2025 Leadership Nominations

Download a PDF of the 2025 Leadership Nominations here

Deacons

Continuing members: John Cairns, Mike McCallister, Eric Olsen, José Pacas, Johanna Schussler, Maureen Tanis

Co-Moderator – Johanna Schussler

As a two-term member and two-year chair of the Board of Spiritual Formation, one-year co-chair of the Campus Task Force 2.0, and Deacon for the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from many faithful and talented leaders at Plymouth. I am honored by and excited for the opportunity to continue to learn and serve as Co-Moderator with Peg Birk. This interim time of transition at Plymouth is full of opportunities for growth and transformation. I look forward to leaning into leadership, alongside all of you, as we discern together who God is calling Plymouth to be in this place at this moment in time.

When I’m not serving Plymouth, I serve as the Strategy and Change Manager in the Strategy and Support Division of Hennepin County. I lead a creative and talented team that facilitates strategic planning, process improvement, and other group processes that help our customers work better together to serve residents.

I’m married to Chris Bohnhoff, a recently ordained UCC pastor, and I’m mom to Heiko Bohnhoff, a new Plymouth member after his recent confirmation. As a leader and a human, I arrive with intention, listen with curiosity, and respond with respect. I collect and connect ideas to enhance shared understanding. I seek out new learning and strive to improve. Sometimes I sing to trees.

 

Clerk – Eric Olsen

I started coming to Plymouth in 2002 and became a member in 2003. My wife Sara and I were married at Plymouth in 2008. I am at Plymouth because I value its progressive Christian voice and commitment to welcoming everyone. Singing is a big part of how I feel my spirituality, and I am blessed to have been a member of Plymouth’s Adult Choir since 2002. I currently serve on Plymouth’s Investment Committee and previously served as chair of the Leadership Council and the Board of Finance and Administration. In my work life, I am general counsel to an electric utility. I have served this last year as a member of the Deacons and look forward to serving our church in the capacity of Clerk.

 

 

Treasurer – Mike McCallister

I am delighted to continue in my role as Treasurer of the Deacons. Serving as Treasurer for the last two years has been a new and interesting way to contribute to the church, and it has deepened my understanding and appreciation for how Plymouth operates. In the past, I have served Plymouth as a board member and on the Leadership Council, and I remain active as a Church School teacher and on the Committee for Children, Youth, and Families.

I was born in South Dakota but raised in Florida, where most of my family still lives. I’ve lived and worked in many states, but we have made our home here in Minnesota since 2001, and now we can’t imagine leaving. I live in Golden Valley with my wife, Heidi, and our daughters, Clara and Nora.

 

Deacon – Lani Bennett

Plymouth has been my spiritual home for almost 45 years. When looking for a service our first Easter in Minnesota, my husband John and I picked Plymouth for location and service time. We loved the music and Vivian’s message and never left. We got more involved when we had children and served as Sunday School teachers and early organizers of Camp Plymouth. Over the years we have developed deep friendships and Plymouth is part of the infrastructure that supports me and my family, which now includes grandchildren.

I have served on the Board of Trustees, the task force that revised Plymouth’s governance, the ministerial search committee for our lead minister, and now on the Human Resources Committee.

I view this period as a critical time in the life of our church, and I see the opportunities ahead. The Deacon conversations and the engagement of the Campus Task Force have prepared each of us to take responsibility to be in touch with what we are spiritually called to do and to enter into a dialogue with church leaders. As individuals and a church community, we can care for one another and take actions that impact our larger community. And I am excited about having discussions with our Intentional Interim Minister, JT, as we figure out how to honor our past and help Plymouth to have a firm foundation and thrive in the present and into the future. I look forward to listening to church members and staff and understanding what is important to you.

