...has been
Pastor of North Church since 1987. He likes to say "God tricked him" into accepting this call, because he really had no idea what ministry in an urban setting like Northside would be like. But he's been learning and growing ever since. Erwin received his Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts in 1987 and a Doctor of Ministry at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in 2001. His personal mission is "To seek first the Kingdom of God and God's righteousness, and to live and minister out of the integrity of his relationship with Christ." His passion is for the church to be the extraordinary community of believers it is intended to be, and a hopeful sign of God's transforming presence in the world. Erwin and his wife SuzeAnn have been married since 1981 and they have a son, Andrew who is married to Leigh Tami Goedicke. Visit
Pastor Goedicke on Facebook.
...has been Ministry Assistant at North Church since the spring of 2000. She has been certified as a grant proposal writer by the Grantsmanship Center. She has a teenage daughter active in musical arts. She belongs to St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church. Sandy believes we are put on this earth to help each other. Sandy enjoys singing, reading, cooking, and being involved in her church and her daughter's school.
...has been Minister of Music and Worship at North Church since 1997. His career in music ministry has spanned more than 30 years. Chris has a Master of Music degree from the University of Kentucky and has done graduate work in accompanying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. He's performed around the globe including the United States, Poland, and the USSR, in concert halls, opera houses, university campuses and churches. A life-long Lutheran, Chris recently completed a four-year "Education for Ministry" course of seminary study for lay people, administered by the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. His accreditations include membership in the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and the Organ Historical Society. If one statement could summarize Chris' work in the church, it might be "Break down the doors and set up the tables; we're here to celebrate a holy communion!" Chris is married to Lori Wallhausser; they live in the city with their cats Suzie, and Kaspar, and Fiona. They both sing with the North Church Chancel Choir.
...has been our Custodian, taking care of North Church facilities since... well just say it's been a very long time. Ken is an active member of the church, volunteers weekly at CAIN, tutors with Whiz Kids, and can tell you the names of dozens of kids who have attended the Northside Daycare center at the church in years past. And now Ken's life has been enriched by a grandson, Quontez, whom he is raising.
... has been at North as Youth Director since 1996. He was placed with us through a partnership program at City Gospel Mission with which he has been associated for more than two decades. He has been happily married for 23 years and has three wonderful children. Gary has taught motorcycle safety and loves to ride. He leads a 500-mile cycling trip each summer from Cincinnati to Niagara Falls, NY — not on motorcycles but bicycles. He plays guitar and sings in our Praise Band. Gary and his wife Jenny have also been strong leaders in the transformation of our Christian Education at North Church. Gary sees his job as sharing the Good News that no matter how screwed up our lives are, or what we have done, our actions do not separate us from the love and grace of Christ — only our own decisions not to follow Him. Gary disciples our students to live lives that honor God, and he teaches us all how to love our friends, neighbors, and even our enemies.
...came to Cincinnati from western North Carolina in 2001 as a Young Adult Volunteer through the Young Adult and National Volunteers Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA). She joined our staff as our Urban Missioner in 2003. Joann works closely with our congregation and the Northside Community (and beyond) to build meaningful, life-giving relationships and partnerships. Joann is also on staff with City Gospel Mission as an Area Director with their Whiz Kids Program. Joann loves to serve and make people feel special. Everyone knows Joann by her laugh.
...has been Pastoral Associate since 2010, after he and his wife Cheryl began attending North Church in 2007. Larry is a retired pastor of the Congregational Christian Churches, N.A. He has served "house churches" and historic congregations and in ecumenical ministries since 1974. He was ordained in 1979 and married Cheryl the same year. He has a BS in Physics from the University of Missouri-Rolla, an M.Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Larry has written two teeny tiny books as cures for insomnia, along with various articles and seasonal devotions. At North Church he does everything from preaching to playing the drums, teaching and washing dishes. Larry also walks the streets of Northside with Citizens on Patrol, provides spiritual care with Hospice of Cincinnati, and is involved in other community and city activities. In his "spare time" he works for a major Cincinnati-based global textile company.
