Rev. Dr. Joel Mitchell, Pastor

Morgan Park

 Baptist Church

11024 S. Bell Avenue 

Chicago, IL 60643

​773-445-9443

Reflection November 17, 2019

Resume of Rev. Dr. Thomas Aldworth
      It recently dawned on me that there are people in our church who may not know my educational background and ministerial experience. To that end, I’m placing my resume in this week’s Advance. In every church, the background and experience of the pastor is a critically important dimension of church life. 

Thomas Patrick Aldworth
2217 West 108th Place; Chicago, IL 60643
Cell Phone: 708-557-0400 ·
Home Office Phone 872-356-5857
Email: draldworth@aol.com.

Executive Summary
An exceptional problem solver with over forty-five years of ministerial leadership roles along with twelve years of private and collegiate counseling experience with a focus on spiritual and personal guidance; extensive organizational and managerial experience including governing boards such as Catholic Theological Union Board of Trustees and the Center for Faith & Community Health Transformation; served as chairperson for local Community of Churches; current member of American Baptist Churches-Metro Chicago Ordination Commission; current president of Ministers Council – American Baptist Churches-Metro Chicago; extraordinary communication skills encompassing public speaking, writing and editorial background; significant teaching background with a broad spectrum of students and cultural settings; many years spent as a Franciscan friar before leaving the Franciscans in order to marry (widowed in October, 2016); an American Baptist minister with accredited ordination; trained in Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Memorial Hospital in San Antonio, Texas; extensive experience in fund-raising including a major capital campaign. 
Education
Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality (D.Min.); Catholic Theological Union; Chicago IL (joint program with Lutheran School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary); Thesis Project: Parish Soul: Assisting a Parish Community in Appropriating the Symbol of Soul to Understand Its Corporate/Communal Life         
Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.); Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, LA
Master of Divinity (M.Div.); Catholic Theological Union; Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (B.A.); Quincy University; Quincy, IL
Accreditation
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); State of Illinois                                                                   

2003 – present
Awarded the 2017 James B. Ashbrook Award along with wife, Beth (posthumous), for outstanding ministry in pastoral care
Professional Experience
Senior Pastor; Morgan Park Baptist Church; Chicago, IL (Member of American Baptist Churches USA)
2008-Present
(website – contains sermons and reflections):
MorganParkBaptist.org
Services streamed live each Sunday through Thomas Aldworth Facebook page – along with Bible Studies)
      Provide Pastoral Care and Leadership for 65 member congregation
      Founder & Director of The Center for Spiritual Health at Morgan Park Baptist Church

2011-Present
Founder and Director; Tau Ministry Services; Chicago, Illinois (www.tauministry.org)                                                 

2003-Present

 Provide Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling, Parish Consultations and Workshops
Adjunct Instructor; Moraine Valley Community College; Palos Hills, IL                        

2005-Present
Teach courses in Ethics, Introduction to Philosophy, Critical Thinking and World Religions
Director of Priesthood Formation; Franciscans of Sacred Heart Province                           

2005 –2007

Supervised ministerial candidates seeking priesthood
Program Director; St. Peter’s Church; Chicago, IL                                                        

2002 – 2003

Responsible for coordinating and planning all educational activities
Pastor; St. Peter’s Church in the Loop; Chicago, IL                                                                                        
1995-2001

Spiritual and organization leader of a downtown service church – busiest church in the Midwest
Brought serious financial deficit under control
Initiated and oversaw a major capital campaign bringing in close to $4,000,000

Made church accessible to people in wheelchairs and the elderly
Significantly expanded continuing education presentations including classes from Catholic Theological Union;

•  Established an ethics consultation service for professionals in business and medicine

•  Completed a pastoral plan and established partnerships with other organizations

• Oversaw a professional staff of 40 people

•  St. Peter’s Church in the Loop was voted “Best Church in Chicago” by Chicago magazine during my tenure as pastor – for the first and only time.

Pastor; St. Anthony Parish; Parma, OH (9,500 member church)                                     

1990-1993

•  Erased a significant debt resulting from new church building

•  Served as superintendent for St. Anthony Grade School

•  Oversaw a professional staff of 50 people

•  Coordinated local inter-church activities

Pastor and Campus Minister; Grambling State University; Grambling, LA (700 member African-American church and predominately African-American University)                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 1986-1990
Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry; Diocese of Shreveport, LA                                

1985-1990

•  Oversaw campus ministry at seven universities

Instructor in Religious Studies and Ethics; Greco Institute; Diocese of Shreveport, LA    

1988 - 1990                             
Associate Pastor and Campus Minister; Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, LA             

1983 – 1986
Adjunct Instructor in Ethics; Marion College; Indianapolis, IN; Staff Member – Alverna Retreat House – Indianapolis; Campus Minister; Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis;       

 1977 – 1978
Associate Pastor; Saint Francis Church; Quincy, IL                                                               

 1974-1976
Deacon Training; St. Agnes Parish (Ashland, Wisconsin); ministry to the Chippewa Nation at the Bad River Native American Reservation and Ministry at Northland College  1973                                                                                                                                                                                    

Publications
Books: Shaping a Healthy Religion; Thomas More Press; 1985 (Winner of 1985 Thomas More Medal for “Outstanding Contribution to Catholic Literature”)
Fashioning a Healthier Religion; Thomas More Press; 1992
Articles: National Catholic Reporter; Spiritual Life; Spirituality, Priest; Our Sunday Visitor; The Cord; Markings; Tae Kwon Do Times; numerous local newspaper and magazine articles; decades of weekly reflection articles in church newsletters and church publications
Tape Series: Facing Fear – Finding Faith; Enhancing Life: Living with Reverence, Imagination and Grace; What Life Has Taught Me
Athletic Accomplishments

•  Certified 3rd Degree Black Belt in the Korean Martial Art of Tae Kwon Do (certified by United States Tae Kwon Do Union & World Tae Kwon Do Federation)

•  Louisiana State Champion in Sparring; 1988

•  Tae Kwon Do Instructor: 1988 – 1990; 1991 – 1993; 1996 – 2001; 2002 – 2003; 2009, 2017.

Born November 4, 1947 in the Englewood Neighborhood of Chicago; grew up near 79th and Halsted; my twin brother is Jack; my older brother is Jim. I am the son of Irish immigrants. I have a 41 year old son, Mark, who lives in Boston with his wife, Hannah. I have three grandchildren: Daphne, Clark and August. I’ve traveled widely. I very much enjoy being the pastor of our beloved church!