Staff

Office address:

2649 N. Francisco Ave Chicago, IL 60647

ELM Office phone: 773-235-0610

ELM Staff:

Executive Director- Amalia Vagts

Amalia Vagts

Amalia was baptized into the Lutheran church in 1973. She was an active youth member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, MN, serving regularly in worship and on congregational and synod committees. Amalia graduated from Luther College with a degree in Religion and English in 1995. During her college years, Amalia spent two summers at Crossways Bible Camp near Wausau, WI.  Amalia spent 9 years working for Planned Parenthood before taking a 4 month sabbatical at Holden Village and beginning to work for LGBT justice within the Lutheran Church. Amalia was hired in 2006 as development director for Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries and began her new role following LLGM’s merger with Extraordinary Candidacy Project in 2007.

An openly bisexual person, Amalia is an advocate for marriage equality and LGBT justice in her home state of Iowa. She lives in Decorah, Iowa with her spouse, David Lester, his three sons and their german shepherd, Sequoia.

Director@elm.org, (563) 382-6277

Operations Coordinator- Rachael Johnson

Rachael Johnson

Rachael Johnson has been with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries since October 2008. She manages the day to day running of the Chicago office, works on events and edits communication materials.  Rachael is a graduate of American University in Washington D.C with a degree in International Relations.  She grew up in the Chicago area and has been involved with social justice causes since a throughout her life, in her spare time she enjoys snowboarding and volunteering in Dog Town at a no kill animal shelter.

Office Hours: Monday 9-4:30,  Tuesday 9-4:30, and Thursday 9-4

Operations@elm.org, (773) 235-0610