Reverend Dr. David M. Neff
Pastor
David Neff served as our interim pastor since 2011 until becoming installed as our pastor in 2014. He grew up in western Oklahoma and graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in philosophy. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1985. Since then, he has served interim pastorates in Malta, Argyle, Downers Grove and Burbank; and called positions at Clarendon Hills, North Riverside and Morgan Park. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1998. His passions include spirituality, creativity, mysticism, comparative world religions and travel, as well as art, theater and music. He is a popular lecturer, serving as an adjunct professor of religious studies at St. Xavier University.
James Acquaah
Pastor
Obtained Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Chicago State University. Received Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Management (MM), Certificates in Human Resource Management, International Business, and Marketing of Services from North Park University in Chicago.
Works in Finance, Accounting and Human Resources industry.
Started my ministry by graduating from the Lay pastoral program offered at the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, Rochester, Indiana.Studied and took some classes at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Has been the pastor of the Ghanaian Presbyterian Fellowship since 2012 after ordination and commissioning by the Presbytery of Chicago in the same year of 2012.
Leslie Deslauriers
Pastoral Assistant
Leslie came to us in the Fall of 2014 as an intern from McCormick Theological Seminary. In 2012, Leslie graduated with high honors from Belmont University in Nashville. Leslie and her husband Adam moved to Chicago from Franklin, Tennessee in August 2013 so she could pursue her seminary education. Leslie has been involved with Christian Education and Outreach; specifically teaching Bible Study, Sunday School, and forming Young Hearts, a young adult social group.
Leslie’s passions include reading (especially the Harry Potter series), kayaking, listening to live music, participating in interfaith dialogues, and spending time with her family.
Michael Shawgo
Organist
Michael Shawgo is our organist and directs the Second Presbyterian Quartet Choir. Originally from central Illinois, he received his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Additional organ study was with J. Marcus Ritchie at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, and with Dexter Bailey in Chicago. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the American Theatre Organ Society, and Phi Mu Alpha fraternity. Mr. Shawgo also works at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a computer technician.
Marco Alberto
Sexton
Marco is much in demand as the sexton, where legend has it, he can fix or repair anything. The father of five children, Marco is an avid soccer fan as well as an accomplished soccer player. He has served for three years as sexton of Second Presbyterian Church.