The Rev. Dr. Gary B. Reierson (Ry' - er - son)  
2725 Toledo Avenue South
St. Louis Park, MN 55416-1923
+1-612-669-5211
Fax: +1-484-924-5889
Email: [email protected]

Curriculum Vitae




EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude), College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, 1977

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: Spring 2011, Fall 2007, Fall 2006, Summer 2000), (North American Summer Session: July 1992).
 
Bossey Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland, Fall 2006
 
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, Fall 2001.
 
Centro Pro Unione, Rome, Fall 2001, December 1997, July 1995
 
Mini MBA for Nonprofit Organizations, University of St. Thomas, 1991
 
EMPLOYMENT:
2013 — 2017, Director, Collegeville Institute Fellows Program, Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research

2007 — 2014, Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Theology and Seminary, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota

1989 — 2012, President and CEO, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC) (now: Greater Minneapolis Community Connections)
  • Expanded GMCC to be the largest organization of its kind at all levels in North America and the largest volunteer organization in Minnesota, with 25,000 volunteers, 700 member congregations, 33 programs, and 100 employees serving 330,000 people each year..
  • Positioned GMCC as a major player in the national emphasis on faith-based initiatives. Three grants over 7 years from the Compassion Capital Fund—the centerpiece of the federal government’s focus on faith-based initiatives—resulted in $5.6 million invested in the community to increase the capacity of grassroots groups in addressing human needs.
  • Focused GMCC’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.
  • Guided three successful capital campaigns raising over $16 million.
  • Increased GMCC’s net assets from $530,000 to $9.2 million
  • Strengthened the organization so that it received unqualified financial audits and balanced budgets for twenty-three consecutive years.
  • Grew programs to serve the neediest from 13 to 32, and people impacted increased from approximately 30,000 to 330,000.
  • Led the design, management, and evaluation of results-oriented programs that moved from a focus on service statistics to outcome-based management.
  • Ensured the raising annually of $8 million plus more than 4 million pounds of food for the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign.
  • 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 U.S. cities.
  • Transformed a paternalistic relationship with the Division of Indian Work into a strategic alliance that emphasized American Indian empowerment; cost-effective efforts to share back office functions in finance, administration, and fund-raising; and exemplary program outcomes.
  • Developed the Board of Directors to include representatives from a cross section of the community, including key community leaders. Persons of color made up 33% of the Board of Directors and 61% of the staff.
 
1987 — 1989, Vice President for Community Relations, Greater Minneapolis Girl Scout Council
​
1986, Adjunct Professor, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

1977 — 1987, Associate Minister, Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1975 — 1977,  Associate Minister, United Church of Christ, New Brighton, Minnesota

1973 — 1975, Teaching Specialist, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota
 
BOARDS:
Struthers Parkinson's Center Community Advisory Board

Board of Directors (honorary lifetime member) (past Chair), Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research

Board of Trustees (past Treasurer), United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, 2008-2015, 2023-

Advisory Board, Center for Jewish Studies, University of Minnesota

Consultant to the Development Committee of the Board of Directors, Our Lady of Peace Hospice, St. Paul

PAST BOARDS:
Collegeville Institute Multi-Religious Fellows Program Advisory Board (past chair)

Board of Directors, Franklin Bank
Community Advisory Board, Sunrise Banks

Board of Trustees (past Treasurer), United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

Advisory Board, Peace Foundation

Board Affairs Committee, VocalEssence

Council of Sponsors, Minnesota FoodShare

Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives

David W. Preus Leadership Award Sponsoring Council

Superintendent's Community Roundtable, Minneapolis Public Schools

Board of Directors, Tri-Council Coordinating Commission / Anti-Racism Initiative

Twin Cities Metropolitan Church Commission (past Chair)

Task Force on Teen Pregnancy, City of Minneapolis

Metropolitan Collaborative on Teen-Aged Pregnancy Prevention

Abbott-Northwestern Center for Pastoral Counseling, Minneapolis

United Way Minneapolis Area

Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing

Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (now: Greater Minneapolis Community Connections)

Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Division of Indian Work

Board of Directors, Minnesota Council of Churches

Board of Directors, Saint Paul Area Council of Churches (now: Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul)

PERSONAL:

Ordained minister, United Church of Christ (1978)

Oblate, St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota (1999)

Married, two grown children, four grandchildren

Publications


BOOKS:

The Art in Preaching: The Intersection of Theology, Worship, and Preaching with the Arts. Lanham: University Press of America, 1988. (Listed by the Center for Pastoral Liturgy at the University of Notre Dame.)

The Gift of Administration, with Thomas Campbell. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1981. (Named one of the top ten books of 1981 by the Academy of Parish Clergy, and cited by one author as “one of the few ‘classic’ texts in the field of church administration” [Thomas Edward Frank, “The Discourse of Leadership and the Practice of Administration,” Journal of Religious Leadership 1 (Fall 2002): 7-30].

The Plymouth Heritage, with Elaine Marsh. Minneapolis: Plymouth Congregational Church, 1979.

A History of the Attitude of the University of Minnesota Toward Religion. Minneapolis: 1973 (Bachelor of Arts honors thesis).

