The Rev. Joy A. Baumgartner is serving as the Interim Minister of the First Congregational Church during this time of transition as
they search for a new seinor minister. Joy is a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary, with an emphasis during her ministry
of preaching and pastoral care. Having a background in Family Systems Counseling, as well as serving four other pastorates in
various parts of the country, gives her a unique perspective on ministry from different size churches and cultures. Joy will
serve as Senior Minister throughout the 1-2 year process of re-organizing, administrating, updating communication and procedures,
and setting the stage for a search committee to be formed and the church profile presented to candidates. With the assistance
of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC), of which the church is a member, a new pastor will be presented
to the congregation upon recommendation of a search committee. Joy will then move on to serve as an interim in another setting.
Joy
has two children: Robert, married to Angie, with children Danielle (16) and Alex (11); and Heidi, married to Herber with children
Antonio (5) and Mateo (2), both from the Chicago area. Her mother and five siblings and their families all live in the Chicago
suburbs.