 

Deacon and Co-Moderator – Peg Birk

“Behold, I am doing a new thing,” a familiar scripture verse, gripped my heart as I listened to how God was calling me to serve Plymouth during this unique interim time. Having been a professional interim leader for non-profits for almost 20 years, I am excited to work with our Intentional Interim Minister, the Deacons, and each of you to bring about courageous, positive change at Plymouth. It’s the right time to try new ways of being and doing things. So, when the opportunity to try a new leadership model with the gifted Johanna Schussler was presented, I was honored and inspired to stand for election as Deacon and Co-Moderator.

We believe this collaboration as Co-Moderators will be a truly complementary partnership and enhance our service to the Deacons and to each of you as members. I also bring to this role experience on various Plymouth committees and boards, including the Board of Spiritual Life, Board of Finance and Administration, Racial Justice Task Force, Campus Task Force 1.0 and 2.0, Human Resources Committee, Lead Minister Search Committee, and Chapel Singers.

 

 

Deacon – John Schenk

John Schenk has been a Plymouth member since the mid-90s. Over that time, he has been a Junior High Sunday School teacher, a member of the Spiritual Enrichment and Benevolence Committees, a co-chair of the Annual Stewardship Campaigns, a member and chair of the Board of Deacons, and, most recently, a member of the Board of Finance and Administration.

John was the COO of Fredrikson & Byron for over 20 years and is a past board member of the Loft Literary Center. He reads, writes, owns golf clubs and enjoys puttering around on the St. Croix River.

John is married to Deborah Fowler. Originally drawn to Plymouth by the youth programs for their daughters, Rachel and Rebecca, John and Deb have stayed at Plymouth for the spiritual nourishment and their close-knit community of friends.

 

Leadership Council

 

Chair – Mary Jordan

My wife and I came to Plymouth nearly 20 years ago, looking for engaging children’s programming for our three young children. They got involved, and I followed, being active with all kids’ programming, including the Children and Youth Board for many years. I’ve been on the Board of Outreach, including serving as chair for 2 years. Additionally, I coordinate the Every Meal Backpack program, organizing weekly volunteers at Green Central Elementary School. This past year I served as chair-elect of Leadership Council, working with Chair Tom Anderson and learning valuable lessons on how important decisions are made for and with our church community. I’m looking forward to this upcoming year on the Leadership Council and am pleased Teresa Voss has agreed to serve as chair-elect.

I work on the Northside of Minneapolis as a Nurse Practitioner encouraging teenagers to be their most healthy selves. I love to be outdoors, hiking, running, playing tennis and hanging out at the lake with friends and family. I’m honored to serve at Plymouth and look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

 

Chair-elect – Teresa Voss

I came to Plymouth in 1989 when I was church shopping after deciding that I could no longer remain in the church within which I was raised. I visited a number of churches and faiths over the course of a year, and the very first time I visited Plymouth, I knew I had met my church soulmate. It was preaching, progressive theology, and music that brought me to Plymouth. It is that, plus social justice, community, inspiration, hopefulness, and constant thought-provoking content, that bring me back every week. I am grateful to have raised my children at Plymouth and that they had the benefit of all that it has to offer.

Over the years I have almost always been on a board, task force, or committee. In addition, I sing in the Chapel Singers and help out with Third Sunday Meal when I am able. I enjoy attending Sunday Forum—so lucky to have the breadth of topics that we get—and really enjoy the Literary Witness and Theater 45 programming. And my Latin dancing fixation started with Thursday night Rueda classes at Plymouth!

I am honored to be nominated for the Leadership Council chair-elect position, which I decided seems to be the right challenge for me because of my experience in serving on so many different boards over the years. I am looking forward to working with Mary Jordan this year and getting the benefit of her experience to assist me before I take over as chair next year.

 

Secretary of Leadership Council – Nancy Gores

I joined Plymouth in 1986, enriching my spiritual, personal, and communal life. Over the years I served Plymouth in many capacities: second base player on the Plymouth Rocks co-ed softball team back in the day, on the former Boards of Deacons and Trustees, as a member of Paula, Jim and Dan’s search committees, on the transition task force, chair-elect and chair of Leadership Council, and current chair of our Human Resources Committee.

