Filling the Pulpit
Filling our pulpit is the Rev. Karen Brugler. Karen is a native of southern Illinois. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Southern Illinois University, Karen took a position as social worker at Baptism Children’s Home in Carmi, Illinois.
She then received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and became the Clinical Director of Pathways School and Treatment Center, a day treatment facility for emotionally disturbed children.
While working at Pathways, Karen began studies at Northwestern University in the Masters of Business Administration program. She took a position as Administrative Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Lutheran General Hospital, where she opened an adolescent and a child psychiatric unit and laureate Day School, a therapeutic day school for primary aged emotionally disturbed children.
During the 1990’s, she served as a consultant to Lutheran General Hospital for quality improvement programs. Under her leadership, Lutheran General was named one of the top 100 hospitals in the country. Her accomplishments included the development of a quality curriculum for senior leaders, development of clinical practice guidelines for high volume diagnoses, and the opening of a diagnostic breast center.
She continued her consulting career as Manager in the Healthcare Division of Ernst & Young, LLP and later as a consultant to Good Samaritan Society, the largest not-for-profit nursing home organization in the United States. During those years, she became active in the Presbyterian Church as an elder and Clerk of Session of her home church, where she sensed a call to the ministry.
The awareness of a call to the ministry came through the words of the church organist who told her, “You will be a pastor.” The words later occurred in a dream. Before Karen enrolled in seminary, her mother shared with her a story where she was dedicated as an infant to mission work - a story that had never been shared with anyone in the family.
While at Louisville Seminary, Karen served as supply pastor to Okolona Presbyterian Church for two years. Since her ordination Rev. Brugler has been Pastor and Head of Staff of Westminster Presbyterian Church in South Bend. She also served on the Administrative Committee of the Wabash Presbytery and the Administrative Commission of the Nappanee Presbyterian Church. |
