Staff

Pastor | Rev. David Aslesen serves as Pastor for the First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge. He came to us in July 2015 after ministry in Lake Bluff, Rockford and other Chicago suburbs. Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Pastor David earned a BA in Biology/Pre-Medicine from Dakota Wesleyan University. He earned his Master of Divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1996. Pastor David is an avid theatre & museum goer, uncle to nine nieces & nephews, loves all kinds of food & neighborhoods of Chicago, drinks way too much Starbucks, creates art and extends himself in outreach to a number of ministries of justice and inclusivity within the Northern Illinois Conference.   pastordavid@parkridgeumc.org

Extension Ministry | Bob Campbell, ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, provides leadership and guidance in Adult Education and Spiritual Formation.  Bob has served many churches, and has a special gift for Pastoral Counseling.  Bob also has a conference appointment as the Co-Director of the Willow Wellness Center in Park Ridge.  Bob graduated with an Masters of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1995 and has a Psy.D. from Adler School of Professional Psychology.
rcampbell@willowwellness.com

Church Office Coordinator | Amy Lane joined our staff in June of 2014, after a 24-year career at Chicago Public Schools. She and her family are long time members at First UMC. The church office is our communications hub, and Amy is our welcoming face, greeting members and visitors, answering phones, and supervising the many print and computer needs. office@parkridgeumc.org

Children’s Education Ministry Coordinator | Maureen is a long-time church member who joined our staff in 2013, after many years of volunteering in our children’s programming. She is responsible for our youngest Christians, coordinating their pre-school through grade school education, as well as Vacation Bible School in the summer. children@parkridgeumc.org

Director of Youth Ministries | Our most recent staff addition, Brooke DeJong served as the Director for Youth, Family and Community Outreach at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wilmette, Ill. Prior to her work at St. John’s, she worked as a chaplain on an adolescent behavioral health unit, a grant writer for Heartland Alliance Health and as the ELCA’s Coordinator for the Observance of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Brooke has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and German with a minor in Ancient Languages from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. She is currently working on a Master of Divinity and in the process of becoming a deacon in the ELCA. youth@parkridgeumc.org

Director of Music Ministries | A gifted multi-instrumentalist, John is our church organist for traditional music, leads our contemporary praise music group, works with the staff in developing our worship and music programs, and directs our choirs. He has been the music director of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods and music teacher in their school for Pre-K through 8th grade students. From his musical talent and expertise to his delightful personality to his ability to patiently teach, we are blessed to have him with us. musicparkridge@gmail.com