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Richard Blackburn is Executive Director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, where
he has served since 1984. He is an ordained minister in the
Mennonite Church, and served ten years as chairperson of the Peace
and Justice Committee of the Mennonite Church.
Prior to his calling to the peace center ministry,
Richard taught Art History at Trinity College, Goshen College, and
Northern Illinois University. More recently he has taught
conflict transformation skills at Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary, Goshen College, and Southern Methodist University-in-Legacy
as a component of his work with LMPC.
Richard has led hundreds of workshops on conflict
transformation and mediation skills; he has also had broad experience
as a mediator and consultant, working primarily with conflicted
churches, both at the congregational and judicatory level. For several
years Richard participated in Dr. Edwin Friedman's "Post Graduate
Clergy Seminar in Family Emotional Process." He also
participated for four years in the "Postgraduate Program in Bowen
Family Systems Theory and Its Applications" at the Bowen Center
for the Study of the Family in Washington, D.C.
Richard is a member of the Association for Conflict
Resolution and a number of other professional organizations in the
field of alternative dispute resolution.
Tim Kiser is Assistant Director for LMPC, joining the staff
in 2008. An ordained Presbyterian minister, PC(USA), Tim previously
served as Campus Chaplain and taught at a four year liberal arts
college, following his service as a pastor in various congregations.
Tim now serves with LMPC as a trainer and mediator, working with
churches of all denominations.
Victoria Wilcox is Assistant for Communications for LMPC, joining
the staff in 2008. Victoria is a graduate of Elmhurst College and
is currently finishing her studies at McCormick Theological Seminary.
In the past, Victoria has served as a Christian Education Director
and Pastoral Intern. Victoria is currently a member of the Riverside
Presbyterian Church and is an ordained elder.
Sheryl Reynolds Slack is Administrative Assistant for LMPC, joining the staff
in 2000. Sheryl has been a Peace-with-Justice advocate in her United
Methodist Church, and participated in the Peace Conferences at College
of DuPage in the 1990s.
Mary Ellen O'Donnell is Administrative Assistant for LMPC, joining
the staff in October, 2005. Mary Ellen is a lector and a member
of the social action committee at St. Eulalia Parish in Maywood,
and is the site coordinator for the West Suburban PADS program based
at St. Eulalia Parish.
Bob Williamson serves as Adjunct Faculty for LMPC. He
is a graduate of Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (B.A.,
1972) and of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (M. Div.,
1976).
Bob has also been trained in Bowen family systems
theory, having studied briefly under Dr. Edwin Friedman prior
to his death. He has also participated in Dr. Peter Steinke's "Bridgebuilder"
and "Healthy Congregations" training. Bob also participated in the
"Special Post-Graduate Program in Bowen Family Systems Theory and
It's Applications" at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family
in Washington, D.C.
Bob began his ministry as a pastor in the Lutheran
Church. Since joining the LMPC staff in 1992, he has led numerous
workshops and judicatory training events. In addition, Bob
has conducted a number of congregational consultations and interventions.
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