A resident of Quincy, Illinois, Garth Baecker has held a variety of leadership roles throughout his life, ranging from his work as an English and journalism instructor at the Roosevelt Military Academy in Aledo to his career as an award-winning sales professional in the insurance and mutual fund industries. Garth Baecker has also spent more than a decade in leadership roles with the United Church of Christ. For 13 years, he has been a board president off and on for a 1,100-member congregation,
The United Church of Christ (UCC) was established as a socially liberal Protestant Christian denomination in 1957 after the Evangelical and Reformed Church united with the Congregational Christian Churches, though these denominations extend back to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation in 1620. The UCC embraces open communion, a Protestant practice that allows non-members to receive the Eucharist during the communion portion of services, as well as interfaith marriages and ecumenical acceptance of other Christian denominations.
Leading a large congregation involves a large number of responsibilities and challenges. Often, it can be a struggle to carefully manage all ministry leaders when a congregation consists of a dozen or more ministers. As churches approach 800 or more congregation members and staff expands, board members and other leaders must adjust their approach to strategic leadership and delegate responsibilities under a staff-led structure.
Leaders of smaller congregations do not always need to define discipleship paths, as it is often driven by relationships. This is harder to achieve with hundreds of congregation members, requiring leaders like Garth Baecker to establish a defined path through church services and a clear leadership structure. In addition, leaders of large congregations must avoid relying too heavily on large group events, which can make it difficult to establish personal relationships. Leaders of large UCC congregations often deal with many challenges, ranging from navigating competing resources to developing a sustainable multi-site strategies.
Garth Baecker has also served as a pulpit supply minister and negotiator for churches in conflict. Pulpit supply ministers often support congregations undergoing pastoral transitions. This can be a particularly challenging role, as they must quickly familiarize themselves and connect with members of a church that they do not typically attend.
Moreover, Garth Baecker’s work as a church negotiator involved a range of conflict negotiations. Church negotiators may draw on the principles of Biblical negotiations, which provide a framework for addressing personal, faith-based, and business issues impacting a congregation. In his capacity as a church negotiator, Mr. Baecker worked through various church conflicts.
A few common examples of church conflicts include doctrinal conflicts, such as a disagreement over how scripture should be interpreted, and resource conflicts, which can range from how finances should be invested to how church facilities should be used. Church negotiators frequently negotiate conflicts between church leaders, as well as between leaders and congregation members.
In addition to his leadership positions within the church, Garth Baecker has spread the word of God by co-creating and producing The Baecker Jazz Worship Service. The service was performed before multiple congregations in 2007 before touring the Midwest with a 17-member jazz orchestra. The project also recorded an album at the Chicago Recording Company. Album sales have encompassed physical copies and digital downloads for listeners around the world.
Mr. Baecker has engaged in a wide range of philanthropic and community work outside of his efforts as a church leader. An amputee and colostomy patient, he supports the Pekin Hospital Foundation by providing support to individuals living with similar medical issues.