This past year I returned to the Leadership Council as Secretary. I enjoy taking minutes that capture the themes of our discussions and decisions, then sharing those with the congregation. My 41-year career as a civil litigation attorney helped hone this skill set. In 2020, I became a retired attorney. I also retired as a school board member after 16 years of elected service. I met my former husband in Guild Hall. Our son, Jacob Wood, was baptized and loved by this congregation. Jacob lives in DC, works as a financial advisor, and married the love of his life, Elaina, in  September 2024. I hope to do my part to remain open to where the Spirit takes us on our Congregational covenant journey together.

 

Archivist – Tom Anderson

I came to Plymouth in the late 1980s, and since then, I have done many things at this wonderful church.  When I retired ten years ago, working in the Archives was one of the first activities I picked up as part of my new ‘active senior’ lifestyle.  Mary Welfling and Doreen Bruns provided encouragement and focus as I learned my new job. This work has been rewarding on many levels: I have put important church records in good order, I have made friends with the other Archives volunteers, and I have learned a lot about what it means to be an Archivist.

Plymouth has an important story to tell: This church was founded before Minnesota was a State. It has had four churches in three locations since its founding, and has been located at Franklin and Nicollet since 1910. It has been a solid presence in this community for a long time. The story of Plymouth is also a more personal story; it is a story of real people looking to build a life of faith and meaning together.  Often, Plymouth has done well, setting a good example for the rest of the community, but sometimes we have struggled. I believe that it is the role of the Archivist to help put order to these stories and to share these stories with the church and with the community at large so that we might all take advantage of the lessons learned in the past.

If elected as Archivist, I will support and encourage those who are volunteering in the Archives and encourage other church members and friends to consider working with us. I will also continue to build relationships with the local historical societies, making use of the resources they have and sharing Plymouth’s story. I also hope to be a resource for our ministers and other church staff, church boards, committees, initiatives, and task forces.  We are currently a small group, we cannot do all the things that we would like to do, and we cannot take on all the requests that we receive, but I want to continue to do absolutely as much as we can to share our rich history with everyone who would like to know more.

 

Board for the Arts

Continuing Members: Dan Dressen, Glenace Edwall, Deb Hendricks, Doug Hoverson, Kurt Hunter, Bonnie Janda, Jackie Lotsberg, Christopher Watson

 

Chair – Deb Hendricks

I have been an active member of Plymouth Church for many years, having served on the Board of Stewards, participated in vocal and instrumental music, and most recently serving on the Board for the Arts for the past two years. I have enjoyed expanding my understanding of the arts as an integral component of Plymouth’s ministry, spiritual growth, and social connection, and I have agreed to serve as the chair for the upcoming year.

Now retired, after a career in public health at Ramsey County and the University of Minnesota, I enjoy time with my two adult daughters and young granddaughter. As a knitter and beginning weaver, I especially enjoy fiber arts. I am passionate about traveling and its opportunities to experience different cultures by connecting with people and appreciating all forms of artistic expression.

 

Board Member – MC Hulse

I began coming to Plymouth Church in kindergarten. Last year, I was confirmed as a member of Plymouth. My confirmation statement focused on how much the arts mean to me and my experience of the Divine. At Plymouth, I have been in choir, helped with the Cherubs, and volunteered at Sunday school. I am in 10th grade at DeLaSalle High School, where I am active in theater, the a cappella choir, LEAP (LaSallians for Equity and Peace), Women of Words (book club), and Quiz Bowl. I have also been lucky to sing in several productions and projects at the Minnesota Opera. I am excited to contribute to the church through its arts programming. The music and arts at Plymouth mean very much to me.

