Ron Moorman has taken a spiritual journey through life, and served humanity each step of the way. Born in Ohio, he attended Catholic parochial schools and a high school level seminary program before enrolling in a Catholic seminary at St. Joseph's College. Following his ordination in 1966, he served parishes in Iowa and Missouri before leaving the priesthood in 1970. Ron spent the next thirty-one years in child-centered social work, first with the IL Department of Children and Family Services, and then with the Child Care Association of Illinois, many of those years as its director. Following his retirement in 2001, Ron returned to the ministry, this time as a Lutheran pastor in the ELCA Synod, serving the congregation at Luther Memorial Church in Springfield.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
First Communion
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early years and parochial education
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Years as a Catholic priest and decision to leave the ministry
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Experiences with DCFS and Child Care Association of Illinois
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
Experiences as a Lutheran Minister, and into retirement for 3rd time
Photos
Caption
Ron Moorman at age six with his father, Richard and mother Sylvia circa 1945 at Ron’s grandmother’s home in Minster, Ohio when Ron’s father was on furlough.
Where:
Minster, Ohio
When:
Circa 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron Moorman at age six with his father, Richard and mother Sylvia circa 1945 at Ron’s grandmother’s home in Minster, Ohio when Ron’s father was on furlough.
Where:
Minster, Ohio
When:
Circa 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron’s ordination picture from the Order of the Precious Blood seminary at Carthagena, Ohio in 1966.
Where:
Carthagena, Ohio
When:
1966
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Ron’s photo at the time of his retirement in 2001 as the CEO of the Child Care Association of Illinois, which was based in Springfield.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2001
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Ron Moorman met with Congressman Ray LaHood in LaHood’s Washington, D.C. office in 2008. Their friendship began when Moorman was working for Illinois DCFS in the 1980s.
Where:
Washington, D.C
When:
2008
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Pastor Moorman greets parishioners while he served as minister at Luther Memorial Church, an ELCA congregation in Springfield, Illinois. He served as the congregation’s minister from 2004 to 2011.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2004-2011
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Ron and Lois Moorman were delegates to a church meeting, with the year and location unknown.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo