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The Reverend Dr. Gary B. Reierson (Ry'-er-son) EDUCATION Bachelor of
Arts (magna cum laude), Master of
Divinity (with honors on Integrative Examinations), United Theological Seminary of the
Twin Cities, 1978. Doctor of
Ministry (with distinction),
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, 1986. POST-DOCTORAL STUDY University of Oxford (Reader in the Bodleian Library:
Fall 2007, Fall 2006, Summer 2000), (North American Summer Session: July
1992). Bossey Ecumenical Institute
of the World Council of Churches, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas,
Centro Pro Unione, Mini MBA
for Nonprofit Organizations, University of St. Thomas, 1991. EMPLOYMENT 1989 to
present, President, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches Chief Executive Officer for the largest local council of churches in
the nation and the largest volunteer organization in the State of Minnesota,
with $7 million annual expenditures, 25,000 volunteers, 700 member
congregations, 16 programs, and 90 staff impacting 294,000 people each year. Positioned the Council as a major player in the national emphasis on
faith-based initiatives. In 2003, GMCC became one of only ten agencies in the
nation—and the only one in Minnesota—to receive a three-year
federal Compassion Capital Fund intermediary grant to help grassroots groups
address human needs in their communities. In 2006, GMCC was one of only a few
agencies in the nation to receive a 17 month extension grant from this
program. In 2007, this was extended once again—for three years. The total
received from the Compassion Capital Fund over the entire 7 years of this
funding is $3.9 million plus $1.7 million in foundation grants to meet the
match requirements—$5.6 million total invested in the community. Focused the Council's efforts on mobilizing the faith community to be
a leader in welfare reform, addressing child care, informal support networks
for those making the transition from welfare to work, and affordable housing.
Led the design, management, and evaluation of results-oriented
programs that moved from a focus on service statistics to outcome-based
management. Built effective bridges with communities of color: Ecumenical Partners Program overcame racial isolation in the community
by joining together predominantly African-American and predominantly
European-American congregations in partnership. This program received the
1992 Ecumenical Recognition Award from the National Council of Churches for
its work in "mending torn places in the human community." The
program, which was featured in the New York Times and on CBS Sunday Morning,
has been replicated in five Transformed a paternalistic relationship with the Division of Indian
Work into a strategic alliance that emphasizes American Indian empowerment;
cost-effective efforts to share back-office functions in finance,
administration, and fund-raising; and exemplary program outcomes. Ensured the raising annually of $7 million through a complex mix of
funding sources, including Federal, State, County, and City governments; Strengthened the organization so that it has received unqualified
financial audits and balanced budgets for nineteen consecutive years. Developed and expanded the Board of Directors to include
representatives from a cross section of the community, including key
community leaders. Persons of color make up 39% of the Board of Directors and
50% of the staff. Guided three successful capital campaigns raising over $16 million. 2007 to
present, Adjunct Instructor, 1987 to 1989,
Vice President for Community Relations, Greater Senior manager for an organization with a $2.9
million annual budget. Responsible for the setting of goals and objectives,
development and monitoring of budgets, supervision of three departments
(Development, Public Relations, and Marketing), and accountability to the chief
executive officer. Helped this predominantly white, middle-class, suburban
organization secure the resources to focus its services on inner-city,
low-income girls of color. 1986, Adjunct
Professor of Theology, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities 1977 to 1987,
Associate Minister, 1975 to 1977,
Associate Minister, United 1973 to 1975,
Teaching Specialist, PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION Books: The Art in Preaching: The Intersection of
Theology, Worship, and Preaching with the Arts. Lanham: University
Press of The Gift of Administration, with Thomas Campbell. “’Colloquium’: Conversation between Abbot Primate
Notker Wolf, OSB, and Representatives from Various Communities” in One Heart, One Soul: Many Communities,
edited by Mary Forman OSB (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2008). Exegetical and pastoral essays on the texts from the New Testament
epistles for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the
Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, Vol. 2, edited by David L. Bartlett
and Articles: “Coming Home: Opening Our Eyes, Ears, Hearts, and Minds,” President’s Letter, October
2008. Regular contributor to Lectionary
Homiletics: “Lesson and the Arts [Year B: Second Sunday
after Christmas, Baptism of the Lord, Second and Third Sundays after the
Epiphany],” Lectionary Homiletics
(January 2009). “Lesson and the Arts [Year A: Advent 1, 2, 3, 4; Christmas
1],” Lectionary Homiletics 19
(December 2007/January 2008): 7f, 15f, 22f, 29f. “Lesson and the Arts [Year B: Lent 1, 2, 3, 4],” Lectionary Homiletics 17
