Resurrection’s Family in the Midwest

Folks newer to Resurrection may not realize that we are not alone; we have “sister churches” throughout Chicagoland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We love our family and want to introduce them to you.

Leading this Midwestern family is our Anglican Mission bishop, Sandy Greene. A little over a year ago, the bishop asked Fr. Stewart to serve as Midwest Network Leader, and Stewart devotes about 10 percent of his time to this role. Last May, Stewart gathered the clergy leaders from each of the churches for a time of teaching and prayer. Our churches in the Midwest long to see “a revival of Word and Sacrament, infused by the Holy Spirit.”

Church of the Cross

Farthest north is Church of the Cross, in Hopkins, Minnesota, a Minneapolis suburb. Cross was planted by Fr. Stewart’s younger brother, Christian, and his wife, Molly. Christian and Molly were at Resurrection until they felt God lead them to plant, and Rez sent them out about 7 years ago. Their church-planting story is unusual in several ways, including that the church owned a building before its first worship service!

Light of Christ

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, you’ll find Light of Christ, a parish begun by another priest from Resurrection, Fr. Eirik Olsen and his wife, Jeanne. The Olsens joined an already formed circle of leaders and planted Light of Christ four years ago.  And they’ve recently been joined by longtime Rez members John and Lisa Traylor.

Church of the Redeemer

On the North Shore, you’ll find Church of the Redeemer in Highland Park (not too far from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School). Redeemer was planted in 1998 by Resurrection’s former rector, Fr. William Beasley, and his wife, Anne (and helping them were current Rez staff Kevin and Karen Miller). Today, Redeemer is led by Fr. Jay Greener, who with his family worshiped at Resurrection in the 1990s.

Church of the Savior

Closer to home, Church of the Savior in Winfield, founded by Fr. Bill Richardson and his wife, Deacon Linda Richardson. And yes, the Richardsons also have a tie to Resurrection; they worshiped and served at Resurrection in the mid-1990s.

Church of the Cross, East

Finally, we’re happy to announce the birth of a new sister: Church of the Cross East. (Mixing metaphors, you could also say that this church is a spiritual “granddaughter” of Resurrection, because it was birthed by a church we birthed, Church of the Cross.) Cross East is in the Roseville area of St. Paul (not too far from Bethel College), and it has just called its first full-time pastor, Fr. Nathan Dickerson and his wife, Stephanie. The Dickersons are no strangers to the family, because Nathan attended Wheaton College, and they both worshiped at Church of the Redeemer during his studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

If you’re traveling in the Midwest, please stop in and visit your spiritual kin.

Story by Fr. Kevin Miller

Photos by Fr. Eirik Olsen