Leadership
THE CONGREGATION
At Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church we all share in leadership in different ways. We each bring our particular personalities and passions as we participate in God’s love in the world in this time and place. And we seek to share life faithfully with each other in whatever joys and struggles we encounter.
SESSION
Our session of elders equips the whole congregation for ministry through prayer, discernment and planning.
Our ruling elders are Jim Kendzel (Treasurer), Rev. Kristen Jeide, Jason DeBoer-Moran, Amy Leafblad, and Rachel Farris, (Clerk of Session). With energy, intelligence, imagination and love, they support the ministry of the people.
STAFF & OTHER CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS
At Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church we all share in leadership in different ways. We each bring our particular personalities and passions as we participate in God’s love in the world in this time and place. And we seek to share life faithfully with each other in whatever joys and struggles we encounter.
SESSION
Our session of elders equips the whole congregation for ministry through prayer, discernment and planning.
Our ruling elders are Jim Kendzel (Treasurer), Rev. Kristen Jeide, Jason DeBoer-Moran, Amy Leafblad, and Rachel Farris, (Clerk of Session). With energy, intelligence, imagination and love, they support the ministry of the people.
STAFF & OTHER CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS
Rev. Kara K Root is our Senior Pastor.
With honesty and energy, Kara empowers the whole congregation to join in God's love in the world. She loves preaching and teaching, providing theological leadership, and shaping community. Our experiences of sabbath, and being church together with all ages, encourage and inspire other congregations and individuals through Kara's speaking and writing. Her sermons can be found on her blog, at in the hereandnow. 
Rev. Lisa Larges is our Parish Associate for Congregational Care. With wisdom and gentleness, humor and insight, Lisa comes alongside Kara and helps us all care for each other well. "Lake Nokomis has a warm and generous heart." Lisa says. "I see my role as tending and reflecting this beautiful heart."
Jim Kendzel is our Treasurer.
Jim's got a head for numbers and knows how to tell the story. Bringing experience from business and non-profit work, Jim's infectious faith and practical sense keep us grounded and trusting, 
Rachel Farris is our Clerk of Session.
6th generation Presbyterian,* 4th generation Ruling Elder, 1st generation Clerk, with wit and warmth, clarity and insight, Rachel manages to keep us all decent in in order. (*or perhaps all the way back to originals in 1592? who's to say?) |
Erin DeBoer-Moran is our Director of Music and Worship Arts. Her creativity and gifts lead us in music and artistic expressions of worship. Erin is great at forming interactive experiences of shared encounter with God and each other. She draws on a variety of musical traditions for Sundays, and for our Saturday Evening Prayer services her piano backdrop to our prayer time creates a spirit of quiet, reflective beauty.
Krysta Niznik is our Operations Manager. Calm, steady and cheerful, Krysta helps keep this merry ship afloat. She brings structure to our free-wheeling bunch, and is the brains behind the operation when it comes to the numbers. Krysta is reachable weekdays via email and phone, and is in the office here and there, especially by appointment.
Gary Johnson is head of our Building Care team He's the one who knows everything about the building and how it works. When he's not driving a school bus, he might be tinkering around the place repairing some odd or end along with his sidekicks Pat Koehler, Brian Rainey, Dick Gross, and Jason DeBoer-Moran (aka, "The Whipper Snappers")
Dr. Joyce Tesarek is our Pet Chaplain.
With wisdom borne of extensive education and experience, and with boundless compassion and love of both animals and of the people of this community, Joyce provides comfort, a listening ear, sound advice, and gentle companionship to us. She receives our worries, celebrates our joys, helps us navigate our concerns, and walks alongside us as we love and care for our pets. A retired and licensed veterinarian, Joyce does not replace our pets' veterinarians, or come between pets and vets; she provides care to the people who love their pets. |
