Leadership

Rev. Matthew González, J.D. - Executive Director and President

Matthew was born in Chicago on a cold day in February, 43 years ago, the only child of Robert, a Vietnam veteran, and Elizabeth, a widely-published medical journalist and editor (including at the Journal of the American Medical Association, where she was an Associate Editor who also wrote over 200 stories, and Medical World News, where she was Managing Editor), nonprofit executive (including at the American Academy of Pediatrics), immensely gifted writer of poetry and prose, visual mixed media artist, health lawyer, and radiantly loving mother. She struggled greatly at times with depression and anxiety, and later with physical disability. She died November 30, 2016.

Through his maternal line he is descended from ten Protestant pastors and ordained theologians. His father's family is also profoundly religious, with three of his aunts, his paternal grandmother, and two of his great aunts, having their respective lay ministries edified by glossolalia (tongues). His father's sister Ann Camelia Bugliani, Ph.D. (née González) was a longtime romance languages professor (she has educated fluency in all of the romance languages), and eventual chairperson of the Modern Languages and Literature department at Loyola University Chicago.

Matthew grew up in Skokie, Illinois, where he attended wonderful public schools. In 2000 he matriculated as an undergraduate at Northwestern University, where he pursued a broad liberal arts education, majoring in history (Americas concentration) and preparing to be certified in Illinois as a middle and high school history and social sciences teacher. He also, as an undergraduate, was involved in extensive tutoring and teaching efforts. After graduation he spent three years teaching history and political science in the Chicago Public Schools system. He then entered the private sector, founding and running a corporation, Grether & Company, that earned revenue from several sectors. "Grether" was the surname of seven of his ordained ancestors. He then attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 2021. During his law school tenure he was extremely fortunate to study with Christopher Schmidt, J.D., Ph.D., a preeminent legal historian, working on original research related to the enforcement of slave contracts following the civil war, research he found captivating.

In lieu of practicing law, initially, Matthew embraced the call to pursue further theological studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2022. Beginning October 20, 2025 he aspires to work for a Chicago-based firm at a compensation level of $180,000 annually and the opportunity to have an equity position in the firm within four years.

More about Matthew's professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page: http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdgonzalez - he welcomes connection requests.

Matthew worshipped at Central United Methodist Church in Skokie, Illinois as a child, where he had wonderful experiences, but was away from faith and in the spiritual darkness for twelve years. During June of 2008 he had an extravagant born again experience, surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, and began worshipping at an African American Pentecostal church in Evanston, Illinois, most ably led by the Right Rev. (Bishop) Frederick Harris, D.D., and his intensely anointed wife the Rev. Deloris Harris, M.Div., D.Min. Drawn to the Eucharist, he joined Church of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal), in Kenilworth, Illinois, during 2010.

On February 17, 1995, Matthew unsucessfully tried to commit suicide. On February 17, 2021, feet from where the suicide attempt occurred, he was ordained into the priesthood by a bishop who is a private person.

During 2023 Matthew began to have a Catholic awakening. God grabbed hold of him, and through intense prayer he decided to become Catholic. He worships most days at Queen of All Saints basilica in the Sauganash neighborhood of Chicago. He is also enamored of the eucharistic adoration chapel at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, Illinois. On February 17, 2025, he consecrated his entire ministry to St. Dymphna and her queen the Blessed Mother.

As denoted above, Matthew has struggled with depression and anxiety, which has caused him great suffering at times. He credits medication, good nutrition, daily aerobic exercise, fellowship with loving people, not responding when nasty people attack him, eucharistic adoration, and celebrating the Eucharist at least once a day (sometimes more than once a day), for his great healing and triumph over these conditions. He is passionate about mental health awareness and advocacy, which he sees as integral to his ministry.

Matthew has lived in the West Ridge/West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago for 25 years. He is not married but would very much like to get married (to a man).

The Board of Directors

Rev. Job Pangilinan, M.Div., J.D. - Founding Director

Job was born and grew up in the Philippines. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering from University of the City of Manila. He then earned a Juris Doctor from Xavier University. He then studied business at Strayer University. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary during May of 2025.

Before entering ministry, Job was an electronics and communications engineer, and then practiced as a corporate and trial lawyer, advocating for environmental protection and the rights of marginalized communities, including farmers, women, and children. Now, he is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Pacific Conference of the United States Methodist Church and was commissioned (ordained) a Provisional Elder during June of 2025.

More about Job's professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attyjobpangilinan/

Job is a lifelong Methodist. He comes from a rich heritage of faith, with grandparents who helped establish churches in the Philippines. Immersed in church leadership from a young age, he has served as a youth leader, music minister, and evangelist.

Job cares deeply about the plight of immigrants to this country and has been involved in extensive outreach to them. In terms of mental health issues, he has a personal and familial connection to mental illness, having seen friends and family members struggle with it.

Job lives with his wife in the Greater Seattle Area. He has three children and six grandchildren. Clergy Care Collective is honored to have him as one of its founding directors.

Rev. John Reese - Founding Director Emeritus

John is a secondary-level seminary graduate and served a two-year mission to the downtrodden people of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ordained, a member of the Melchizedek priesthood, and functioned as a teacher and counselor for hundreds of individuals. He served his church and community in many ways including being Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America for five years.

John has served in church welfare positions and has had many experiences with mental health care being organized for parishioners. Mental health issues have affected people John loves dearly and he has given much person-to- person support to them through their difficult days. He may be neurodivergent and has personally suffered from situational mental health issues when life got extra difficult, and he empathizes with those who struggle with neurodivergence or mental health issues.

John has enjoyed learning through every stage of his life and has gained a wide variety of knowledge and skills. First, he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in oil painting. He won a merit scholarship, had two artworks published in academic journals, and graduated top in his division. The only hiccup in becoming a studio artist was that he met his future wife and married while in college. A year later they had their first son. His college teachers encouraged an art career, but family life created a need for other plans. John worked small jobs and helped raise the kids. He gained a certificate in graphic design and dipped his toes into law school. Later he found a career that combined his education and skills together as an airplane and jet engine mechanic. He earned Airframe and Powerplant certificates from a trade school. He now works for United Airlines and has taken great interest in union meetings and activities. He looks forward to joining union leadership later in life because he appreciates labor protections and the safe work environments created by strong unions.

John lives with his wife and three children in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. His family and work responsibilities keep him busy, but he enjoys traveling with his family to new destinations whenever possible.

During May of 2025 John asked to assume emeritus status as a board member. His parents and his wife's parents are gravely ill and one of his sons is also gravely ill. It is a stressful time for him. He assumed emeritus status on September 1, 2025. He will be greatly missed and is welcome to return anytime to Clergy Care Collective's board.

David Lembeck - Creative Director

David Lembeck is our Creative Director, who graciously designed the banner and logo for this organization and is a close friend of the Executive Director. He is a long-time Pennsylvanian who is an illustrious graphic designer for his own firm that specializes in work for Democratic political candidates, non-profit organizations he supports, and some private clients. He has also been involved for several decades in a project chronicling New Deal murals in Pennsylvania post offices. This has become a museum exhibition, he travels to speak about it, and a major book is forthcoming. David's connection to mental health issues comes from his own struggles with depression, his deeply compassionate nature, and also via his husband, who is a psychiatrist and former hospital executive, who has led psychiatric hospitals and has devoted his life to the care of the seriously mentally ill. David and his husband, also named David, are private people. Media covering Clergy Care Collective should not include a reference to them.