(February/March 2006): 40, 49f, 58f, 67. “Lesson and the Arts [Year A: Propers 18, 19, 20, 21],” Lectionary Homiletics 16
(August/September 2005): 48f, 55f, 64f, 72f. “Lesson and the Arts [Year B: Propers 9, 10, 11, 12],” Lectionary Homiletics 14 (June/July
2003): 42f, 51, 59, 65f. "Working for Justice in the Criminal Justice System," President’s Letter, October
2006. "Does Goodness Really Matter?" Ecumenical People Programs
Papers, November 2002, pp. 11-4. "Ecumenism from 'The Bottom Up,'" Ecumenical Trends
31 (March 2002): 11-15. "Transforming Do-Gooders into Good-Doers,"
President’s Letter, Winter
2002. "Faith in Government?" Northern
Spirit, 4 (July-August 2001): 35. "Art and Ethics in the Novels of Iris
Murdoch," ARTS (The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies)
13 (Summer 2001): 10-2. "What's not new about government funding for faith-based
projects," MetroLutheran 16 (May 2001): 4. "Faith in Government? A Look at President Bush and Faith-based
Initiatives," President’s
Letter, Winter 2001. "Being Good for Nothing," The Clergy Journal, 77
(October 2000): 12-14. "What Indians, Palestinians have in Common," Minneapolis
StarTribune, 8 June 1998, section A, p. 9. "Welfare-to-Work: What Churches can Do," Minneapolis
StarTribune, 24 July 1997, section A, p. 25. "As Government does Less for Poor, Can Churches Give More?" Minneapolis
StarTribune, 28 January 1997, section A, p. 11. "Rekiindling the Gift: Administrative 'Gifts' Help Clarify Your
Clergy Role," The Clergy Journal 72 (November-December 1995):
8-11. "Preaching Artful Sermons," The "The Minister and Organist as
Colleagues," The American Organist 20 (October 1986): 64-7. "Special Sunday Series on Touch," Preventing
Sexual Abuse 1 (Summer 1986): 5-6. "It's Ulrich's Birthday Too," The
Congregational Journal 11 (September 1985): 51-8. "Biblical Archaeology," Reality. Unpublished
materials: The A History of the Attitude of the Biography
included in Contemporary Authors, a bio-bibliographical guide to current
writers published by Gale. Recipient
personally of the following awards: Outstanding Unity Award, Recognition Award, Ogoni Youth Leadership Forum
(for advocating for the resettlement of Ogoni Nigerian refugees and the
development of services for West Africans in the Twin Cities) (2006) Distinguished Alumnus Award, United Theological
Seminary of the Twin Cities (2003) David W. Preus Leadership Award (2002) WCCO Good Neighbor Award (2002) International Leadership Institute Award (in recognition
of a decade or more service towards the elimination of social injustice and
intolerance in the world community) (1999) Ecumenical Partners Award from Urban Ministries (1994) Under his
leadership, the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches received the
following awards: Honor of Hope Awardee of the White House Office
of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (for the Compassion Capital Fund
Program) (2008) Best Practices Award of the Governor’s
Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives (for the Community Justice
Project) (2008) Recognition by the U.S. House of Representatives
for Minnesota FoodShare’s twenty-five years fighting hunger in Recognition by the U.S. Department of Justice of
the Division of Indian Work’s Family Violence Program for work on
behalf of crime victims (2007) Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
presented to Minnesota FoodShare (in recognition of outstanding and
invaluable service to the community) (2005) African Award from the Consortium of African
Community Organizations (in appreciation for the welcome and support given to
African immigrants and refugees) (2004) Partnership Award presented to Minnesota
FoodShare by Second Harvest Saint Paul Food Bank in recognition of outstanding
and sustained support (2001) Committee on Urban Environment Award for
partnership between Metro Paint-A-ThonÊ and Hirshfield's Paint Recycling
Program (2001) Ecumenical Service Awards from the National
Council of Churches: For Welfare Reform Programs (1999) Minnesota Churches Anti-Racism Initiative recognized nationally as a
model project by the White House Initiative on Race (1997) Samuel H. Scheiner Human Relations Award for Recipient of national preaching awards: Joseph Jones Russell Sermon Award (1986) Award
for Preaching of the Christian Sermon Society (Honorable Mention) (1976) Memberships: Board of Directors and Executive Committee,
Greater Board of Directors and Executive Committee,
Division of Indian Work Council of Sponsors, Board of Directors, Franklin National Bank Board of Directors (Chair), Collegeville
Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research Board of Trustees, United Theological Seminary of
the Twin Cities Board of Directors, Board of Directors, Advisory Board of Directors, Peace Foundation Minnesota
Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives National Association of Ecumenical and
Inter-religious Staff Iris Murdoch Society The Personal: Married (1970) to Pamela ("Pam") Matson
Reierson Oblate, See
“Coming Home: Opening Our Eyes, Ears, Hearts, and Minds” President’s Letter, October 2008 See "Ecumenism from 'The
Bottom Up,'" March 2002 See
"Transforming Do-Gooders into Good-Doers," President's Letter, Winter 2002 See "Art and Ethics in the
Novels of Iris Murdoch" Summer 2001 See
"Faith in Government? A Look at President Bush and Faith-based
Initiatives," President's Letter, Winter 2001 See "Being Good for
Nothing," September 2000 |
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