Meet the Team
The Nebraska Synod, ELCA has a committed core team who creates and curates cross+gen and stewardship faith formation content and experiences for this Network.
If you would like to connect with one of our team members, just click on their name to send them an email.
Cross+Generational Core Team
Deacon Timothy serves on the staff of the Nebraska Synod as the synod’s Director for Mission, Innovation and Stewardship. As such, he also serves as the synod’s DEM (Director for Evangelical Mission) designate. He is a trained ELCA Level 1 Coach, and has previously served on staff and in leadership roles for congregations, nonprofits, startups, and another synod, in Minnesota and Washington. Timothy’s areas of interest in ministry include: leadership and stewardship; mission and outreach; innovation and experimentation; vitality and transformation; generosity and gratitude; writing; and cultivating and sharing stories of ministry in action. Timothy is available to preach, lead worship (outside of the sacraments), workshops and discussions, and meet for conversation. Outside of ministry and work, as a native of the Pacific Northwest, he is a major Seattle sports fan (think Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, Kraken, Pacific Lutheran University Lutes and Washington Huskies). He resides in Fontanelle with his wife, Rev. Allison Siburg (Salem Lutheran, Fontanelle) and their two young daughters who keep their parents on their toes.
Pastor Emily has always been deeply involved in the church. From a young age, leaders and pastors asked her to use her gifts of leadership, visioning, and caring for young people in our midst. Seeds were planted for callings to faith formation roles in 4 congregations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska over the last 22 years. She has served on synod leadership teams in each of these states and is a trained ELCA Level 1 Coach, certified children’s yoga teacher, and 200 hour certified, adult yoga teacher. She currently serves as pastor at St. Paul Lutheran church in Treynor, Iowa. Pastor Emily is passionate about:
*Helping all ages to live out their baptismal identity
*Utilizing the gifts of all ages in service in worship the congregation, the community, and the world
*Dreaming, wondering, and asking the question of what God might be up to
*Casting a vision for Cross+Generational faith formation and creating a plan to live it out
Originally from Oregon, Deacon Kristin serves as Deacon of Faith Formation at First Lutheran church in Fremont, NE. With a MA degree in Youth and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary (2003) and 24 years of Youth Ministry experience, she has had the privilege to serve in several different denominations, including ELCA Lutheran, United Methodist and Presbyterian. She has a heart for cross+generational relationships being at the core of the church. She has a passion to help connect the wisdom of the elder to the wonder of the child in the same sacred space. Kristin has lead Confirmation programs, Children’s and Youth Ministry programs, and Cross+Generational ministries. Kristin is married to Bishop Scott Johnson and they have two teenage daughters: Ainsley and Alanna.
Originally from Wisconsin, Deacon Koren serves as Deacon of Faith Formation and Outreach at Trinity Lutheran Church in South Dakota. She enjoys combining her passion for Cross+Gen faith formation with traditional spiritual practices in many different formats. She is interested in how people of all ages can create new connections and relationships with each other through seasonal retreats, midweek services, education hours, confirmation and more! Koren likes to describe her call as someone who builds a playground filled with faith activities, fun, and learning and invites people of all ages to explore and connect while allowing the Holy Spirit to do her work. Koren is also the wife of a pastor as well as mom to four kids ages 10-18 and two rescue dogs!
Katherine has a MA in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary. She is passionate about equipping faith communities - especially leaders and parents - to feel confident in their gifts and their role in faith formation. She believes that when ministry is liberated from human-made silos (e.g., age segregated, ministry at church vs home vs camp, etc.), the Spirit can move in incredible ways. She enjoys being strategic during administrative tasks so it sets things up to succeed. In her spare time, she loves reading, baking bread, playing board games with her husband and friends, and getting snuggles from her (8-year-old) puppy.