Reverend Lisle j. Kauffman

Reverend Lisle j. Kauffman was born in Marion, Ohio on August 31, 1939.  He married Linda Ann Tschopp on July 17, 1965.  They have a son, Lisle III, and a dear daughter-in-law, Amy.  Reverend Kauffman was called to the ministry on December 24, 1958 at the age of 18.

Pastor Lisle has a broad work experience.  He worked his way through four years of college.  For many years he worked for the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, working his way up from part-time clerk to Summer Vacation Relief Manager.  His work experience also includes two periods of employment with the Pinkerton Detective Agency where his assignments ran all the way from campus police and plant security to hospital security and morgue attendant.

From 1958-1960 Lisle Kauffman attended college at Lake Forest.  He took three years out of his studies to serve in the US Army as an Armor Intelligence Specialist from July 1960-1963.  From December 1960 through April 1962 he served in Korea with the 9th Calvary, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Troop C of the famous 1st Calvary Division.  He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant E-5, P-1.  While in Korea he was awarded two unit citations by his troop.

Following his military service, he returned to his studies and graduated from Elmhurst College with a B.A. in Philosophy in 1965.  He went on to four years of seminary studies, graduating from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1969 with the degree, Master of Divinity.  Prior to coming to Calvary, his first full-time pastorate, Reverend Kauffman served several other churches as well as having served a year internship at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital as a Hospital Chaplain and a year of Introduction to Psychoanalytical Psychiatry at the Pastoral Counseling Center in Chicago.

He has represented Calvary at the Presbytery in many capacities.  In 1972 he was a participant to the Consultation of the Future of Philosophical Theology.  In 1973 he attended the Summer Institute at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va. for studies in John Calvin's "The Institutes of Christian Religion" and studies in church worship.  Reverend Kauffman was installed as Moderator of the Presbytery of Chicago on February 10, 1998 at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights.  Being appointed to moderator is the middle step of a three year process.  The first year is served as Moderator Elect, the second as Moderator and the third as the most recent past Moderator.  He has served as Assistant Stated Clerk as well as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery.

Perhaps Pastor's greatest gift is his ability to console those who have lost a loved on.  He was one of fifteen chaplains in the United States called to assist as couselor for the first anniversary of the bombing in Oklahoma City.  Afterwards he stated he was not the same man, "I'm forever changed.  At no time in my life have I been in the midst of so many grieving people."

Then came 9/11.  Once again he was called on for help.  Only this time it was to help the "helpers", those clergy who were at Ground Zero with the Police and the Firemen and the families, then had to go home to pull themselves together somehow into someone who could go back out again and do more of the same.  Reverend Kauffman was part of the "somehow".

His service to the community includes: Chaplain for the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District; Round Lake Area Chamber of Commerce; Round Lake Sanitary District; Round Lake Beach Police Chaplain; Round Lake Heights Police Chaplain; Round Lake Ministers' Association; Violence Prevention Committee, Round Lake School District; ESDA (Emergency Services Disaster Administration); Northern Illinois Clergy Disaster Response Network; Volunteer Captain, Round Lake Fire Department; Lake County Sheriffs' Reserve Chaplain; Amvets Anchor Post #250; American Legion Post #1190; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9649, Chaplain; Military Order of the Cootie Pup Tent 81, Chaplain; BEST, Community Service Needs Awareness Committee; SALT, Seniors and Law Enforcement Together; CUBE, Round Lake Area School Committee.

The Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs declared a proclamation making September 28, 1996 "Reverend Lisle j. Kauffman Day".

As you can see, our Pastor is an incredible man, appreciated by all who come in contact with him.  He seems to have only one obvious flaw which many have been trying unsuccessfully to help him overcome.  He has an extremely difficult time saying "no".  He has been known to say it once, and no one occasion he has even been heard to say it twice.  But when people plead, "please, please, pretty please, you're all we have", he is hooked!  All they need to do is reel him in and give him names, times and dates.  All in all, if he must have a flaw, that's a pretty good one to have.

His interests and hobbies are many and varied.  Certainly his family, his church and his community top the list, but this man of God is also an avid historian, fisherman and pilot. 

The congregation of Calvary Presbyterian Church considers Reverend Lisle j. Kauffman to be a treasure, a true gift from God.  Under his ministry the missions of this small church have spread far beyond the boundaries of this building and community.  Praise be to God!