"Pastor Mike" has been with us at Second Congregational United Church of Christ since 2002. In his ministry he emphasizes the centrality of Jesus, who reconciles us with God and calls us to live rather odd (read counter-cultural) lives in the world today—lives of peace, generosity, hospitality, and active work on the social problems of our neighborhood. Mike and Janine (joyfully married for over 20 years!) have two children, Henry (b. 1990) and Muriel (b. 1993), and have lived in the Rockford area since 1990. Mike is a bit of an exercise nut, occasionally doing marathons and Ironman triathlons. He is also a vegetarian; a Jane Austen, John Irving, and Harry Potter fan; and, unfortunately, has a movie addiction. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Illinois, seminary was at Duke University Divinity School (he remains a "disciple" of Stanley Hauerwas), and his Doctor of Ministry degree is from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
 

"Pastor Matt" joined the staff of Second Congregational United Church of Christ in 2006. In his ministry, Matt is very passionate about liturgy and worship, advocates strongly for the radical inclusiveness that God calls the church to embrace, and believes that we as progressive mainline Protestants can only benefit by more deeply rooting our faith in the historic faith practices, theological insights, and worship traditions of the Christian church through the ages. He is a graduate of the Chicago Theological Seminary (M.Div., 2006) and Michigan State University (B.S., Computer Science, 2002), and in 2009 completed the Certificate in Youth and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary's Institute for Youth Ministry. Prior to coming to Second Congregational, Matt had also served full-time for a year on the pastoral staff of a UCC church in the Washington DC area and worked part-time for a year at a predominately Puerto Rican UCC church in Chicago. He's an active member of the United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns, currently is serving on the search committee for a new conference minister for the Illinois Conference of the UCC, and loves attending the UCC General Synod. Around Rockford, Matt sings with Rockford's Bach Chamber Choir and has recently agreed to serve as an advisor to the Gay-Straight Alliance at Rock Valley College. He is an amateur organist, a connoisseur of strong coffee and bookstores, and lives in Rockford's "River District" (a.k.a. downtown Rockford).
 

Becky Erbe has been a part of the United Church of Christ her entire life. She was born, baptized, raised, and confirmed in the UCC. Due to a major mid-life career change, she has been employed in the UCC as the Director of Christian Education at Second Congregational since 1994. Becky has continued her ministry education through Crown College in Minnesota and UCC-related Defiance College in Ohio. She believes that it is imperative to include children and youth in all areas in the life of a church. It is important that the church guides children, youth, and families towards a deeper commitment to God through love, education, and fun. Becky's hobbies and interests include spending time with family, gardening, and running a home for wayward pets. She also loves to go hiking and goes as often as possible—and has also given up hope for a reunion of The Clash. Becky lives just outside Rockford with her husband Steve and children Kyle and Marah.
 

Fernando Tyus , Custodian