 

 

Board of Community Life

Continuing Members: Toni Azad, Jane Eichten, Annie Krishnan, Sara Ohotto Bauer, Bill Read, Sue Specker

 

Co-Chair – Bill Read

Bill and his wife, Barbara, joined Plymouth in 2007. They served in the Peace Corps in Chile for two years in the mid-1970s and returned to live and raise their two children in Eau Claire, WI, where he worked as a pediatrician for over 20 years. He and Barbara retired to Minneapolis, and he has served Plymouth on the former Board of Membership, the Growth Task Force, the Third Sunday Meal, One More Chair, and the Board of Community Life. He coordinates volunteer hosts for our Welcome Table at the entry into Jones Commons.

 

 

Board Member – Scott Beaumont

I first came to Plymouth in the early 1970s on Sunday evenings to attend Folk and Rock concerts.

Many years later, I began to attend a 12-Step meeting at Plymouth that kept me coming back every Monday evening for years. I liked how Plymouth had such robust offerings throughout the week including concerts, speakers, and readings. I read the bulletin board and learned that Plymouth practiced progressive Christianity, a concept and model that was mostly new to me but inspired my interest. The Jazz Trio and the 9 am service keep me coming back. The warm welcomes that my wife, Trish, and I received keep me coming back. The sermons, often inspired by current events, keep me coming back. The emphasis on seeking and working for justice for marginalized people keeps me coming back. So, too, did the Sunday 10 am forums and discussions, and One More Chair. I regularly participate in the early service, the forum, discussions, Midweek Mingle, Chapel Singers, Third Sunday Meal, Men’s Breakfast Group, and Men’s Book Group.

I am interested in 1) growing the size of the Plymouth community, especially with young couples, singles, and families. We must all plan for, and help create the future of Plymouth Church; 2) combining the justice groups for more shared events so that we can have greater impact; 3) improving our outreach to newcomers, and better advertising our many valuable assets and programs.; 4) assisting new members to quickly find where and how they want to contribute to the life of Plymouth Church. I want to be an increasingly bright light to this beloved community.

 

Board Member and Co-Chair – Linda Seime

I am home at Plymouth, and I felt that from the fall of 2018 when Rick and I first attended Plymouth regularly. I am home in its liberal theology; its commitment to racial, environmental, and immigrant justice; its inclusiveness; and its efforts to look at itself critically from the core. I am challenged and supported in my journey.
I am part of the Racial and Environmental Justice Committees, Spiritual Exploration Committee, Chapel Singers, Care Team visitors, and One More Chair committee. I have been an enthusiastic participant in many classes and am always grateful for the many ways I can grow spiritually and personally as we confront our privilege in the world.
Rick and I have two married children and two grandsons. We grew up in a small farming community in southwestern MN. I graduated from the U of MN in music education, taught briefly in the schools, and then transitioned to private piano teaching for the rest of my career. We lived in WV for 25 years, Rochester for 20 years, and now enjoy living in downtown Minneapolis.

 

Board Member – Myra Starkenburg

I was raised in a conservative traditional church. However, after being exposed to various other religions and cultures, that faith tradition no longer worked for me. I prefer the open-mindedness of Plymouth. So, after initially intermittently and later regularly attending services, I eventually joined Plymouth Church in 1987. Plymouth Church continues to inspire me to learn and maintain positive connections with the world, including the promotion of justice. I also enjoy spending time with fellow Plymouthites.

In addition to serving on the Board of Community Life, I am on the Sunday Forum committee. I am also part of the team who staff the medical table during the Third Sunday Meals, and I sometimes attend protests and rallies sponsored by Plymouth’s Presence Team and Immigration Justice Initiative. I also regularly attend the monthly One More Chair Women’s Breakfast Group and scripture study sessions on Thursdays as well as the occasional music concerts and poetry readings. And, I regularly attend the 11 am Sunday worship service.

During my three-year membership on the Board of Community Life, I have enjoyed meeting people and participating in their incorporation into our church community. I look forward to more of the same.

