Pastor Ron Feltman
In February 2006, Pastor Ron Feltman accepted a call to become a part-time associate pastor, becoming the newest member of Epiphany staff.
Pastor Feltman was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. His childhood dream was to become the shortstop for the Atlanta Braves, but he wasn't any good, and those dreams were dashed early. His only athletic claim to fame is having played on the same Little League team as future White Sox pitcher and Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt. He also had a short-lived career as a rodeo performer, riding a donkey backwards with the donkey's tail in his mouth, but that's a painful tale that he'd just a soon you not mention.
He is an avid Gamecock, having graduated from the University of South Carolina. Being a Gamecock sports fan accounts for his endless patience and his ability to endure disappointment. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.
Between 1986 and 2003, Pastor Feltman served congregations in Elloree, Columbia, West Columbia, and Irmo, all in South Carolina. He is most proud of having lived in Irmo, where the town festival is the "Okra Strut". Catch him in a weak moment and he'll show you how an okra struts!
Pastor Feltman gets particular joy out of leading worship, preaching, and teaching. He also loves helping others become more generous disciples and discovering the ways in which faith can be a part of their everyday life.
In 2003, after 17 years of parish ministry, Pastor Feltman answered the call to the full time ministry of stewardship by becoming a financial associate for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, where his mission was to help others find greater spiritual and relational peace through financial security. When he is not at Epiphany, he trains and coaches new financial associates for the Chicagoland Regional Financial Office of the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
His greatest joys in life are his wife, Heather, and his son Seth Lancaster. Heather is a diaconal minister and serves as the director of the ELCA's Domestic Disaster Response. Seth is a sophomore at Conant High School. In his free time Pastor Feltman enjoys playing golf, flying, reading, photography, collecting watches, and learning about Chicago history by visiting famous gravesites.