Pastor / Head of Staff: Rev. Dr. Karel A. Hanhart
Karel Hanhart – fpc1pastor@sbcglobal.net
Pastor Karel Hanhart
Hi, I’m Pastor Karel (pronounced like Carl) and I was called to serve the Chippewa First Presbyterian Church, starting in April 2014.
Communities of Believers have been essential in my 17 years of ministry. I believe the Spirit moves through and empowers communities in service to God. I recently spent 3 years studying how to tap into that power and direction. The result was a D.Min. Project entitled “Communal Scripture Study and Missional Call”. I graduated from United Theological Seminary, Dayton OH in 2012 with a Doctor of Ministry Degree.
I graduated from University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS) with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1996. The Seminary in Dubuque IA and the First Presbyterian Church there were two significant communities of Spiritual growth for my whole family. Linda was Clerk of Session there, two of my children were confirmed and two went to Mexico on a mission trip. Led by my mentor, Rev. Dr. David Scotchmer, we helped to found the Center for Public Ministry in Dubuque.
I was lucky enough to serve in the year-long Chaplain Residency program (CPE) at Meriter Hospital in Madison WI. It was life changing to be a part of this Healing Community. I was then called to serve as pastor of the Merrill and Gleason Churches in WI where I was Ordained October 1997. I was taught the ropes of being a pastor and together we did some great ministry including beginning the Home Work Assistance Mission (H.A.M.) to the Middle School next door. Prior to answering the call of Chippewa FPC, I was the Pastor of a church in Farmersville OH from 2002 – 2013. I have always been supported by and worked to support communities of faith and the work that they have been given.
I am a beloved child of God, son of Dutch immigrant parents. I was baptized in my Dad’s church in Lethbridge Alberta Canada and it was in these wind swept coulees that I, at a very young age, came to understand the gift of community, of God’s community, a gift that you could say began in Acts 2:42-47, a community which you can find wherever God takes you.
I have lived in Canada, Netherlands, Iowa, Belgium, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. I have an older sister, Ann, a younger brother, Mark and my parents living in the Netherlands. Linda and I have been married for 21 years, and have a blended family of 4 children (Melissa Ann, Liesl Johanna, Melissa Renee, and Michael Paul). In addition, we have 2 sons-in-law, 3 granddaughters, and 1 grandson. In each place we have lived, we have found Jesus waiting for us in Body and Spirit. Thanks be to God.
Together with the members of Chippewa FPC, we welcome you to visit and get to know us first-hand.
Staff
Treasurer
Barb Shorrel – fpc1finance@sbcglobal.net
Finance Clerk
Carla Ingalls – fpc1financeclerk@sbcglobal.net
Administrative Assistant & Food Pantry Director
|Cherie Andringa – fpc1admin@sbcglobal.net
Custodian
Bob Lindsley – fpc1custodian@sbcglobal.net
Celebration Singers Director
Allan Peterson
Organist/Pianist
Judy Brist
Organist/Pianist
Barbara Sandford
Office Volunteers
Corine Boos, Lynda Butek, Esther Frazier, Margi Kohl, Kathi Mandelert, Hess Morrison, Jinx Smith