 

Board of Finance and Administration

Continuing members: Gina DelCorazon, Don Schultz, Matt Smith, Kevin Walker

 

Board Member and Chair – Rick Seime

Linda and I moved to the Twin Cities in 2019 from Rochester where we had lived for 20 years. I am a retired clinical health psychologist and an Emeritus Consultant at Mayo Clinic. We joined the congregation in February 2019. Previous church leadership and service roles include Church Council, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Morgantown, WV; Moderator, Board of Deacons, First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown, WV; and Personnel Committee, Zumbro Lutheran Congregation, Rochester, MN. I have served three years on the Board of Finance and Administration, and I look forward to serving as chair to facilitate the important work of the Board of Finance and Administration.

 

 

Board Member – Larry Brandts

Music drew Larry to Plymouth Congregational Church. He has been a member of the Plymouth Adult Choir since 2015 and officially joined Plymouth as a member in 2020. He was raised as a Roman Catholic, went to a Lutheran college, was a member of an Episcopal church for about 25 years, and now he’s found his home with Plymouth Congregational Church. Larry served in several leadership roles during his tenure at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, including as a member of its Finance, Endowment and Dean’s Advisory Committees, and three years as Treasurer. After working in finance and IT roles during his career, Larry retired in 2023.

He currently serves on the Board of Finance and Administration at Plymouth as well as on its Investment Committee. Larry is also a member of the Finance Committee for VocalEssence, and in 2024 concluded a role as Treasurer for Melodious Accord, a non-profit that supported the work of composer Alice Parker. He also enjoys singing Tuesday evenings at Plymouth as a member of the VocalEssence Chorus.

 

Board Member – P. Gayle Fuguitt

Since our son was baptized by Vivian in 1989, accompanied by Philip’s music, we have engaged with the Plymouth family from raising our children to the “rewiring” (vs. retiring) chapters of our lives. I value this heart-based community, dedicated to learning to live through Jesus’ teachings while raising families, working, and next-chapter living. Raised with the values to serve the church, I taught church school and was chair and co-chair of the Christmas Festival, as a young working-mom.

Now “rewiring,” Tom & I serve Third Sunday Meals. I’ve leaned into Scripture Study, creating memory books, and I’ve joined women’s leadership events. Now called to serve on the Board of Finance and Administration, I had to really discern what I might be able to add to the decision table.

Through my business and board roles, my mark has been as a substantive teambuilder and collaborator. I bring strategic and analytic skills founded on insights. I delivered results by listening to needs and values, then translating them into actions. I am here to roll up my sleeves, to help our Plymouth community forge a stable foundation, and to create resources for meaningful, sustainable growth…both personal and community.

 

Board Member – Sue Moses

I grew up at Plymouth but rebelled and didn’t get confirmed. I moved away to college, then to the West, and when I moved back in 1988, I came to one service, heard Vivian Jones preach, and that was that. Thoughtful theology, like-minded people, a wide range of music, and a welcoming community keep me coming back. I regularly participate in Chapel Singers.

I have a background in finance, so I’m always interested in the numbers. I want to learn more about Plymouth’s financial situation and play a helpful role as we move forward.

 

 

Board Member – Andy Schou

I have been a member at Plymouth for around eight years. I am married to Brittany and we have two boys – Oliver (11) and August (7). I previously served on the Board of Worship from 2019-2022. You can find me and my family most Sundays at the 9 am service and the 10 am education time.

I love being part of the Plymouth community because it challenges us all to challenge ourselves and society. I recently finished being a confirmation companion and that was a great reminder that this church is full of amazing youth and that we all need to support them and one another so that this special community can be here for many decades or centuries into the future. I hope to enable Plymouth’s longevity by serving on the Board of Finance and Administration.

 

 

Board of Outreach

Continuing Members: Sara Bergan, Lynette Black, Jim Christenson, Karl Jones, Rusty Nelson, Cynthia Smith, Leah Young

 

Chair – Sara Bergan

When I lived in the neighborhood, a friend encouraged me to come hear Philip and the choir. Jim was preaching, and I couldn’t help but listen and be drawn in.

