Interim Pastor
Bishop Dan Schwerin and the Northern Illinois Cabinet are pleased to appoint Rev. Richard T. “Rick” Carlson as interim pastor at First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights effective July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024. The appointment is made for the following missional reasons:
Biblically grounded, relevant, engaging sermons
Experienced team leader and administrator
Flexible, adaptive, and purposeful leadership
Strategic decision maker
Introducing Pastor Rick: Retired from First UMC, Elgin in 2020, following pastorates in Barrington (Salem), Bolingbrook (Crossroads of Faith), and Wheaton (Gary Memorial). Currently serving part-time at New Hope UMC, Waukegan. Wife Renee is a laboratory scientist with Northwestern Medicine at the Cancer Center in Geneva. We have a blended family of four grown daughters and eight grandchildren.
I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, am a Vietnam Veteran (Army), and a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (Journalism). I came to Illinois and served as the Director of Development at Lake Bluff Homes for Children (later ChildServ, now Kids Above All). A graduate of Garrett-Evangelical in 1982, I was ordained an elder in the Northern Illinois Conference in 1984.
Some of the things I treasure as highlights of thirty-five or so years of ministry:
in my first appointment, guiding the Crystal Lake congregation as de facto lead pastor during one and a half years of the Senior Pastor’s terminal illness.
planning, raising money and completing a major building project at Community UMC in South Elgin.
creating and shepherding eleven groups at Gary UMC Wheaton, including two older adult groups, a mission team related to an orphanage in Guatemala, a men’s fellowship, a book club, movie group, walking group and a mid-week contemporary worship service.
erecting a temporary worship facility – tent – on the property of Crossroads of Faith UMC in Bolingbrook while leading the new church from being a Conference mission to becoming a chartered United Methodist Church (at the time, the first non-ethnic new charter in the NIC in 28 years).
helping to lead First UMC Elgin in becoming a member church in the Reconciling Ministries network.
moving Sunday worship services outdoors to the parking lot at New Hope Waukegan during pandemic restrictions to bring members and families back together.
Along with the joy of watching projects and people grow and flourish, my favorite activities in ministry have included home repair missions, international travel/study, and playing guitar in praise bands. I am a classic B-personality, laid-back, not easily riled. However, I am animated and enthusiastic about my faith and am eager to share that in preaching and teaching.
Outside of ministry and family, I am an avid (not accomplished) golfer and a fan of the Chicago Cubs and Bears. Renee and I love most kinds of music from current pop to opera.