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Our Leadership Team

Because nothing effects everything like leadership, one of our highest priorities is to identify, develop, and care for leaders who shepherd people with both integrity of heart and skillful hands (Psalm 78:70-72).

And because we live in a fallen world, we take great care to continually improve our practices to ensure the right leaders are in the right positions, wise checks and balances are in place, and healthy boundaries are maintained.

Pastor Chris

Founding and Senior Pastor

Chris Studenski provides visionary and supervisory leadership for ECC’s staff and congregation. He holds a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Bethel Seminary and was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church. Prior to founding ECC, Pastor Chris served at a Gospel Mission in Minneapolis, on the Board of a Children’s Home in Mexico, at a small church in a small town, at a larger church in a larger town, and in two multi-site churches in the Twin Cities. He’s worked closely with most major denominations and draws from the best that each has to offer. Today, he enjoys spending time with his family, serving our church, visiting his friends in Juarez, being outdoors, competitive sports, learning from other leaders, investing in the next generation, crafting elevated content and experiences, and helping people become more like Jesus. Pastor Chris has two adult daughters and lives in Shoreview with his wife Laura (Emmanuel’s Co-founder).

Elder Board

Emmanuel’s members call a Senior Pastor and elect Elders from the Emmanuel family. Together, the Senior Pastor and Elders comprise the Team that provides oversight for ECC. This plurality of carefully vetted leaders provides healthy checks and balances and promotes multi-voiced input into the matters that matter most.

Email the Elder Board
  • Kim Gayner
    Kim Gayner Elder, Secretary
  • Lori Hansen
    Lori Hansen Elder
  • Greg Herman
    Greg Herman Elder
  • Jeff House
    Jeff House Elder, Vice-chair
  • Steve Kruger
    Steve Kruger Elder, Chair
  • Mary Lakner
    Mary Lakner Elder
  • Jordan Luhmann
    Jordan Luhmann Elder, Treasurer

Pastoral Relations Committee

The PRC is elected by our members and exists to ensure our Senior Pastor has a confidential space to process especially challenging situations, to ensure healthy boundaries are in place, to mediate congregational expectations and concerns in a God-honoring way, and to ensure our Lead Shepherd is able to focus on Emmanuel’s highest priorities and most essential tasks.

Email the Pastoral Relations Committee
  • Donna Gapinski
    Donna Gapinski
  • David Hanson
    David Hanson
  • Jeff House
    Jeff House
  • Nate Morris
    Nate Morris
  • Janet Rangoonwala
    Janet Rangoonwala

Nominating Committee

ECC members elect representatives to serve on the Nominating Committee for the purpose of prayerfully identifying and carefully vetting candidates to serve in our elected positions. Our members vote on the candidates they put forward. Great diligence is taken to ensure the Nominating Committee avoids conflicts of interest and nominates high-character candidates who are an exceptional fit for the needs of specific teams in the specific seasons that we’re heading into.

  • Justin Alstad
    Justin Alstad
  • Suzy Baker
    Suzy Baker
  • Rachel Bolte
    Rachel Bolte
  • Megan De Haan
    Megan De Haan
  • Lori Hansen
    Lori Hansen
  • Graham Jenich
    Graham Jenich
  • Abel Matuz
    Abel Matuz
  • Ann Mulfinger
    Ann Mulfinger
  • Shauna Richardson
    Shauna Richardson
  • Maggie Rocke
    Maggie Rocke
  • Beth Stadler
    Beth Stadler
  • Gary Vosen
    Gary Vosen

Our Pastors and Directors

Emmanuel’s Pastors and Directors, ensure that we’re authentically following Jesus and champion our beliefs, values, and signatures across the ECC footprint. They collaborate with the other Pastors and Directors, provide directional and supervisory leadership for their departments, establish priorities and goals for their teams, love people, and keep us moving forward together.

Our Staff

Emmanuel is blessed with an amazing Staff! Our Staff members are challenged to be example-setters who seek to honor God and impact others through their work. We do our best to align the right people with the right roles so they’re empowered to lead, minister, and/or complete assigned tasks, in their areas of strength, with excellence, enthusiasm, and lots of love.

Meet The Team