Staff & Leadership

Meet the First Congo
Pastors

Rev. Chrissy Tatum Williamson

SENIOR MINISTER

Chrissy was called to First Congo in March of 2025 and officially began serving as Senior Minister in September of that same year. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Chrissy earned a BA in French and Sociology from Furman Universtiy in Greenville, South Carolina; a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University Divinity School, and a Master of Arts in Theology and Ethics from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. With nearly 20 years of pastoral experience, Chrissy has served on ministerial teams at the Riverside Church, NYC and Myers Park Baptist Church. She was the first female Senior Pastor of Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, before moving to Western Springs.

Chrissy enjoys preaching, teaching, and leading the incredible staff team here at First Congo, and she works closely with the Executive Committee and Church Council.

When she’s not at the church, you may find Chrissy baking bread, riding her bike, tending her back yard chickens and vegetable garden, or reading a good book in a hammock strung up on a campsite in a state park. Chrissy also loves to spend time with her husband, Justin, daughter, Mia, and two dogs, Penny and Pearle.

EMAIL CHRISSY

Rev. MEREDITH ONION

Senior Associate Minister

Meredith has been a member of First Congo since 1987. After 20 years of working in business, Meredith heard the call to ministry. She received her Masters of Divinity in 2013 from Loyola University Chicago, Institute of Pastoral Studies and was ordained in the United Church of Christ and installed as one of our Associate Ministers in 2014. Her ministry focuses on pastoral care, adult faith formation and small group leadership, including being the staff liaison to the Thursday Morning Woman’s Book Group, Seek.Pray.Love, Mission & Outreach, Justice and Inclusion Ministries, and the Diaconate.

She serves as the Team Leader for Communications/Engagement/Office Management. She served as the lead staff liaison to the Strategic Vision Planning Team. She has co-facilitated a Caregiver Support Group and Grief Support Group.

Involvement in the community is important to Meredith – she currently serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors of the Community Memorial Foundation.  She is also a volunteer emergency chaplain with area police. She has served as the President of the Board of Directors of NAMI – Metro Suburban (National Alliance for Mental Illness) and as a Board Member of BEDs Plus Care.

Meredith is the proud parent of Alexandria, Connor and Aaron.

EMAIL MEREDITH