Twenty-some years later, I come for all the wonderful music, art, and sermons—and importantly, the community. My kids Henry, Charlie, and Eddie enjoy the friends they have here and love Nina, Kate and the wonderful programming for kids. I’ve been involved in our various justice activities for some time now—most directly with the Board of Outreach for the past few years and recently as its chair. I continue to learn from the members and community here and am eager to continue to stretch what we can do together in the coming year.

 

 

Board Member – Anne Cheatham

My family was introduced to Plymouth by friends when we moved to St. Paul from Long Beach, CA, in 2017, and we’ve been in love with this place ever since. We love everything about it, especially Sunday morning worship and the AMAZING youth programs that both of my children (Jack, 20, and Charley, 15) have been very involved with over the years. I’ve served on the Board of Spiritual Formation since 2018 and would love to continue my work at Plymouth on the Board of Outreach because I love working with others in community to try to make this world a better place for everyone. When I’m not teaching first graders in St. Paul, I love doing ANYTHING outdoors with my family and friends, taking hikes with our dog, Ozzy, running, reading, and going on adventures!

 

 

Board Member – Jean Tracy

I continue to feel so fortunate to be a part of the Plymouth community.  It enriches my life immensely. It’s also a joy to see the positive impact of Plymouth’s good works within and beyond our walls.

I’m completing my first term on the Board of Outreach and hope to continue to contribute for a second. My Plymouth outreach efforts include Third Sunday Meal, Every Meal, Habitat for Humanity, and the Immigrant Justice Committee. I participated in the Plymouth cohort of the Riverside Innovation Hub (a two-year, Augsburg University-led exploration of the public church concept to deepen our relationship with our neighbors/neighborhood). That and my outreach experiences make me especially excited to soon join the Campus Task Force 2.0 group. I also serve on the marketing task force.

Outside of Plymouth, I volunteer with those living with ALS, the League of Women Voters of Edina and share my love of gardening in low-income neighborhoods as a Master Gardener. My daughter, son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren are my treasurers. My professional career included newspaper writing and editing, and health care communications.

 

Board of Spiritual Formation

Continuing Members: Andrea Bubula, Andy Holdsworth, Janet Howard, Richard Jewell, Emily Moses-Thomsen, Nancy Peterson, Mary Sheehan

 

Co-chair – Richard Jewell

My wife, Ann Ludlow, and I came to Plymouth 35 years ago for liberal theology, music, and Sunday school for our children. John and Carole Humphrey helped turn the kids into sane, spiritual individuals. We went to Africa with Jeff Hall. We’ve run Plymouth Film Club for twenty years. More recently, Ann joined the Racial Justice Initiative, and I’ve helped teach three spiritual-formation classes. We live five blocks away and attend 11 a.m. services when not tent-camping in summer. Professionally, I’ve retired from teaching college English and Humanities, led three campus programs, and still help organize the state’s yearly college English conference. I have meditated since I was thirteen and earned master’s degrees in theology and ministry. I hope to help people discover their own spirituality and/or how they can tap it more. I’m at www.richardjewell.org.

 

Co-chair – Mary Sheehan

First and foremost, I am a mother and a grandmother, and I had the great fortune to spend 55 years with my best friend and soulmate, Tim, before he died in September of 2022. I was raised Catholic and was steeped in the tenets of social justice. I believe that a robust spiritual life undergirds my work to promote the common good.

My career was in public health at both the state and county level in Minnesota. I have served on numerous boards including Planned Parenthood, the U of M School of Public Health Alumni, and the Minnesota Public Health Association where I served two terms as President. In retirement I served on the Hennepin County Citizen Review Panel for six years, working to improve child protection services. I am also a mentor for a student nurse at Minneapolis College through the Hennepin Connections program.

