Leadership

Rev. George Koch

The Rev. Dr. George J. Koch, Jr. - Interim lead pastor will begin his service to St. Luke’s  May 1, 2011. The Rev. Dr. George Koch, in his thirty-one years of ministry, has served congregations in New England, and as the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Syracuse University and Deployed Director for Campus Ministry, Regions 5 & 6 of the ELCA. In 2004 he received training in Intentional Interim Ministry and for the past seven years has served the Metropolitan Chicago Synod as an Intentional Interim Pastor at six parishes. He has extensive knowledge of congregational family systems and conflict management.  He has contributed to the Faith and Science dialogue on the denominational level of the ELCA and has participated in interfaith dialogue on the local and  synodical level. He lives in Elmhurst with his wife of thirty-seven years, Judy, and an amiable mixed-breed dog, Albee. They have two adult children by adoption, Sue (30) and George III (29)  who live in the Chicago area.  George and Judy love camping and hiking. George is also currently restoring a 1965 Corvair turbo. email

Rev. Kristina Weber

Rev. Kristina C. Weber - Associate Pastor began her ministry with St. Luke’s in January 2006. She is called to pastoral ministry with particular attention to member care, education, and congregational life. Her responsibilities include leading worship, preaching, teaching, visitation, and working with the congregation to plan fellowship opportunities and events. Pastor Weber was ordained in 1997. She has served congregations several Minnesota communities: Toivola and Meadowlands, Chanhassen, Crystal, and St. Louis Park. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota (B.A.), and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, California (M.Div.). Pastor Weber is married to Rev. Erik Weber; they have two sons. Telephone: (847) 825-6659 ext. 12, email

Anne Krentz Organ

Anne Krentz Organ serves as the Director of Music Ministries at St. Luke’s. Her responsibilities include worship planning, service playing, and the direction of the choral and instrumental music program which includes adult, youth, and children’s choirs, handbell choirs, and a variety of instrumental ensembles. Anne holds degrees from Valparaiso University, the University of Illinois, and Concordia University at River Forest, IL. Her compositions are published by Abingdon Press, Augsburg Fortress, and Concordia Publishing House. Anne and her husband Jim are the parents of three boys; Andrew, Daniel, and Paul. Telephone: (847) 825-6659 ext. 14, email

Melinda Ramseth Hoiland

Melinda Ramseth Hoiland is Director of Children’s Choirs at St. Luke’s, where she directs the Cherub Choir (K-2nd), Junior Choir (3rd-6th), an Orff Ensemble (3rd-6th), other instrumental groups and Camp Allegro, a weeklong music day-camp held at the church each summer. She also coordinates worship and music for summer weekday services. The St. Luke’s children’s choir program encourages children to grow in their Christian faith as they lead worship, learn liturgies and hymns as well as choral anthems and songs. Children experience music in a variety of ways, through singing, playing Orff and rhythm instruments, moving and creating. Melinda holds a B.A. in Music Education from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and a M.A. in Music Education with an emphasis in Orff-Schulwerk from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Melinda and her husband Joel have three children – Kiersten, Daniel and Britta. Telephone: (847) 825-6659 ext. 15,  email

Jeannine Oakes

Jeannine Oakes has served as the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries since November 2008 and is responsible for nurturing Christian education and faith formation in children, youth, and families. Jeannine’s roles include organizing intergenerational events, youth service projects, as well as education and fellowship opportunities for the youth and children of the congregation. She also recruits and trains volunteers and teachers who work with the children and youth in a variety of ways. She is the Director of Vacation Bible School and the primary leader for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Jeannine received a BFA in Film, Photography, and Electronic Media from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her interest in liturgy, theology, and multi-media worship encouraged her to receive her MDiv from Yale Divinity School through the Institute of Sacred Music where she received the Director’s Prize for her collaborative work on a Holocaust Remembrance Installation in 2007. She is currently a Master of Arts in Urban Ministry candidate at McCormick Theological Seminary and the recipient of the Thomas B. Mackie merit scholarship. Telephone: (847) 825-6659 ext. 16, email

Jeanne Rice, Parish Coordinator, Telephone (847) 825-6659 ext. 10, email

Annette Kern, Office Administrator, Telephone (847) 825-6659 ext. 17, email

Irene Jinks, Congregation Council President, Telephone (847) 698-3113, email