ARTICLES:

“Focus on Hope.” In 2020 Wisdom, ed. Jim Secord. St. Cloud, MN: Polaris Press, an imprint of North Star Press of Saint Cloud, 2021.

"October 31, 2017: Where Do We Go From Here?" The Oblate 61 (October 2017): 3, 11.

"Reflections on Pope Francis’s Amoris Laetitia." The Oblate 60 (Summer 2016): 2, 5.

Pastoral perspective on “Holy Thursday,” “Good Friday,” and “Holy Saturday.” In Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary; Lent through Eastertide, year A, vol. 2, ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010.

“Pride and Personal Transformation.” President’s Letter, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. October 2010.

“To Lent or Not to Lent.” The Oblate 54 (Summer 2010): 1, 5-8.

"'Colloguium': Conversations between Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, OSB, and Representatives from Various Communities." In One Heart, One Soul: Many Comunities, ed. Mary Forman, OSB. Collegeville, MN: Saint John's University Press, 2009.

"An Innovative Response to the Challenges of Dramatic Increases in Immigration from Africa to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota." In Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Global Awareness Society International, ed. James C. Omfret. 2009.

“A Sermon Preached at Saint John’s Abbey.” The Oblate 53 (Fall/Winter 2008/2009): 4-6.

“Sign Us Up.” President’s Letter, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. November 2008.

“Coming Home: Opening Our Eyes, Ears, Hearts, and Minds.” President’s Letter, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. 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 20 (December 2008/January 2009): 41-42, 51, 59-60, 67-68.
  • “Lesson and the Arts [Year A: Advent 1, 2, 3, 4; Christmas 1].” Lectionary Homiletics 19 (December 2007/January 2008): 7-8, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30.
  • “Lesson and the Arts [Year B: Lent 1, 2, 3, 4].” Lectionary Homiletics 17 (February/March 2006): 40, 49-50, 58-59, 67.
  • “Lesson and the Arts [Year A: Propers 18, 19, 20, 21].” Lectionary Homiletics 16 (August/September 2005): 48-49, 55-56, 64-65, 72-73.
  • “Lesson and the Arts [Year B: Propers 9, 10, 11, 12].” Lectionary Homiletics 14 (June/July 2003): 42-43, 51, 59, 65-66.
"Working for Justice in the Criminal Justice System." President’s Letter, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. October 2006.

"Does Goodness Really Matter?" Ecumenical People Programs Papers, November 2002, 11-14.

"Ecumenism from 'The Bottom Up'." Ecumenical Trends 31 (March 2002): 11-15.

"Transforming Do-Gooders into Good-Doers." President’s Letter, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Winter 2002.

"Faith in Government?" Northern Spirit, July-August 2001, 35.

"Art and Ethics in the Novels of Iris Murdoch." ARTS (The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies) 13 (Summer 2001): 10-12.

"What's not new about government funding for faith-based projects." MetroLutheran, May 2001, 4.

"Faith in Government? A Look at President Bush and Faith-based Initiatives." President’s Letter, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Winter 2001.

"Being Good for Nothing." The Clergy Journal 77 (October 2000): 12-14.

"What Indians, Palestinians have in Common." Minneapolis StarTribune, June 8, 1998, sec. A, 9.

"Welfare-to-Work: What Churches can Do." Minneapolis StarTribune, July 24, 1997, sec. A, 25.

"As Government does Less for Poor, Can Churches Give More?" Minneapolis StarTribune, January 28, 1997, sec. A, 11.

"Rekiindling the Gift: Administrative 'Gifts' Help Clarify Your Clergy Role." The Clergy Journal 72 (November-December 1995): 8-11.

"Preaching Artful Sermons." The Christian Ministry 19 (May-June 1988): 20-22.

"The Minister and Organist as Colleagues." The American Organist 20 (October 1986): 64-67

"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): 51-58.

"Biblical Archaeology." Reality. Minneapolis: Winston Press, 1973.

Biography included in Contemporary Authors, a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers published by Gale

TELEVISION:
 
"A Life of Religious Dedication." Access to Democracy, December 7, 2018.

Public Recognition


RECIPIENT PERSONALLY OF THE FOLLOWING AWARDS:

Distinguished listee, Who's Who in America (2019)

Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)

Outstanding Unity Award, Minnesota State Baptist Convention (2006)

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)

Joseph Jones Russell Sermon Award (1986)

Award for Preaching of the Christian Sermon Society (honorable mention) (1976)

Under his leadership, the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches received the following awards:

Top Workplace (WorkplaceDynamics and StarTribune) (2010 and 2011)

Recognition by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for three best practices developed as a Compassion Capital Fund awardee (2010)

Award of Excellence of the National Council of Churches (for long and distinguished history in furthering ecumenical life and ministry) (2009)

Volunteer Service Award of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation (for Urban Immersion Service Retreats) (2008)

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 Minnesota (2007)

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-Thon and Hirshfield's Paint Recycling Program (2001)

Ecumenical Service Awards from the National Council of Churches
        For Welfare Reform Programs
            (1999)
        For Minnesota Churches
            Anti-Racism Initiative (1997)
        For Indian Work Ministries
            (1993)
        For Ecumenical Partners    
            Program (1991)

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 Minnesota FoodShare from the Jewish Community Relations Council (1994)