In light of Pastor Jo’s retirement, the Council of Elders is very grateful and happy to announce the appointment of Dick Rice as the new Transitional Spiritual Leader of The Recovery Church. Many of us are quite familiar with Dick, of course, as a very prominent member of the recovery community and a frequent “fill-in” for Jo over the past few years. Dick will be serving us on a “half-time” basis while we conduct a search for a permanent, full-time pastor, and thus will be leading our Sunday services. Dick’s first Sunday as official leader was January 1, 2012 , and he has committed to being with us for up to one year.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Dick is always a Packer fan in exile in Minnesota. Dick went to universities ranging from St. Louis University to Columbia and was ordained a Catholic priest in the Jesuit Order in 1972. He was a Jesuit priest for 32 years, serving primarily as a founding member of Loyola Spirituality Center in St. Paul. As many of you know, Dick has first-hand experience with the program, having become a 12-stepper on May 1, 1979. Dick resigned from the priesthood in 2005 and for the past 6 and 1/2 years has been the Director of Spiritual Development at The Retreat, a 12-step recovery center in Wayzata. He and his wife, Rosemarie Whitehead, make their home in Inver Grove Heights.

We are excited about this new phase in the life of The Recovery Church, and we welcome Dick with open, loving and grateful arms.

Deb was born and raised in Winona, Minnesota, and moved to the Twin Cities area in 1974.

She has worked with Pastor Campe since 1997. In 1999, Pastor Campe moved to Central Park UMC and invited Deb to join him.

Deb has worked with Pastor Campe through several challenging transitions to what is now called "The Recovery Church."

She has been married for 36 years and lives with her husband, Jon, in Fridley. She has two grown children… and five grandchildren - who are the passion in her life. Deb devotes most of her spare time to her family.

Gary Upp has been on staff at Central Park UMC (The Recovery Church) for over 25 years. He provides music each Sunday, as well as, at special events. He plays piano, and was an expert at making our pipe organ sing in the old church.

Gary lives in Roseville and spends much of his time helping to raise his grandson, Michael.

Roland and Steve share the custodial duties at the church. They are here evenings and for special events. They work very hard to keep our building clean and secure.