Rev. Curtis (Curt) Ackley - Senior Pastor (Bridge)
The Rev. Curtis S. (Curt) Ackley: In 2002, Curt began his service to ninety northeast Ohio churches in his role as the Minister and Executive for the Western Reserve Association, Ohio Conference, United Church of Christ. He is a graduate of Lehigh University (BA, 1973) and Lancaster Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1979). He served two pastorates in a fifteen-year team ministry, one in northeast Pennsylvania and another in Corning, New York, until he took a position at the national offices of The United Church of Christ. Curt served as Associate Director for the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the UCC for six years. Curt has also served as a campus minister at a community college, and has written and edited curriculum materials for the United Church of Christ. Since moving to Arizona in 2010, Curt used his training in Intentional Interim Ministry when he served as Interim Senior Minister in Sun City (18 months) and Senior Minister (Interim) at Casas Adobes in 2017. In addition to providing pulpit supply in the Tucson area, Curt served as Minister for New Member Development at The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita where the Ackleys are members. He is married to Nancy Ackley, a Commissioned Minister for Faith and Money in the Southwest Conference.
The Rev. Curtis S. (Curt) Ackley: In 2002, Curt began his service to ninety northeast Ohio churches in his role as the Minister and Executive for the Western Reserve Association, Ohio Conference, United Church of Christ. He is a graduate of Lehigh University (BA, 1973) and Lancaster Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1979). He served two pastorates in a fifteen-year team ministry, one in northeast Pennsylvania and another in Corning, New York, until he took a position at the national offices of The United Church of Christ. Curt served as Associate Director for the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the UCC for six years. Curt has also served as a campus minister at a community college, and has written and edited curriculum materials for the United Church of Christ. Since moving to Arizona in 2010, Curt used his training in Intentional Interim Ministry when he served as Interim Senior Minister in Sun City (18 months) and Senior Minister (Interim) at Casas Adobes in 2017. In addition to providing pulpit supply in the Tucson area, Curt served as Minister for New Member Development at The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita where the Ackleys are members. He is married to Nancy Ackley, a Commissioned Minister for Faith and Money in the Southwest Conference.
Nancy Congdon - Director of Church Administration
Nancy is originally from New Hampshire and moved to Tucson in August 2012. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from Simmons College. Upon graduating, she began her career in Human Services. Nancy then transitioned to business and worked for high-tech companies as a Customer Care Account Manager. After moving to Tucson, she began working for the American Red Cross bio-medical services. Nancy has been a member of Rincon for 4 years and for the past two years has served as Chair of the Worship, Music and Arts ministry team and bakes home made bread for communion at our 10:45am worship service. She feels very blessed to be part of such a fun, caring, and open congregation. She loves to scrapbook and make greeting cards. She also crochets and has joined our Prayer Shawl ministry.
Nancy is originally from New Hampshire and moved to Tucson in August 2012. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from Simmons College. Upon graduating, she began her career in Human Services. Nancy then transitioned to business and worked for high-tech companies as a Customer Care Account Manager. After moving to Tucson, she began working for the American Red Cross bio-medical services. Nancy has been a member of Rincon for 4 years and for the past two years has served as Chair of the Worship, Music and Arts ministry team and bakes home made bread for communion at our 10:45am worship service. She feels very blessed to be part of such a fun, caring, and open congregation. She loves to scrapbook and make greeting cards. She also crochets and has joined our Prayer Shawl ministry.
Bryan Van Gelder - Director of Music
Bryan Van Gelder, originally from Northwest Iowa, has a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. He has taught elementary, middle and high school choral music in both Arizona and Iowa for a combined total of 6 years, and he was also an adjunct voice professor at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. In addition to working at Rincon, Bryan has been active as a singer/soloist with the Tucson Chamber Artists and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He also enjoys his job as an Algebra II teacher at Sahuaro High School. He loves hiking in the desert with his family, and swimming with them in their pool in the summer.
Bryan loves working with the church choir and band, as well as all the wonderful people at Rincon, and feels very blessed to be part of such a kind, caring, and open congregation. He is a lover of all music, and listens to everything from Bach to Brahms, from the Beatles to Pearl Jam, and from Michael Bublé to Mumford and Sons. If you have any questions or would like to get involved in music in any way at Rincon, please do not hesitate to contact him. There is a place for everyone!
Bryan Van Gelder, originally from Northwest Iowa, has a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. He has taught elementary, middle and high school choral music in both Arizona and Iowa for a combined total of 6 years, and he was also an adjunct voice professor at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. In addition to working at Rincon, Bryan has been active as a singer/soloist with the Tucson Chamber Artists and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He also enjoys his job as an Algebra II teacher at Sahuaro High School. He loves hiking in the desert with his family, and swimming with them in their pool in the summer.
Bryan loves working with the church choir and band, as well as all the wonderful people at Rincon, and feels very blessed to be part of such a kind, caring, and open congregation. He is a lover of all music, and listens to everything from Bach to Brahms, from the Beatles to Pearl Jam, and from Michael Bublé to Mumford and Sons. If you have any questions or would like to get involved in music in any way at Rincon, please do not hesitate to contact him. There is a place for everyone!
Dr. Alexander Tentser - Accompanist
A student of piano since the age of four, Alexander Tentser, a native of Kiev, Ukraine, has studied at the Gnesin Music College in Moscow — the oldest music college in Russia —and with Professor Theodore Gutmann at the Russian Academy of Music. He has performed with New York Philharmonic violinist, Anna Rabinova, and as a guest soloist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He received a full scholarship for doctoral studies at the University of Arizona, received a Creative Achievement Award and won the President's Concerto Competition. He frequently performs with his wife, violinist Anna Gendler, and with the Daystar Chamber Ensemble, Duo Alexander, and others.
A student of piano since the age of four, Alexander Tentser, a native of Kiev, Ukraine, has studied at the Gnesin Music College in Moscow — the oldest music college in Russia —and with Professor Theodore Gutmann at the Russian Academy of Music. He has performed with New York Philharmonic violinist, Anna Rabinova, and as a guest soloist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He received a full scholarship for doctoral studies at the University of Arizona, received a Creative Achievement Award and won the President's Concerto Competition. He frequently performs with his wife, violinist Anna Gendler, and with the Daystar Chamber Ensemble, Duo Alexander, and others.
Donna McQue, Bookkeeper
Katherine Kolemer, Child care giver
Ashley Kendrew, Child care giver
Katherine Kolemer, Child care giver
Ashley Kendrew, Child care giver