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Our Pastors & Staff
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Dr. Chuck Mize
Chuck is our Senior Minister and serves Union Church primarily in the areas of worship, pastoral care and administration. He began his ministry at Union in January 1995. Chuck comes to our congregation after having served in a Presbyterian Church and a United Church of Christ in southern Illinois and Missouri. Chuck grew up in Wood River, Illinois (an oil refining town near St. Louis) in the First Presbyterian Church there and is the only son or daughter of that congregation ever ordained to Christian ministry. He received his B.A. degree from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois in 1977, as well as his Master of Divinity (1980) and his Doctor of Ministry (1995) degrees from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Chuck is an active supporter of Heifer International (a human development organization for which Union is one of the leading congregations in the nation) and of the Human Rights Campaign. Chuck has also served the wider church in a number of capacities, as well as on the faculty of Eden Theological Seminary. He is currently the President of United Church Camps, Incorporated. He is married to Jeanie Bond, an early child educator and master gardener. Chuck and Jeanie have one son.
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Barbara McClure-Lukens
Barbara McClure-Lukens is our Moderator, the elected lay leader of Union Church. Barbara grew up in this church and was confirmed in 1962. After a number of years away, she rejoined Union in 2001. Barbara recently served a four-year term as Common Ministry Vice-Moderator, and has served on the New Member Ministry. She is a member of Union's JOSHUA Core Team. Barbara holds a B.S. degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in library science, University of Kentucky. Upon retirement in 2009 from her position as Director, UW-Green Bay Outreach and Extension, she was awarded emerita status. Her community service includes: board member, Green Bay Botanical Garden and Scholarships, Inc.; President, Nicolet Federated Library System Board; volunteer mediator, Brown County Community Mediation Center; founding President, Friends of the UWGB Cofrin Library. Barbara and her husband, Michael, live in Hobart and have four sons and eight grandchildren.
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Courtney Sherman
Courtney joined the staff at Union Church as Music Director in August 2011. She came to Green Bay in 2009 when she accepted a position on the faculty at UW—Green Bay. She teaches courses in vocal music and musical theatre. Courtney holds a bachelor of music degree in voice performance from Western Michigan University, a master of music degree in opera theatre from Arizona State University, and a doctor of musical arts degree in voice performance from Arizona State University. In addition to her numerous performing credits, Courtney has held leadership roles in the music programs of several churches, including Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix and First United Methodist Church of Green Bay. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys spending time with friends and visiting new places. A native of Ludington, Michigan, she enjoys riding the S.S. Badger across Lake Michigan in the summer to visit her family.
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Ray Thompson
Ray Thompson came to Union Church in 2006 after having served as organist or organist/choir director at churches in Oskosh and Fond du Lac as well as Green Bay. He brought with him a wealth of training and experience. At UW-Oshkosh, where he also studied clarinet, Ray completed his bachelor's degree in music education with K-12 certification in vocal and instrumental music. He continued his studies at Northwestern University, earning the master of music degree in organ and church music. Ray taught in public schools at all levels, elementary through high school, for 22 years before retiring. He spent all but his last two years of teaching in the Oshkosh Public Schools. During that period, he was also an instructor in organ at UW-Oshkosh and Marian College. Ray lives in Allouez with his partner, Tom Towill.
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Jessica Streed
Jessie is the adult and youth handbell director at Union Church. She grew up in Appleton, and attended St. Norbert College in De Pere. She graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in music education with certification in general and instrumental music, and a minor in German. She has taught general music, band, and choir at St. Bernard School in Green Bay since 2009. In her free time, Jessie enjoys playing in a local jazz band, traveling, and reading. Jessie lives in downtown Green Bay.
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Jeanie Bond
Jeanie is Union Church's Communications Coordinator. Jeanie has worked in the early childhood profession for 20 years. She has a B.A. in education from Elmhurst College with additional coursework from UW-Green Bay. Music has always been an important part of her life. Her mom was a music teacher and a children's choir director. Jeanie has directed children's choirs in the St. Louis area and in Illinois. Her choirs in St. Louis participated in children's choir festivals. Jeanie has been a member at Union Church since 1995. For nine of those years, she served as the Sunday School teacher for the 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year-old classes.
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Eric Goska
Eric is our administrative assistant and he manages the church office. His duties include record keeping and production of worship bulletins and the Still Speaking newsletter. Eric is an amateur photographer and free-lance writer. His photos appear in Still Speaking, and his by-the-numbers columns on the Green Bay Packers appear in the Green Bay Press-Gazette during the NFL season. Eric and his wife, Ann, have two daughters: Nicole and Rebecca.
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Winnie Hutjens
Winnie Hutjens says she "grew up at Union Church" where she and her parents were members. She took her half-time post in the church office in January 2000. As manager of the church's finances, Winnie keeps records and produces reports. Winnie and her husband, Dale, live in De Pere. They have two daughters.
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Mike Van Straten
Mike came to Union Church following a career in sales and marketing and several years as owner and operator of a building maintenance business. Now he spends his days—and sometimes evenings—working at "whatever needs to be done." Indoors, that means cleaning, repairing, plumbing, and electrical work. Outdoors, depending on the season, it is maintenance of the gardens as well as grass cutting and snow removal. Mike and his wife, Gail, live in Howard. They have six children and eight grandchildren.
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