Rev. Kerri Parker

Executive Director
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Rev. Kerri Parker (she/her) has been Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches since 2017. During her tenure, the Council has become known nationwide for its leadership in faith-based COVID19 response, fresh ecumenical vision, and collaborations for racial equity. In 2023 she was honored by the United Church of Christ with its Avery D. Post Ecumenical Award. Beyond ecumenism and her family, Rev. Parker’s passions are stories, show tunes, and justice. She has served as local church pastor in McFarland, WI and YWCA executive in Rock County, WI. Her wider church work includes the Christian Unity & Interfaith Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chair of the Board of the Wisconsin Conference of the UCC, United Church Camps Inc. and United Church of Christ General Synod Delegate. Rev. Parker has been a panelist and keynote speaker for presentations on pandemic ministry, ecumenism and church vitality, and biblical justice, and preaches widely around Wisconsin. In addition to editing and co-authoring study-action guides on Faith & Gun Violence, Jesus & Justice in Public, and Immigration: Becoming Welcoming Communities, she contributed to the book “There’s a Woman in the Pulpit” (Skylight Paths, 2015). Rev. Parker earned her MDiv from Chicago Theological Seminary and BA from Smith College. She is pursuing a DMin in Prophetic Leadership at Iliff School of Theology. She is a member of Orchard Ridge UCC in Madison, WI. Rev. Parker’s ministerial standing is in the Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ.

Rev. Gayle Tucker

Administrative & Communications Associate
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Rev. Tucker is an ordained pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ, with ministerial standing in the SW WI Association of the UCC. She served as Pastor of the Congregational Church of Jefferson Park UCC, in Chicago from February 2010 to April 2021, Sabbatical Supply Pastor at Plymouth UCC in Madison during the summers of 2021 and 2022, and Sabbatical Supply Pastor at St. John’s UCC in Merton during fall of 2023. She has an MDiv from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and a BA in Music Education from Luther College. She is happy to be home in southern Wisconsin with her two dogs.

Deaconess Johnna Georgia

Director of Awaken Dane
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Deaconess Georgia is the Awaken Dane Program Director and her role includes coordinating efforts from the Wisconsin Council of Churches, Collaboration Project, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and Upper House to launch this cooperative program in Dane County. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Valparaiso University and is a consecrated Deaconess with the Lutheran Diaconal Association. Her experience is in youth ministry and non-profit management. Johnna is a member of Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church, ELCA, and lives in Waunakee with her family.  Her favorite pastimes are singing and making music, travelling, reading, and cooking.

Rev. Breanna Illéné

Director of Ecumenical Innovation and Justice Initiatives 
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Rev. Breanna Illéné (she/her) helps the WCC build strategic relationships and broaden opportunities for ecumenical engagement.  She has an MA in Social Justice (Loyola University-Chicago), an MA in Christian Education (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) and an MDiv (Iliff School of Theology) and is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Rev. Illéné is based in South-Central Wisconsin.