Clergy & Staff at Atonement
The Rev’d Charles Everson
Rector
The Rev’d Charles Everson came to the Church of the Atonement in August 2023 after having served as rector of St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri. A native of Kansas City, Father Charles began serving in ministry in college as a music minister, and after graduating, served for two years as a missionary to college students in Paris, France. His passions lie in contemplative Benedictine spirituality, liturgical music and liturgy, and personal evangelism.
Father Charles previously worked in the banking industry for 15 years in regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering. He served in various roles, including chief compliance officer, director of internal audit, and anti-money laundering officer.
In addition to his ministry as a parish priest, Father Charles has served in various roles in the wider church. He served as vocations missioner of the Diocese of West Missouri and served on provincial council of The Society of Catholic Priests of North America for six years as both communications officer and provincial convener. Father Charles has also served on the board of directors of several community organizations including Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City and his alma mater, the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. He is an oblate of Conception Abbey. Father Charles is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University with a bachelor of arts degree in Biblical Studies and earned his Masters of Business Administration at Baker University. He graduated from the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry in Topeka, Kansas, with a Certificate in Presbyteral Studies.
Father Charles and his husband, Jay, live in Edgewater in the parish rectory, and in his free time, he enjoys singing tenor, refining his palate in the Chicago restaurant scene, and walking their dog, Jake, along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Make an appointment with Father Charles.
The Rev’d Charles Farrell was born in Lake Forest, IL, where he was baptized at the Church of the Holy Spirit but moved as a child to the western prairie of Minnesota where he grew up in Morris, MN. Charles attended Shattuck School, an Episcopal boarding school founded by James Lloyd Breck who also help to found Nashotah House in Wisconsin. He attended the University of Minnesota, Morris and majored in History & English and then completed a... Continue
The Rev’d Scott Elliott was ordained in February 1998, one of six in the third class of deacons since establishment of the program for the restored diaconate in this diocese. He has served at Church of the Atonement since August 2021, informally at first, then officially assigned to this parish in March 2022. He was a member of St Peter’s on Belmont beginning in 1984, and served there until 2010. He then went to St Alban’s, a small and mighty parish on the far... Continue
Since 2010, Organist and Choirmaster Charlie Sega has served as principal organist and director of the Atonement choir, Schola, and the St Cecilia Choir. During his tenure, the Atonement choir has performed over 25 orchestral masses.The three choirs keep an active repertoire of over 65 choral masses and hundreds of motets. He started the parish's voluntary choir (St Cecilia) which has now grown to nearly 30 members and sings Evensong twice a... Continue
Christopher Windle is a nationally recognized conductor, clinician, and educator based in Chicago. Praised for his “nuanced, soulful, clear, and expressive” conducting “firmly rooted in musical sensitivity and intelligence” (Augusta Read Thomas, composer), he has conducted choirs in concert throughout North America and Europe.... Continue
Jeni Eklund is a graduate of Wheaton College and has solid experience in successfully organizing complex projects, managing teams, and building community relationships. Jeni also brings valuable experience working in a church context: alongside her new part-time role at Atonement, Jeni also works as the Interim youth director at First Presbyterian in Arlington Heights.
Matt Rodgers joined the staff at Atonement in 2021 as communications director. In 2022 he took on temporary responsibility for helping parish administration and operations during the interim period. An award-winning designer, he has more than 30 years in marketing and advertising, having worked at some of Chicago’s largest agencies before starting his own business in 2016. He has worked on large national brands but finds working with small not-for-profits more rewarding. Matt is the dad of two corgis—Griff and Arwyn.
Kate Mayer serves as a integral part of the Atonement team. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the office.
Ministry Coordinators
Liturgical Coordinator
Altar Guild Coordinator
Sunday School
Amanda Kim
Adult Formation Coordinator
Richard Kieckhefer
Assisting Clergy
The Rev'd Dr Maurice Charles
The Rev'd Robert S. Cristobal
The Rev'd Kate Guistolise
The Very Rev'd Joy Rogers
The Rev'd Thomas C.H. Scott
The Rev'd Norma Sutton
The Rev'd Anne Wrider