 

Board Member – Peter Eichten

Peter Eichten was a Parish Administrator for 26 years in Catholic and Lutheran parishes. He has been a high school teacher, counselor, and coach, and worked in Catholic Campus Ministry. He has been elected to a public school board and has served on the boards of directors of two non-profits. He taught part-time for 15 years in the Master of Public and Nonprofit Administration program at Metro State University in St. Paul. At Plymouth, he has been the chair of the Racial Justice Initiative and the chair of the Board of Outreach. He is currently completing his service as Moderator. Peter and his wife Jane are returned Peace Corps Volunteers (Iran 1970-72). They live in the Midtown Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis, one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the Twin Cities. They have five adult children and five grandchildren.

 

Board Member – Andy Holdsworth

I have been a member of Plymouth for 15 years and feel so blessed that my family found this welcoming progressive church community. The wonderful community, preaching, music, fellowship, and youth program drew us in and have held onto us. I have enjoyed many years of teaching Sunday School and getting to know our awesome youth, whether it is at church or camping and canoeing together. Most recently, I joined the Chapel Singers, which introduced me to another wonderful group of Plymouth people and reconnected me with the power of music to move the spirit. I am looking forward to serving a full term on the Board of Spiritual Formation.

 

 

Board Member – Steve Sanders

As it happens, I was baptized and confirmed here. One of the decorations on our Christmas tree is an ornament I made in a Christmas festival 60+ years ago. These events and memories anchor me to the building, but nostalgia isn’t what keeps me here.

What keeps me here is the contemplative living group based on the writings of Thomas Merton. As a group we’ve explored what it means to aspire to live a life of contemplation in a world built for show and action. Also, until its recent cessation, I was for many years a part of the bike fixing crew at Third Sunday Meals. While our neighbors were enjoying their meal, we would patch up bikes whose best days were often behind them.

What also keeps me here is that at Plymouth we are not bound by dogma or creed. We’re free to examine our own conscience, informed but not governed by the experience of generations of believers, tempered by millennia of practice. I’ll bring a deep interest in these and other questions to potential membership on the board, along with an abiding commitment to our particular community of believers.

 

Board of Worship

Continuing Members: Jon Bauer, Karen Erickson, John Gisselquist, Kathy Hunter, Jim Leslie, Jennifer Theis

 

Chair – Jim Leslie

Raised among well-educated Evangelicals, I had an epiphany almost fifty years ago listening to the Christian Universalist message of Howard Conn. Plymouth has been my church home ever since. Over those many years, Plymouth has afforded me opportunities to serve as a lay leader (chair, Board of Deacons), to help with the launch of OneVillage Partners in Sierra Leone by making several trips to that West African country, to make sure that some of our oldest members got to church by driving the church bus on Sunday mornings for ten years, and to get to know some Plymouth members well through our wonderful Andante social group, which has been together for twenty-two years.

The Plymouth community has also supported me through a divorce, through the brain cancer death of my son Ted, and through the death of my second wife, Lynnanne Warren. To the important work of the Board of Worship, I bring the experience of being a lay member for four years (2009 to 2013) of the Committee on Ministry (COM) of the Minnesota Conference (UCC) where COM’s ceremonial duties required me to worship in a number of Minnesota UCC churches.

 

Board Member – Grace Forbord

My partner, Erik Steen, and I started visiting Plymouth in 2001, when I had a Sunday off from my organist position at First Congregational UCC in Brainerd. Eventually, we moved to Minneapolis and chose Plymouth as our church home. My main draws were the magnificent organ music, the choir, and the liberal theology. I joined the choir in 2018, and I am thankful for the opportunity to sing under a conductor who has been described as a “world-renowned force” in choral music.

I am the mother of three adult daughters and the grandmother of five granddaughters. I am a retired registered nurse who enjoys traveling, gardening, and the outdoors.

Other activities that I participate in at Plymouth include the Engaging with Aging group, volunteering to play piano music at the Third Sunday Meals, serving on the memorial committee, and being on the Board of Worship for one term. If approved by the congregation at the 2025 annual meeting, I look forward to continuing on the Board of Worship through this year of many changes and transitions.

 

Board Member – Loretta Menke

We originally joined Plymouth because of the quality of the sermons and the music. The focus on the arts as a pathway to the divine resonated with me as did the focus on social justice. Although this is part of what keeps me coming back, it is a community that is the primary driver now—the connections, friendships, and support from others who have similar values.

