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 Brian Rainey, Sue Goodspeed, Diane Hansen, Joyce Tesarek and Susan Hensel.
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 Brian Rainey, Sue Goodspeed, Diane Hansen, Joyce Tesarek and Susan Hensel.
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. ![]() Katie Holmberg is our Youth Leader
Katie brings a steady confidence, a sense of adventure and a deep faith in God to her leadership with our 5th - 9th graders. She helps them deepen relationships with adults in our midst, and take leadership roles in the ministry of the community. She says, of our kids, "Their curiosity and zeal encourages me, and they have taught me so much about what it is to be a minister and human." ![]() Gary Johnson is our Chair of Administration 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 sidekick, Dick Gross.
![]() Kathy Trudell Johnson is our Custodian
With humor and joy, Kathy enables our ministry of hospitality by helping us care well for our space so that it may be a blessing to others. |
![]() Erin DeBoer-Moran is our Music Director. Her artistry and gifts lead us in music. Using singers and instrumentalists, young and old, she brings out the joy and depth of music in worship. She draw from a variety of musical traditions for our Sunday services and creates for our Saturday Evening Prayer services 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 order 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, but especially Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings.
![]() 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."
![]() Lisa Johnson is our Clerk of Session. Bringing organization, logic, humor and a sharp mind to the task, Lisa keeps us decently in order.
![]() Brittany Dexter is our Treasurer
Brittany brings CPA training and experience to our books, and she and Krysta work the numbers like a pro-team. Brittany's joyful stability and even-tempered fun are the perfect combination for this small church treasurer role. |
Amelia is our Church Nanny. She is on-site on Sunday mornings, supporting families of young children by being available before, during and after worship, and hanging out in the nursery with kids ages preschool and under who need a break from worship.