About Bill Ressl
A Life Dedicated to Encouraging Creative Expression
A Life Dedicated to Encouraging Creative Expression
From his earliest years Bill loved to doodle and draw. During high school his father, a printer, taught him how to run offset printing presses and he designed his own line of Bill Ressl Cachets (1970/80s). His friends thought he would one day be an artist - but different paths emerged. First it was college and law school, then a stint as an American wicker weaver (1990s, he is an Illinois Artisan), and later into the academy. Today he is returning to his roots by integrating his love of art, in particular custom labyrinth art designs, with his expertise in theology, neo-Jungian thought, and clinical social work. |
The late Dr. Robert L. Moore (left) and Bill (right) in 2013. Robert was Bill's mentor, colleague, and friend for over 16 years.
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Over 15 years of seminary and clinical training specifically in the systematic philosophical theology of Paul Tillich, neo-Jungian psychoanalytic paradigm of Robert L. Moore, family systems understandings of Murray Bowen, and social work. He has a deep interest systematic and liberation theology, ritual studies, environmental concerns, and the male psyche.
Bill holds:
+ Master of Divinity (MDiv)
+ Master of Social Work (MSW)
+ PhD in Theology, Ethics, and the Human Sciences from the Chicago Theological Seminary
+ Post-Graduate Certificates in Bowen Family Systems Theory from the Center for Consultation, Evanston, Illinois
+ Licensure in Illinois as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).
Co-served Trinity Community Church, United Church of Christ in Berwyn, IL USA with Penny for over 17 years. In March 2020, due to COVID-19 safety precautions, online worship and other pastoral care videos under the name of “Da Revs” were created by the couple. Da Revs is a playoff of those two famous brothers from Chicago who wore sunglasses and were on a mission from God as well as a famous TV horror show icon who calls Berwyn, IL his home. Da Revs have evolved into this new social media ministry known as the Center to Awaken Kindness.
As part of the co-ministry team with Penny, he also: co-taught graduate courses at North Park University and Aurora University; co-presented professional presentations at the Society for Pastoral Theology, NASW, and at Aurora University; and, many co-authored texts.
Served in private practice as an LCSW and in the academy. In the academy he was a Teaching Assistant at the Chicago Theological Seminary and an Adjunct at Dominican University. For six years he served as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Aurora University where he taught graduate and doctoral students. There he created an advanced clinical and a faith-based MSW social work focus area as well as two dual MSW/MDiv degree partnerships. He served on nine Doctor of Social Work dissertation committees, chairing three.
In addition to a number of self-improvement guides and journals offered by the Center to Awaken Kindness, Bill is also the author of:
“A World in Need: Brokenness and Reconciliation Explored through Paul Tillich’s Doing of Social Work” in Tillich Jahrbuch/Yearbook (Berlin, Germany, Walter de Gruyter Press, forthcoming 2020).
“Tillich’s Influence on Pastoral Social Work” in Why Tillich? Why Now? (Macon, GA, Mercer University Press, forthcoming 2020).
“On Giant Shoulders: Teaching through Paul Tillich’s Legacy of Being a Theologian Doing Social Work in Bulletin” in The North American Paul Tillich Society (Santa Clara, CA, The North American Paul Tillich Society, Volume XLII, Number 2, May 2016).
Today, Bill joins Penny to oversee the Center to Awaken Kindness. The Center strives to provide a peaceful space that brings the Spirit alive in the world while encouraging folks to renew and reframe kindness in their journey. The goal is to share and teach the loving kindness of Christ’s love while serving as its guardian in the world.
Bill holds:
+ Master of Divinity (MDiv)
+ Master of Social Work (MSW)
+ PhD in Theology, Ethics, and the Human Sciences from the Chicago Theological Seminary
+ Post-Graduate Certificates in Bowen Family Systems Theory from the Center for Consultation, Evanston, Illinois
+ Licensure in Illinois as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).
Co-served Trinity Community Church, United Church of Christ in Berwyn, IL USA with Penny for over 17 years. In March 2020, due to COVID-19 safety precautions, online worship and other pastoral care videos under the name of “Da Revs” were created by the couple. Da Revs is a playoff of those two famous brothers from Chicago who wore sunglasses and were on a mission from God as well as a famous TV horror show icon who calls Berwyn, IL his home. Da Revs have evolved into this new social media ministry known as the Center to Awaken Kindness.
As part of the co-ministry team with Penny, he also: co-taught graduate courses at North Park University and Aurora University; co-presented professional presentations at the Society for Pastoral Theology, NASW, and at Aurora University; and, many co-authored texts.
Served in private practice as an LCSW and in the academy. In the academy he was a Teaching Assistant at the Chicago Theological Seminary and an Adjunct at Dominican University. For six years he served as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Aurora University where he taught graduate and doctoral students. There he created an advanced clinical and a faith-based MSW social work focus area as well as two dual MSW/MDiv degree partnerships. He served on nine Doctor of Social Work dissertation committees, chairing three.
In addition to a number of self-improvement guides and journals offered by the Center to Awaken Kindness, Bill is also the author of:
“A World in Need: Brokenness and Reconciliation Explored through Paul Tillich’s Doing of Social Work” in Tillich Jahrbuch/Yearbook (Berlin, Germany, Walter de Gruyter Press, forthcoming 2020).
“Tillich’s Influence on Pastoral Social Work” in Why Tillich? Why Now? (Macon, GA, Mercer University Press, forthcoming 2020).
“On Giant Shoulders: Teaching through Paul Tillich’s Legacy of Being a Theologian Doing Social Work in Bulletin” in The North American Paul Tillich Society (Santa Clara, CA, The North American Paul Tillich Society, Volume XLII, Number 2, May 2016).
Today, Bill joins Penny to oversee the Center to Awaken Kindness. The Center strives to provide a peaceful space that brings the Spirit alive in the world while encouraging folks to renew and reframe kindness in their journey. The goal is to share and teach the loving kindness of Christ’s love while serving as its guardian in the world.
