Staff

Pastor: Lynette Chapman

Pastor Chapman is the newly-called pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She brings with her 20 years of experience as a parish pastor in a variety of settings, a love of worship, and an affinity for finding creative ways for us to be God’s people today. Her preaching centers around God’s in-breaking Word of love and grace for us and our world, along with the challenge to, as the prophet Micah puts it, “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” Although born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to parents from Nebraska, Pastor Lynette moved to Pennsylvania in her teens. She is a graduate of Penn State University (BS Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Master of Divinity). She served 3 congregations in Eastern Pennsylvania, including Trinity Lutheran, Pottsville (Associate), St. James Lutheran, Chalfont (Pastor/Redeveloper), and Trinity Lutheran, Quakertown (Pastor). Pastor Lynette is married to Pastor Paul Chapman, who is originally from Chicago and is now the pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran, Urbana. They have one daughter, Raylynn, who attends college, and two sweet cats. In her time away from the office, Pastor Lynette enjoys eclectic music, good food, long walks, and interesting books. They are currently living in Champaign.

Youth & Family Director: Jason Fisher

Jason Fisher joined the staff at Good Shepherd in September of 2007 after serving in Rockford, Illinois as Youth & Christian Education Director and later as Director of Outreach. He has been a speaker for multiple Middle and High School Retreats and is passionate about accompanying young people during their journey with Jesus. Jason received his Bachelor of Science in Youth Ministry at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois in 2002. During the winter of 2010 Jason became a rostered lay leader in the E.L.C.A. and was called and commissioned by Good Shepherd in the area of Youth & Family Ministry. Jason met his wife, Samantha, in an art class while at Greenville and they have been making beautiful things ever since. Two of those things are their sons, Zechariah and Silas from whom they learn much about the kingdom of God. Jason loves running, writing, making art, board games, and is always up for a game of street hockey.

Parish Worker: Marilyn Dudley

Marilyn Dudley joined the staff as Parish Worker for the congregation last July.  She transferred to Good Shepherd in 2008 after her congregation in Mattoon closed.  She spent nearly 30 years of her life teaching in public secondary schools and universities before retiring from Eastern Illinois University in 2002.  After retirement, she completed the Synodically Authorized Minister program of our synod and subsequently served 4 years as part-time interim lay pastor at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Shelbyville before returning to worship at GSLC.  In addition to her responsibilities of greeting visitors, welcoming new members, assisting Pastor when needed, and caring for members, she loves serving the Lord. She enjoys visiting shut-ins, creating prayers shawls, participating in the Storybook Project at the Danville Correctional Center, and Bible studies.

Pastor Emeritus: Dr. Edward D. Schneider

Dr. Edward D. Schneider served as pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from 1985 until his retirement in 2001. Pastor Schneider and his wife, Nancy, continue to live in Champaign.

Parish Administrative Assistant: Traci Shepherd

Traci was born and raised in Champaign, she and her husband James have been married for
over 16 years and have 4 children. Traci enjoys being involved in her youngest daughters’
competition cheer team, her oldest daughters’ competition horseback riding events and
archery team, and many local volunteer organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, Feeding Our Kids, PTA events for Unit 4 Schools, and teaching Sunday School to preschoolers at CU Church. In her spare time Traci likes to read, travel, attend sporting events and hang out with her family.

Choir Director: Julia Hartman

Julia has her bachelor’s from Millikin University in music education and her master’s from Illinois State in music education with a technology emphasis. She taught everything from band to chorus to ukulele to orchestra for 11 years and for the past two years has worked for the University of Illinois as an internship coordinator. She enjoys working with college students and helping them find a career path that works with their major. She lives in Urbana with her two sons and loves to lift weights and bake cakes in her free time. 

Organist: Linda Pein

Parish Nurses

Parish nurses are registered nurses, licensed to practice professional nursing, who have completed a continuing education program specific to nursing in ELCA congregations. At Good Shepherd our parish nurses assist the pastor in pastoral care activities such as visiting our shut-in members or providing care packages to families with newborns. Each month they hold blood pressure screenings and they offer their expertise for general health questions/advice. In February, they do a stuffed animal drive for children in the Champaign area.

Custodian: Dennis Lage

Dennis Lage works to keep our facilities prepared for the many events that happen regularly at Good Shepherd. Dennis is retired military and Vietnam and Iraq Veteran. He also worked at ACHumko for 30 years.