Meet Our Staff

Reverend Catherine Lawrence
Minister of Health and Wholeness

Reverend Catherine is a lifelong learner who began her career as a registered nurse. She worked in a variety of settings to gain a deeper understanding of healthcare needs,
ultimately practicing throughout the continuum of care including postpartum, emergency room, home care, long-term care, parish nursing, community outreach, palliative, and end-of-life care.

A focus on aging and the importance of assessing the whole person led to a call to seminary to deepen her understanding of the impact of emotional and spiritual needs on one’s quality of life. Graduating with a Master of Divinity and specialization in pastoral care, Rev. Catherine served as pastor and teacher for almost eight years at Zion UCC Fireside in Bellevue, Ohio. Born and raised as a “city girl,” she gained a deeper appreciation of farmers’ faith-filled commitment to caring for the land as part of God’s creation.

Invited to join the United Church Homes Board of Trustees, Rev. Catherine was actively engaged in creating a quality framework for healthy aging within the community, providing a holistic lifestyle.

In September 2016, integrating her passion for addressing the faith and health needs of our aging population, Rev. Cathy was called as the pastor and chaplain at United Church Homes’ Parkvue Community in Sandusky, Ohio.

She returned to Cleveland, purchased a home in Fairview Park, retired in November 2020. Here, she enjoys visits with her daughter, Jennifer, and granddaughter, Eleanor. Her golden retriever Abigail is her constant and engaging companion.

(216) 221-9555
revcatherine@lcc-church.org

Rachel Burns
Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries

Rachel is a life-long Ohio resident. She was born in Athens and grew up in Logan, Middletown, and Findlay, as her family followed her father’s career as a pastor. Growing up, church ministry was always a part of Rachel’s life. She chose to follow her calling into professional ministry in 2001 when she chose to major in Youth Ministry at Ohio Northern University.

It was that God-inspired energy that carried Rachel successfully through 14 +years of professional youth ministry at United Methodist churches in Findlay, Lima, and Rocky River. Most recently, Rachel worked at OhioGuidestone with young children who have mental and behavioral health challenges.

Rachel and her husband Chris live in Lakewood their two children, David and Lilly, and their two rescue dogs. Rachel enjoys music, crafting, thrift shopping, and spending time with her family, especially camping and family trips to Canada.

She is passionate about the full inclusion of all people in the church, including people who are LGBTQ or have any type of special needs. She is overwhelmed by the wonder, majesty, and love of God and wants everyone to feel that they are deserving of that same love.

(216) 221-9555
rachel@lcc-church.org

Ben Malkevitch
Director of Music

Ben Malkevitch is a choir director, organist, pianist, and composer who does a wide range of work in the Northeast Ohio area. Some of his specialties include opera and musical theatre, as well as both secular and sacred choral repertoire.

Highlights of recent engagements include preparing CityMusic Cleveland’s chorus for its performance of Verdi’s Requiem and playing for several choir concerts in the Lakewood City Schools system. This fall Ben will be chorusmaster, vocal coach, and rehearsal pianist for Opera Western Reserve’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth.

Ben is a staff pianist at Baldwin Wallace University and is the collaborative pianist at Temple Emanu El. He also teaches private piano, voice, and cello lessons at Lakewood Music Academy. Ben has a Masters of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Virginia Weckstrom, and he continues his organ studies with Lakewood Congregational Church’s emeritus music director Lloyd Max Bunker.

Since joining the Lakewood Congregational Church community as Music Director in 2016, Ben has written choral anthems to inaugurate the fall season at Lakewood Congregational Church. When he is not making music, Ben enjoys raising his son, Toby, going on adventures with his partner, Kate, playing word games, and enjoying all that the Cleveland area has to offer.

(216) 221-9555  ext. 108
ben@lcc-church.org

Kristen Humphreys
Financial Secretary

(216) 221-9555
kristen@lcc-church.org

Tim Hampton
Director of Children’s Music

Tim Hampton is a percussionist who plays and teaches in the Cleveland area. He is the percussion advisor for the Lakewood High School marching band, teaches percussion at the high school and the Lakewood middle schools, and maintains a private teaching studio in his home. He also teaches percussion with the Cleveland Junior Honors Band at Tri-C. Tim plays a wide range of styles from popular drum set, to musical theater, to classical orchestral percussion. He is in the percussion section of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, is the drummer for the North Coast Men’s Chorus, plays timpani for St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and has played with Samba Joia Brazilian percussion ensemble.

Tim has a Master of Music degree from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Youngstown State University. He is a lifelong Lakewood resident and graduated from Lakewood High School. He lives with his wife Laura, daughter Anna, son Seth, and dog Pierogi. They have been members of LCC since 2016. Tim is an active member of the church and sings in the choir. In his free time he enjoys biking, cooking, listening to history podcasts, and volunteering in the daycare room at the Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants.
Tim’s life is guided by Psalm 150 verse 5: “Praise God with loud clashing cymbals!”

(216) 221-9555
tim@lcc-church.org

Karen Lee
Office Manager

Karen Lee started attending LCC with her family when her daughter, Veronica, enrolled in Haynes Nursery School. Since then, she has enjoyed participating in many volunteer opportunities from VBS to the Youth Musicals and eventually volunteering in the office. Eventually, that volunteering lead to a position as Assistant Office Manager and in 2018 she became the full-time Office Manager. Karen has a BA in Directing, an MFA in Stage Management, and served as an Equity Stage Manager and Director until deciding to stay home with her daughter.

(216) 221-9555  ext. 101
karen@lcc-church.org