Church Leadership and Staff
Pastor Chris Kneen
Pastor Chris Kneen is an ordained United Methodist Church Pastor with 33 years of leadership experience. He has served 5 different congregations with his last service being in Djibouti, Africa as a Navy Chaplain. He is a retired Navy Reserve Commander with 28 years of joint military experience working with the Navy, US Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force.
Chris is from White Bear Lake, MN. He has an associate of Arts Degree from Northland Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota, a Masters of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.
He has four daughters and three grand children.
Vision of the Church
I am passionate about the importance of community mainline protestant churches and the unique role they play in the health of local government, commerce, schools, law enforcement, families and individuals as well as the global impact for good they initiate and support.
Leadership Style
Guiding Principles:
Professionalism – job competence, conduct that is respectful of others and a continuing education plan that expands knowledge, skill set and qualifications for ministry.
Constant Improvement – implement lessons learned from after-event reports and use best practices from other similar congregations to numerically grow and care for those inside and outside of the church. Never be satisfied with the status quo.
Customer Care – the congregation’s ministry staff is an extension of the congregation’s ministry service and hospitality. By using good listening skills and a desire to help others we can assist others by “getting to yes”.
Conflict Management – by deliberately training the SPRC to enforce the congregation’s steps to conflict management the congregation can be a safe place for everyone to work, worship and serve and it will be better prepared to deal with the internal stress created by congregational change.
Visibility – the ministry staff and congregational lay leadership should make every effort to be visible and approachable to the congregation so others will know they can turn to them for help and leadership.
Balance – the church leadership and staff should model healthy life/work balance for the congregation and be mindful of the need for the same balance in the life of volunteers we call and lead.
Church Staff
Sarah Sandgren
Office Administrator
Cheryl Hultquist Custodian
Contact Information
Office Administrator Sarah Sandgren
Email: office@lindstrommethodist.org
Congregational Leadership Team
Chairperson of Church Council Terry Kopp
Lay Leader Andy Wilkerson
Recording Secretary Emily Honebrink
Council Members At-Large Tom Ervasti Cheryl Lecy
Lloyd Jones
Erin Thorvaldson
Juanita Morgan
Scott Lecy
Donn Arnold
Adrienne Stegmeier
Linda Ploog
Rebecca Ervasti
Peter Leadholm
Verna Hultman
Missions Adrienne Stegmeier (Chair)
Rebecca Ervasti
Pat McDermott
Staff Parish Relations Peter Leadholm (Chair)
Juanita Morgan
Wendy Vanderwerf
Lois Anderson
Tina Sparby
Tami Rehbein
Dorothy Lecy
Emily Hornerbrink
Trustees Lloyd Jones (Chair)
John Thorvaldson
Gary Gerke
Jack Danielson
Sue Meinholz
Irve Lecy
Mark Vanderwerf
Eric Stegmeir
Finance Verna Hultman (Chair)
Linda Ploog
Lloyd Jones
Donn Arnold
Andy Wilkerson
Worship Bret RempelEwert (Coordinator)
Nancy Thalacker (Accompanist)
Tom Ervasti (Choir Director)
Patsy Berglund (Bell Choir)
Sharlene Arnold (Visual Arts)
Dorothy Lecy (Visual Arts)
Treasurer Lloyd Jones
Financial Secretary Linda Ploog
Foundation Donn Arnold (Chair)
Lois Anderson
Dick Berglund
Donn Arnold
Dari Ferguson
Susan Hernick