Cyndi Gavin: Providing Spiritual Leadership, Building Community Connections

Pastor Cyndi Gavin had “the calling” well ahead of getting the call to preach.

When the call came and she was invited to preach at an Aurora church, it wasn’t even a full-time position. Gavin, a resident, learned the church’s pastor was ill and the congregation needed someone to fill in on Sundays. 

While she’d get her chance to “get her feet wet” preaching, she was told the church was “dying.” The reality was that the church was probably going to be sold for $1 to another congregation. 

That was more than five years ago.

After taking on the role as part-time preacher, Gavin really got the call. Members of the church council at Saint John United Church of Christ in Aurora asked her to stay on and assume the role of their spiritual leader. 

The first year, she worked part-time. Then, the council asked her to take on the leadership role full-time. The sale of the church’s former parsonage helped provide the funds to pay her salary. Those funds are almost gone now—there is enough money to continue through March—but Gavin is not worried about the church’s future or her role there.

“I am trusting,” she said. “I am not doing what everyone is suggesting that I do,” which is to prepare to move on.

While the number of parishioners might not have grown much in the time she’s been the pastor, Gavin has implemented programs that have benefitted the larger community.

“Any faith-based organization is able to address the spirit,” she said, adding that as long as churches are dependent on people putting money into the plate on Sunday, they will be limited. 

Many of the people the church serves through its ministry programs are not in the pews on Sunday.

“I want everyone to realize they are welcome,” she said, noting that the goal is to build relationships with all who live in the community.

She said she views the community's needs through the questions: “How can I be of help to you? How can I be Christ to you?”

Walking a new path

When she took on her role in the church, Gavin used her background in organizational development and organizational behavior to evaluate the church and its needs, along with assessing the community and its assets and needs, she said.

Prior to her job as a spiritual leader, Gavin worked in management at Lucent. When her position was eliminated, she had time to think about her future path. 

“I went from being a career woman to a year of discernment to being at seminary,” she said. 

During her time at St. John’s, she has implemented a number of programs to help the families and residents, she said.

Asking herself how she might use sacramental theology and practical theology to address social issues, she started cooking classes known as Mesa de Maria (Mary's Table), which help mothers learn to cook healthier, while also empowering them. The women meet regularly to learn about healthy cooking, but they also do artwork and explore other interests.

“We learn from each other, love each other and hold each other up,” Gavin said.

Gavin relates to the women and families in her community, because as a child growing up in Missouri she lived in poverty. As an adult, she moved into a middle- and upper-middle-class lifestyle. 

Her experience living within different social levels gave her a deeper understanding of the people with whom she now works, she said. 

“I understand the feeling and taste and touch of them,” she said. “Class is more than skin deep. … My love is watching how the strands of commonality run between those classes and saying 'God is always present with you.'” 

"Doing the work of Christ"

Taking that understanding to her church community, Gavin knew many of the children in the community were desperately in need of winter coats, so she found a way to get brand new coats to those in need. Finding a nonprofit that provides brand new coats at a reduced cost.

She started a clothing closet to provide clothing for families at no cost. And, she continues to seek more clothing and household items to provide for those in need.

Because she knew that the arts could be transformative, she started Peace Players, a summer camp program that brings together children of all ages around the idea of peace, while incorporating the performing arts. 

“Kids can teach about peace as much as adults,” she said. “Peace is everywhere.”

To make the programs happen, she seeks grants and endowments and others offer their service as well. 

Talking with a friend one day, Gavin said she wanted to plant flowers and a garden, she said, “I just want to bring beauty to the church and she said ‘you don’t have any grass.’” 

An Eagle Scout, Kyle Meyers, came forward to help create a garden. Tony Tyznik, a landscape designer at the Morton Arboretum and Meyers’ grandfather, helped with the project. Now, the garden adds beauty to the neighborhood, she said, adding that some of the flowers have worked their way into neighboring yards. 

“Beauty attracts beauty,” she said.

After leading the congregation at Saint John United Church of Christ, Gavin said she is convinced the church isn’t dying.

“I think churches have to become community things and not only isolated places that are supported by its members,” she said. “My dream would be that there is a group of people the spirit pulls together—it’s not about doctrine, not about dogma, not about spiritual lines. It’s about doing the work of Christ. It’s about reflecting that.”