Karen Alexander, 612-230-3309
Administrator for Roster and Call Process
Full time
Karen Alexander began as Administrator for Roster and Call Process in 2025. Karen’s role oversees various aspects of rostered leaders’ calls. You can contact Karen with questions about compensation and benefits and call processes.
Fun fact: Karen is slowly replacing her entire lawn with Minnesota native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers.
Pastor Jen Collins, 612-230-3302
Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Vitality
Full time
Jen Collins has been serving Twin Cities congregations for the past 10 years in various roles. Jen began in 2025 as Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Vitality. As Assistant to the Bishop, she fosters care, guidance, and support for congregations along with the bishop and other synod staff members. She also accompanies the Synod’s Global Partnerships and racial justice work.
Fun fact: Jen loves baking, especially scones and cakes with her kids! She has also traveled to 46 of 50 united states.
Liz Farmer, 612-230-3317
Assistant to the Bishop for Administration
Full time
Liz Farmer started as the Assistant to the Bishop for Administration in 2025. Her role includes executive assistance to the bishop, working with the synod’s governance teams, and internal HR and office responsibilities.
Fun fact: Liz plans her family’s meals based on the weather forecast.
Pastor Ryan Fletcher, 612-230-3301
Director for Evangelical Mission
Full time
Ryan Fletcher began in 2025 as Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) of the Minneapolis Area Synod. Before this role, he served as a parish pastor for over twenty years in three different synods. DEMs are deployed staff of the churchwide expression of the ELCA that work in specific synodical contexts. As DEM, Ryan has a special focus on growing congregational vitality, evangelism, and leadership. His responsibilities include guidance and support of the synod’s new and strategic ministries, growth in stewardship practices, and advancement of the ELCA’s commitments to equity and justice.
Fun fact: Ryan is a dendrophile, devoted baseball fan, and owner of an original Nintendo Entertainment System.
Jessie Goeke, 612-230-3300
Assistant for Administration and Special Projects
Part time
Jessie Goeke has been on the synod staff since 2023. In her role as the Assistant for Administration and Special Projects, Jessie supports the synod staff with the behind-the-scenes and day-to-day needs for administration, communications, and events. Jessie is like the “libero” or “utility player” of the synod staff.
Fun fact: Jessie is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and when she is not working at the synod office, she works as a therapist in her private practice.
Kellie Groon, 612-230-3315
Accountant
Part time
Kellie Groon started at the synod office in 2024. As the accountant, she oversees the synod’s mission support receipts from congregations and disbursements to vendors. She also prepares the monthly financial statements and works on the annual budget.
Fun fact: She’s a sports geek – liking most any basketball, baseball, or softball game and recently started watching gymnastics meets and diving competitions.
Jeni Huff, 612-230-3307
Director of Communications and Events
Almost full time
Jeni Huff has been in various roles on synod staff since 2013. In her role as the Director of Communications and Events, Jeni oversees the synod website, email communications, and social media, as well as event planning and registration.
Fun fact: Jeni dreams of owning an alpaca farm someday.
Rev. John Hulden, 612-230-3311
Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership
Full time
Pastor John has been invited to parties and problems in congregations in the northern half of the synod for 13 years. He appreciates working with the many faithful lay leaders, staff, deacons, and pastors in our congregations. John also works with the synod candidacy committee, faith formation leaders, and his heart sings whenever a leader starts a peer group.
Fun fact: John grew up in four times zones (claims Montana as his home state) and lives on a 47-acre farm outside of Taylors Falls, Minnesota, with his farmer-wife, favorite mother-in-law, six dozen chickens, countless barn cats, and Fran the one-horned goat.
Peg Ihinger, 612-230-3308
Assistant to Candidacy
Part time
Peg has had several roles at the synod since 2017. As the Assistant for Candidacy, she works alongside Pastor John Hulden to guide candidates for Christian public ministry through the administrative processes leading to ordination.
Fun fact: Peg is an award-winning novelist, with two novels published, and she is currently working on her third.
Sarah Maslowski
CYF Connector
Part time
In 2024, Sarah started her part-time position as CFY Connector. Supporting and connecting new and seasoned children, youth, and family volunteers and staff around the synod will be her prime focus. When not working alongside CYF leaders and volunteers, she works fulltime as youth director at St Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington.
Fun fact: Sarah enjoys winter – especially when it’s cold enough for outdoor hockey, sledding, and cross-country skiing. Recently, she tried skijoring for the first time with her vizsla pup, Kobe.
Lynda Nordholm, 612-230-3310
Assistant to Mission
Part time
Lynda has 37 years of experience serving all 3 expressions of the ELCA, which includes serving the synod since 2009. As Assistant to Mission, she watches over all aspects of the synod’s Mission Support from congregations, including yearly plans, quarterly statements, strategic updates and mission support communication. Lynda also works alongside the DEM to accompany the synod’s New & Strategic Ministries, particularly as it relates to their grant funding with the ELCA. In this role, she also relates to the Synod’s Mission Table.
Fun fact: Lynda collects rocks from everywhere she goes – especially Lake Superior – but has been known to bring rocks home from across the ocean. And she is now learning the art of “rock weaving.”
Karen Ohm, 612-230-3309
Director of Roster and Call Process
Full time
As Director of Roster and Call Process, Karen Ohm’s responsibilities include managing all rostered ministers’ records; providing materials for congregational call committees, individuals, and staff members; working with First Call Theological Education; and maintaining and updating the database.
Fun fact: She spends her free time reading, doing needlework, and spoiling her grandchildren.
Nicholas Tangen, 651-808-7067
Assistant to the Bishop for Faith and Neighboring
Full time
Nicholas Tangen has been on staff since 2021, serving first as the Director of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices. As the Assistant to the Bishop for Faith and Neighboring, Nicholas oversees the Synod’s two Lilly-funded learning communities; “Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices” and “Family Faith,” and supports the Synod’s public voice communications.
Fun fact: Nicholas is a Benedictine Oblate; passionate about monastic spirituality and committed to living his life guided by the Rule of St. Benedict.
Mercy Zou Taithul
Assistant for Administration and Communications
For Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices
Full time
Mercy began her Assistant for Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices position in 2023. Mercy assists with communicating and coordinating logistics for the Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices program. Mercy Taithul is one of the IWL (International Women Leader), ELCA scholars and graduated from Augsburg University.
Fun fact: Mercy is from Northeast India and speaks 7 languages. She loves all kinds of indoor and outdoor activities, but mostly loves bowling and badminton.