In The News
Professionals Who have an Active Sports Life: Bonnie Perry
Bonnie Perry was one of the professionals featured in a Windy City Sports article on professionals who have an active sport life.
Bonnie Perry, Episcopalian Priest
She's limited to just two or three kayaking sermons a year. Bonnie Perry, 41, is not just a priest and senior pastor at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Ravenswood, Ill., she's also a certified open-water coastal kayak instructor.
Perry has Sunday morning services at 8, 9 and 11 a.m. and again on Wednesday evenings. She's also involved in several community events and is in charge of a staff of five.
"It's the equivalent of running a small business," she says.
About eight years ago, she became interested in kayaking as an activity she could pursue despite her knee problems, and paddling gave her the opportunity to take a break from work and enjoy the expanse of Lake Michigan.
She's now certified by the American Canoe Association as an Open Water and Eskimo Roll Kayak Instructor, and she is a second-level sea kayak coach in the British Canoe Union and a Wilderness First Responder.
"I work really hard and I play really hard," she says. "I'd be lying if I said there weren't days when I'm dying to be out in the boat."
She's also the lead instructor for rolling classes during the winter at an indoor pool, teaches all-day classes during the summer for Northwest Passage in Wilmette and gives all-day private lessons. In August, she moves to her other home off the Chesapeake Bay in Eastern Maryland, where she gives lessons nearly every day.
Though paddling and church can sometimes compete for her attention, there is an overlap between the two as well.
"I work really hard and I play really hard," she says. "I'd be lying if I said there weren't days when I'm dying to be out in the boat." At the same time, however, she says she has come up with many of her sermons while she's out kayaking.
"With the sun coming up and the open expanse of water, there are some pretty spiritual moments out on the lake," she says.