Leadership
Erin Coleman Branchaud Pastor
Pastor Erin Coleman Branchaud (she/her/hers) has served as the pastor of St. Luke's since 2018. Pastor Erin is a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she focused on faith-based community organizing as a transformational methodology for mission and discipleship. Erin brings to St. Luke's a deep sense of call to work with God for transformative economic, racial, and gender justice. She loves to tell stories and sing songs.
Before moving to Chicago in 2014, Pastor Erin worked as a Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer in Grand Bourg, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Prior to that she lived in Nebraska, where she served in congregations, outdoor ministries, and campus ministries.
Outside of church, you can find Pastor Erin playing board games, spending time with her spouse Josh, and being a human to her two cats. She is a proud member of common pulse vocal ensemble and a leader with the Faith Liberation Movement of The People's Lobby. You can catch some of her work in recent panels on Lutheranisms and Socialisms.
Bev Jedynak
Cantor
Bev Jedynak (she/her/hers) has been the primary musician at St. Luke's since 2012, and was named "Cantor" in 2016. She was previously minister of music at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Chicago and before that spent 21 years as Cantor at Park View Lutheran Church – her home congregation.
The role of cantor is one well-suited to Bev – as “leader of the church’s song” she seeks to include everyone in the music making – whether the smallest toddler just starting to demonstrate rhythmic skills or the most advanced musician – all are welcome and invited to be a part of the church’s song.
In addition to staff duties at St. Luke’s, Bev provides investor relations and public relations services to a number of clients through her firm, Bevlyn Consulting. She started Bevlyn in 2014 following decades of experience at a national firm .
Call Bev: (773) 350-5793