Staff

Reverend Michael Mulberry - Minister
mike

community-ucc.org

Rev. Mike Mulberry began his ministry at Community United Church in October of 2003. He is a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary and served a little under a year as a missionary in Chiapas, Mexico, working with displaced indigenous people of southern Mexico and Guatemalan refugees. He continues this work through Illinois Conference involvement in Illinois Maya Ministry. Rev. Mulberry also serves as a member of the Eastern Association Ministry Committee.

While Rev. Mulberry finds meaning in the theological critique made of Empire within Scripture and in present theological scholarship, he also finds great purpose in playing for the church softball team. Rev. Mulberry believes that God is infused in all of creation and that our holy task is observing, discerning, acting in partnership with, and celebrating God's work in the world.

Rev. Mulberry lives in Urbana, Illinois, with his wife, Rev. Tracy Heilman, and their three children, Jacob, Abraham, and Sophia. He loves being back home in Illinois and continues to share his enthusiasm for a partnership in ministry with the members and friends of Community United Church.

Reverend Karen Bush - Campus Ministry - United Church Foundation
ks-bush

uiuc.edu

The Reverend Bush graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1984 with a Masters of Divinity with a pastoral counseling specialty. She was ordained into the United Church of Christ spring 1987. Karen became our United Church of Christ campus minister at the University of Illinois in 1985 and continues to enjoy working with the students. She lives in Champaign with her husband, Scott, their children Jessica and Trevor, their dog Skipper, their three guinea pigs Baby, Sweetie and Oreo and their beta fish Buddy. She finds the creativity, wisdoms and sensitivities of students to be a continual source of inspiration.

Robert L. Smith - Director of Music
bobsmith

community-ucc.org

Robert L Smith received his B.S. in Music Ed from E.I.U., M. M. from UIUC, and his Doctoral study from USC in Los Angeles. "Bob" has sung professionally and taught all levels of music from pre-school through University classes. Presently he is Performing Arts Teacher and Enrichment Specialist at B.T.Washington School in Champaign. He also is Music Director for many CUTC shows at the Virginia Theater and occassionally performs with the Baroque Artsists of Champaign-Urbana. Recently, he received the"Golden Apple" Award from Channel 15 TV. He has directed Choirs for almost 30 years in Illinois, Iowa and California. Bob was a soloist with the choir for four years before becoming the Director in 2000.

Linda Vaughn - Organist
lindavaughn

community-ucc.org

Linda Vaughn graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan earning a B.Music in organ performance and a B.A in German simultaneously. She earned a M.Music degree in choral conducting and organ from U of I - U-C and a M.A. in German, also from the U of I. She has studied in Vienna, Austria and travelled extensively to several parts of Europe. Being of Dutch ancestry, she has searched her families' origins in Holland and compiled genealogy books for 2 branches of her family. Linda has been a church organist for about 20 years, at CUCC since 1993. In addition she has been Assistant Choral Director at Urbana High School since 1990 and the Director of Madrigals since 2001. She has performed as both organ soloist and accompanist. Linda is married to Charles Vaughn and has 3 sons - Tim, Andrew and Peter - and 2 dogs. In her spare time, Linda enjoys sewing, needlework and baking.

Tracy Heilman - Director of Religious Education
tracy

community-ucc.org

Rev. Tracy Heilman began as Director of Religious Education in the spring of 2004. She came to Community United Church by way of the United Church of Christ in North Hampton, New Hampshire, where she was the Minister of Family Life. While in North Hampton, Rev. Heilman organized and directed adult education, the Sunday School, and the youth groups. Under her leadership, the church developed a strong intergenerational ministry and became known locally as a place that treasured its children and youth. Rev. Heilman became a leader for the New Hampshire Conference Youth Cabinet and served on the board for the New Hampshire Conference Media Center. She also developed an evaluation and visioning document for the New Hampshire Bible Society.

Rev. Heilman lives in Urbana, Illinois, with her husband, Rev. Mike Mulberry, and their three children, Sophia, Abraham, and Jacob. She is excited to be back in Illinois and to begin a ministry with the members and friends of Community United Church.

Cindy Dodd - Office Manager
info

community-ucc.org

Cindy Dodd was born and raised in a small town north of Champaign but has lived in Mahomet for 25 years. Her life partner, Terry, of 35 years happens to be her high school sweetheart. In fact their wedding took place in Terry's boyhood church. They have three children. Their firstborn, Christopher, is a software engineer and graduate of the University of Illinois from the College of Engineering. He and his life partner, Jenny, live and work in Champaign. Myra, two and-a-half, Chris and Jenny's daughter attends daycare and is a remarkable granddaughter. Brittany, the middle child, received her masters of divinity in May of 2004 from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is currently living in Chicago with her life partner, Monica. Brittany is a manager of a Starbucks on Michigan Avenue and Monica is a Chaplain at Loyola Hospital in Maywood. Their lastborn, Adam, is a fun loving, movie buff who lives at home with Terry and Cindy but works everyday at Circle K in Urbana off of Cunningham Road and then goes to the Developmental Services Center Worksite located in Champaign. Cindy has been working at CUCC since March of 2004 and has found her job very rewarding. She also looks forward each day to working with the remarkable staff at CUCC.