory of God. We also care for the sanctuary of the church. The work of the Altar Guild is to ensure that our sanctuary reflects the holiness and the joy we all create together in our worship.

The members of the Altar Guild are part of an unbroken tradition reaching back to the faithful people who provided for Jesus during his lifetime. Joining the Altar Guild means learning many fascinating aspects of Church tradition, including the esocteric names for all the various vessels, vestments, linens and paraments we use in worship. Most importantly, serving on the Altar Guild is a spiritual exercise.  Caring for the Altar is a way to act out our relationship with God. It is quiet, prayerful work.

Please consider joining and helping in this special ministry.

Andy Dolliff became the Acolyte Director in 2012.  Andy was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis.  He also served as a long-time Acolyte at St. Paul's which helped him in his transition to Acolyte Director here at Emmanuel. Andy is married to Kerry and is the father of three children – two of whom are Emmanuel Acolytes. Andy is the Vice President at McNellis Insurance with offices in Evergreen Park & Chicago. Andy and his family enjoy spending time at the family summer home in Grand Beach, Michigan and attending Notre Dame football games in the fall.   

The Vestry is charged with looking after the temporal affairs of the parish -- things like budgets and building maintenance. They also serve as spiritual leaders, helping to cast and implement a vision for the church. The Vestry is chaired by the Rector and is made up of 12 other voting members: the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden (who becomes Senior Warden the next year), three classes of three members elected to three-year terms, and a youth member. The Vestry also elects a Clerk and Treasurer, which are non-voting positions.

The 2023 Vestry

Senior Warden: Kathy Lampert

Junior Warden: Terry O'Neill

Class of 2024:  Mary Pat Anderson, Mary Borge, Penny Longo, Leslie Stahulak

Class of 2025: Diane Coutre-Clark, Andy Dolliff, Dan Mottl, 

Class of 2026: Cliff Egel, Carry Zaras

Treasurer: Randy Valenta

Clerk: Kathleen Valenta