LEADERSHIP | St. Paul UCC

OUR LEADERSHIP

The commitment of the leadership at St. Paul's Church is at the heart of what makes us a living, thriving church. They are dedicated to serving the community and strengthening the impact of our church on people’s lives.

The Rev. Tom Ressler

Pastor

Originally from Indiana, Pastor Tom Ressler grew up in the United Church of Christ at St. John's UCC in Indianapolis. He is a proud graduate of Indiana University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing. He then attended Eden Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri, earning a Masters of Divinity degree. Prior to coming to St. Paul UCC in 2007, Tom served churches in Springboro, Ohio; Bargersville and Evansville, Indiana; and Ferguson, Missouri. In addition to his pastoral ministry at St. Paul, Tom is also a Chaplain at Mercy Hospice. Tom has two grown children, Laura (and her husband Adam) and Luke (and his wife Hannah). He has two grandchildren with a third expected in late July. Tom has been married to Lorin Cope since 2016; their wedding filled the Sanctuary of St. Paul UCC with friends and family. In his spare time, Tom enjoys traveling, theater, and reading.

Lorin Cope

Church Administrator

A native of northeast Ohio, Lorin Cope has served in staff positions in settings of the United Church of Christ: local churches, association, conference and nationally. Lorin has also served on the development staff of agencies of the United Church of Christ. Before accepting the position at St. Paul, Lorin served as the Director for Advancement for UCC Church Giving at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Lorin is also the Wedding Coordinator at St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ in Mehlville; the Clerk of the St. Louis Association and chairs the Our Church’s Wider Mission Committee for the Missouri Mid-South Conference. When not working at St. Paul, Lorin enjoys traveling, visiting restaurants and caring for the family cat, Mariah. Lorin is married to Rev. Tom Ressler.

Dr. Bill Wade

Minister of Music / Organist

Dr. Bill Wade (he/him) joined the staff in May, 2023 as the Minister of Music/Organist. Bill has been serving as a substitue organist since November, 2022. Bill began studying organ at age 10 and became a handbell enthusiast as a teeenager ringing in a church handbell choir. He is also the handbell director at First Presbyterian Church, Kirkwood, MO.

Bill is a member of and past Dean of the St. Louis chapter of the American Guild of Organists, serves on the board of the Handbell Association of Greater Saint Louis, is a member of the Handbell Musicians of America and has served as music director and organist in churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. Bill earned the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance at Webster University, holds the AGO Colleague Certificate (CAGO), earned a Master of Public Health degree, and is retired from medical practice as a family practice physician. Bill and his husband live with their rescue Sheltie, "Achilles," and green-winged macaw "Hopkins."

Caetlyn has a MM in Vocal Performance from WashU and writes, directs, and performs all over the St. Louis area. The nicest thing ever said in print about her work is; “Sheer comic genius... It's very much at the level of the Monty Python team but with superb operatic voices.” (Steve Callahan, KDHX)

Caetlyn VanBuren

Cantor

CHURCH COUNCIL

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

Financial Secretary

Asst. Financial Secretary

Member-At-Large

Linda Stewart

Stephen Nitzsche

Patty Vornberg

Vickie Nitzsche

Mary Ann Morcom

Sharon Brockmeier

Aylin Crawford

Donna Caviecy

COMMITTEES

Building and Grounds

Churchyard

Finance

Audit

Marketing

Membership Care

Worship and Music

Technology

Mary Ann Morcom

Vickie Nitzsche

Sharon Brockmeier