Emmanuel members reserve the right to vote on matters that affect them and delegate authority to called and appointed leaders.
Our Church
Our Leadership Team
Chris Studenski
Founding and Senior Pastor
Pastor Chris provides visionary and supervisory leadership for ECC’s staff and congregation. He received his formal education 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 New Ulm, at a mega-church in Arden Hills, and on the back of a garbage truck in Mendota Heights. Today, he enjoys spending time with his family, serving our church, being outdoors, competitive sports, devouring leadership books, and paying others to haul his garbage away. Pastor Chris lives in Shoreview with his wife Laura, their two girls, and their two dogs.
Email ChrisElder Board
Emmanuel members call a Senior Pastor and elect Elders to serve as representatives of the church. Together, the Senior Pastor and Elders comprise our Elder Board. This plurality of carefully vetted leaders ensures healthy checks and balances. The Elder Board is charged with the responsibility to see that our common mission is pursued and that ministry is carried out in a wise, God-honoring way.
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David Hanson
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Greg Herman
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Mary Lakner
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Jordan Luhmann
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Dan Owen
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Sharon Steen
Senior Leadership Team
The Senior Leadership Team works together to set priorities and make decisions that are aligned with our mission, vision, and values. Their primary responsibility is to our church as a whole. Their secondary responsibility is to the departments they represent.
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Kelsey Crenshaw
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Melissa Knudson
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Jason Peterson
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Tim Stenerson
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Caitlyn Stenerson
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Chris Studenski
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Dan Swartz
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Our Staff
Emmanuel is blessed with an amazing staff! Our staff members are empowered to build teams and carry out ministry.
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Alissa Bimberg
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Kelsey Crenshaw
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Stephanie Dunn
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Mike Dvorak
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Kim Gayner
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Joe Hackett
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Melissa Knudson
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Mike Lindsey
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Jason Peterson
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Natalie Schmidt
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Tim Stenerson
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Caitlyn Stenerson
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Laura Studenski
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Emma Studenski
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Dan Swartz
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Sam Ternberg
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Karin Wessberg
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Community Life
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Mike Lindsey
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Jason Peterson
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Caitlyn Stenerson
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Laura Studenski
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Kids, Tweens, Teens
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Alissa Bimberg
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Kelsey Crenshaw
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Kim Gayner
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Melissa Knudson
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Natalie Schmidt
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Caitlyn Stenerson
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Laura Studenski
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Emma Studenski
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Dan Swartz
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Karin Wessberg
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Operations
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Kelsey Crenshaw
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Stephanie Dunn
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Mike Dvorak
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Tim Stenerson
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Caitlyn Stenerson
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Sam Ternberg
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Worship Arts
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Mike Dvorak
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Joe Hackett
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Jason Peterson
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Sam Ternberg
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Pastoral Relations Committee
The Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC) administers the Senior Pastor’s performance review and may be called upon to mediate specific congregational concerns.
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Joyce Hardwick
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Greg Herman
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Steve Kruger
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Jeremy Rockford
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee prayerfully submits candidates for Emmanuel’s representative boards and other open positions assigned to it by the Elder Board and/or Senior Pastor.
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Bruce Anderson
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Rachel Berndt
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Tim De Haan
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Edwin Figueroa
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Curt Folkestad
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Donna Gapinski
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Mary Lakner
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Natalie Schmidt
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Bob Stude
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Michelle Westerlund
Our Members
Emmanuel members have been baptized (as an infant, child, teen, or adult), profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and look to the Bible as their standard for belief and conduct. Prior to becoming a member, individuals also complete our Explore Membership course and sign a Membership Covenant. We offer our Explore Membership course about once every six months. Contact Pastor Chris to learn more.
Contacts
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Chris Studenski
Email Chris