I’m interested in the Board of Worship because I’ve been thinking about my own experience with church worship over the last five years. COVID changed so many patterns, and even when Plymouth reopened, I found it easier to watch church from home. But for me, this was a pretty passive experience. An invitation to join the Chapel Singers brought me physically back to church on a regular basis. I hadn’t realized how much I missed and benefited from the church community and the in-person experience! However, I know we are all different, and I hope that on the Board of Worship, I can help to support an engaging and supportive church experience no matter where people are worshiping.

 

Board Member – Faye Sleeper

I joined Plymouth Congregational Church (PCC) near the end of 2022 and have been blessed to be a member of this congregation. I have been Congregational/UCC since I was born, with a few years at a Covenant congregation in North Minneapolis. Many of you may not know me because life events have interfered with my participation in church life since I joined. I have participated in a small group, and occasionally at the Women’s Breakfast Group. I have hoped that this year would be the year that I could engage more fully, in multiple ways. So, I am thrilled to join the Board of Worship.

Why worship? Worship has always been a priority for me in choosing a congregation since I became an adult. Theology matters deeply to me, not only in worship, but in outreach, justice, and other aspects of church life. These things, and the always warm welcome, have been important to me in staying at PCC. I am fairly comfortable in any worship style (primarily when I visit other churches/religious institutions), so I am flexible and open to change as needed or desired. At my former churches, I have been a more active participant in worship and look forward to stepping up and contributing more fully to PCC.

Racial Justice Initiative

 

Chair – Karen Barstad

During my years at Plymouth Church, I’ve served on multiple boards and committees and have participated in various groups within the church. Serving as chair of the Racial Justice Initiative feels like a natural next step in connecting to the broader community and helping Plymouth do the same. I’m eager for Plymouth to be a neighborhood church as well as a destination church. I hope to help us interact with the Indigenous, Black, and Asian American/Pacific Islander people both within and beyond our doors in meaningful, equitable ways that are grounded in our spiritual life. I hope to help Plymouth cultivate lasting relationships with the people who call our richly diverse neighborhood their home, just as it is ours.

 

 

Climate and Environmental Justice Initiative

 

Co-Chair – Katie Dillon

Katie Dillon has been at Plymouth since 2006 and has been involved with multiple boards, committees, and leadership roles during that time. She is currently one of the co-chairs of the Climate and Environmental Justice Initiative and looks forward to continuing in that role. Commitment to justice work within the Plymouth community is a core reason Katie and her family are part of the church. Additionally, Katie is on Campus Task Force 2.0 on which she especially enjoys building bridges to the neighborhood community, and she chairs the Housing Justice committee.

 

 

 

Co-Chair – Dave Homans

My wife and I joined Plymouth over 40 years ago. We initially wanted a church home to raise our children, and were drawn to Plymouth by the thoughtful, educational sermons, the caring, open-minded people, and the soaring music. We were not disappointed.

We have stayed because of our attachment to the Plymouth community and because of opportunities to serve. I’ve been a longstanding volunteer at the 3rd Sunday Meal (thank you all for your support this Easter), and my wife and I have hosted a dinner for the Drop-in Center participants for many years, which has become the highlight of our Christmas season.

I’ve been involved with Climate and Environmental Justice for about 5 years, and recently had the honor of being a companion for a wonderful young confirmand. During COVID, I had the opportunity to use my medical background to help safeguard the congregation, like so much in life, an imperfect albeit well-intentioned effort. Of all the many pressing issues challenging our world today, I find climate change to be the most time-sensitive and extensive in scope. It reaches into every corner of the globe and affects every element of humanity, but particularly those with the fewest resources. Participating in the Climate and Environmental Justice initiative offers me an opportunity to work on those aspects of climate change that our church community may be uniquely able to address—both as individuals in our own lives, and as members of our wider communities.