About Us

Mission & VisionStaffSession & DeaconsPresbyterian Church USAFAQ's
 

Staff

 

Interim Pastor, Gary L Burnett

 

A member of the Presbytery of East Iowa, Gary L Burnett is a retired certified interim ministry specialist.  He earned the BS, MDiv, and STM degrees at the University of Dubuque.  In 1970, Gary was ordained to a chaplain position at Kansas Neurological Institute, Topeka, Kansas.

After serving in three called/ installed pastorates in Iowa and Illinois, Gary sensed a call to interim ministry.   Beginning in 1984,  he served twenty-one congregations (membership ranging 100-800) as intentional interim pastor before retiring in 2008.   In six positions, Gary served as after-pastor following misconduct by the previous pastor.  Professional growth and development are very important to Gary as evidenced by:

  • Completion of the Pastoral Care and Counseling Parish Program at Illinois Pastoral Institute in Bloomington, Illinois  
  • Advanced training in Family Systems and conflict management  
  • Certification as an Intentional Interim Specialist by the Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Faculty member for General Assembly sponsored interim ministry training

Office Administrator, Mackenzie Kahler

I have served as office administrator at First Presbyterian since July of 2019. I was born and raised in Monticello. My husband, Nick, and I raise our family, Gavin, Anicka, Beckett, and Lennon, here in Monticello. When I'm not busy chasing my family, I enjoy cooking/baking, spending time outside with my family, reading and quilting.

Treasurer, Dan Saunders

I have been married to my wife, Janie, for over 50 years now! We have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.  I served 6-1/2 yrs in the U S Air Force, and we  lived in Germany for 4 years and Saudi Arabia for 2-1/2 years.  I retired from the Monticello Post Office in 2010 with 35 yrs service.  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business management with a minor in Accounting.  My hobbies are yard work, fishing, ancestry, and watching TV with my wife.