ST. PAUL’S NEWCOMER MINISTRY
Meet Another EpiscoPAL Pair Submitted by Suzanne Smythe
Every St. Paul’s newcomer is offered an EpiscoPAL for their first year here. Existing parishioner Pals get to know the newcomer, invite them to events, and welcome them into our parish life. To learn more, contact Rev. Jessie at jdodson@stpauls-church.org.
Bonnie Gunzenhauser (left) Cleveland baseball fans might recognize the name of newcomer Bonnie Gunzenhauser’s hometown. She grew up in Van Meter, Iowa, which happens to be the hometown of famed Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller. Bonnie left Iowa and went to Chicago for graduate school, 6
Parish Notes | Lent 2023
where she stayed for most of her adult life. In June 2020, Bonnie moved to Cleveland when she accepted the position of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at John Carroll University. With the pandemic keeping us all isolated, moving to a new city was not an easy time. After getting settled, she was interested in finding a church. Bonnie was raised in the United Methodist Church and attended Lutheran (ELCA) congregations for most of her life. Bonnie decided to try the virtual services St. Paul’s was offering.
She appreciated the preaching, the music, and the variety of virtual outreach at St. Paul’s and knew it would be her first church to visit once worship resumed in person. Bonnie is an English professor by training, having received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago. Her undergraduate degree is in English and philosophy from Luther College. She is a lifelong singer and calls herself an early music geek. Bonnie enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling. She’s also a fan of state fairs and offbeat museums. She shares her home
