Staff
click on staff names for email.
Bonnie Perry, Rector
I have been the pastor here at All Saints' since November 1, 1992. I care deeply about preaching, outreach, pastoral care, congregational development and sea kayaking.
"My hope is to continue creating a community where people come to ask the deep questions of life."
Questions like: How can I make a difference in the world? What happens when I die? Must I embrace a particular dogma or doctrine to be a spiritual person? I don't believe that any one individual can answer these questions. However, I do think a worshipping community made up of other people who are also wrestling with these important issues can offer perspectives that will help each of us along our own life journey. I also believe that each of us has been given a unique gift by God that we may choose to use to better our world.
A core belief at All Saints' is that the Gospel doesn't matter a rat's tail if it doesn't change people's lives. So we invite people to discern what their gifts may be and then find many and varied ways to make use of these gifts to begin changing our world.
"What are your gifts? How are you making use of them? Come and join us-perhaps you'll find out more about yourself and God all at the same time."
When I'm not doing church-I'm reading or writing or better yet-I'm out on Lake Michigan paddling my kayak or at the Skokie Lagoons teaching other people how to paddle their sea kayaks.
Bonnie has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA; A Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York, NY; and A Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.
She is an American Canoe Association certified Open Water and Eskimo Roll Kayak Instructor, a level 3 sea kayak Coach in the British Canoe Union and a Wilderness First Responder.
Prior to coming to All Saints' Bonnie was:
The Interim Rector at St. Peter's in Clifton, NJ
The Associate Rector at Christ Church in Ridgewood, NJ and
The Parish Missioner at Christ Church, in Hackensak, NJ.
She was ordained in 1990 by the Rt. Rev. John S. Spong, Bishop, Diocese of Newark.
Kevin Goodman, Curate
I began serving as curate for All Saints' Chicago on the eve of my 40th birthday, February 2006!
I came to All Saints' after serving as Youth Outreach Minister for The Night Ministry in the Lakeview area. For The Night Ministry, I primarily did three things: street outreach, pastoral presence in our drop-in center, and education and outreach through the Lakeview Action Coalition. Additionally, I served as an assistant on the clergy staff at St. Matthew's Evanston where I was responsible for Youth Christian Formation, Grades 7-12.
My undergraduate degree is from Loyola University New Orleans in Television Production, with a minor in Asian Studies. After graduation, I worked as a television producer/director. I promoted media advocacy, working with NOVAC, the New Orleans Video Access Center, empowering and giving voice to people not represented in popular media channels. I was a part-time instructor for the Department of Communications, Loyola University New Orleans, teaching television directing and theory courses. Additionally, I worked as an executive producer for The Jefferson Parish Public School System where I produced educational programming for students, parents and teachers and promoted media literacy.
In 2004, I received my M. Div. from The General Theological Seminary in New York City.
I believe that God is revealed through the work, love, action, and response of community. My prayer life includes zazen, tai chi, and ikebana. I am fascinated by how God makes known God's love for us through the media and the arts. The music of Kate Bush, the imagineering of the Walt Disney Company, the writings of Meister Eckart and the films of Mizoguchi, Kurosawa and Spielberg have influenced my spiritual journey.
Beau Surratt, Parish Administrator
I have served as Parish Administrator at All Saints' since May of 2007. There is never a dull day around the office at All Saints' and if you were to stop by you might find me working on anything from print publications, this website, financial matters or building management to hauling bread for our Tuesday night food pantry.
I graduated in 2006 from Elmhurst College with a B.A. degree in Theology and Religion. During my time at Elmhurst I served as a college intern here at All Saints' where I helped out at the food pantry on Tuesday nights, preached, led worship, visited home-bound parishioners and did lots of other random things. I found All Saints' to be such a fun and life-changing community of faith that I couldn't help but come back to work in this place.
For the past 3 years I have served in administrative roles in various churches. In addition to my work in this sort of a capacity, I have been a church musican for the past 10 years and I currently serve as Director of Music at St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church in Glencoe, IL.
When I'm not working at All Saints' I enjoy all sorts of musical activities, eating out with friends, biking, reading, and watching all sorts of TV, especially vintage British comedies, Will and Grace and The Golden Girls. I live in Evanston with my partner, Steven Wiant, and our cat, Magellan.
Margaret McCamant, Director of Music
I’ve been the music director at All Saints since the beginning of Lent in 1991. This job has been a remarkable opportunity for me to learn and grow as the demands of the position have changed over the years. I grew up in Minnesota and was raised in the Congregational Church. I studied organ with Enid Woodward at Carleton College (I graduated in 1971) and again, beginning in 1989, with Robert Reeves, then organist at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Evanston. From 1996 until 1998, I attended the Leadership Program for Musicians and earned the presiding bishop’s diploma. One of the requirements for that diploma was to write my personal philosophy of church music. That exercise helped me to articulate my goal in this job: to enable as many people as possible to participate in music, in whatever way each one can and wants to do so. Matching hymns with the needs and spirit of each service is my favorite part of church music and I particularly enjoy finding new hymns for us all to learn.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, knitting and other crafts, and, in an odd sort of busman’s-holiday way, taking singing and instrumental classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music. My husband Bob and I live in Chicago and have two grown children, Stephen and Jane.
Les Carpenter, Seminarian
Lindsey Braun, Seminarian
I am thrilled to be working, learning, and worshipping with the people of All Saints’ this year! As a student in my second year at the University of Chicago Divinity School Ministry Studies Program, I spend part of my week in the classroom and the rest of my week at the church. Highlights so far here at All Saints’ have included getting to know neighbors and volunteers at the Food Pantry and Community Kitchen on Tuesday Nights, experiencing how to make fund-raising fun at the RCS benefit this past fall, wearing wings as a gospel writer on strike in the reality-show-themed Christmas pageant (see picture), and getting tips from the acolytes on Sunday mornings.
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. During my time at St. Olaf, I was able to bring my interests in theater, music, creative writing, and dance together in my love and study of storytelling. Now studying ministry, I am curious about how the music we play and the stories we tell help us convey our experiences with God to one another. I will graduate with a Master of Divinity in 2009.
Owen Meany Harlow Perry, Assistant Sexton
