Robert E. Biekman (“Pastor B.”) serves the people of Chicago as the Senior Pastor of Maple Park United Methodist Church and Urban Ministry Coordinator of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is the father of 3 adult children (Robert Thomas Xavier, Lauren Elise and Jordan John Ananias) and Jacoby Alexander (26 months).

By creating and implementing socially conscious and spiritually enriching programs like ALITE© (Arts Learning Initiative and Training for Ex-offenders) and the Chicago Alternative to Incarcerations Collaborative’s Neighborhood Intern Project, Pastor Biekman has been a promoter of public policy reform in Chicago. He led the High H.O.P.E.S. campaign to implement restorative justice practices in Chicago Public Schools and implemented the FAIR COPS ordinance and Grass Roots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) ordinance to promote police reforms. Pastor B. is a “public theologian.”