The Congregation Council is elected by the church membership and meets (most of the time) the 3rd Tuesday of every month to provide general oversight of the ministry of Esperanza. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 7:00pm.
2026/2027 Council Officers (elected 05/17/26)
President – Timothy Klandrud
Vice President – Chris Armfield
Treasurer – Mark Krach
Secretary – Kelly Edwards
2026/2027 Council Members (alpha order and elected 05/17/26):
Council Position Duties/Responsibilities
- Christine (Chris) Armfield – Elected 2024 (appointed a partial term in 2023/24 prior to serving 1st full term starting in 2024)
- Daniel Beeks – Elected 2025
- Kelly Edwards – Elected 2025
- Kathryn Elsaesser – Elected 2026
- Pastor Chris Heller (not elected)
- Cindy Jackson – Elected 2024
- Kelly Kartz – Elected 2026
- Tim Klandrud – Elected 2025
- Tina Knoell – Elected 2026
- Mark Krach – Elected 2025
Council Matrix Terms (as of 5/17/26)
2026 – 2027 Council Meetings (3rd Tuesday of the Month at 7:00PM)
2026-2027 Council & Nominating Committee Nominee Profiles
Standing Committees & Teams:
Standing Committees:
- Executive Council (from 2025/2026 Term) – Pastor Chris Heller, Timothy Klandrud, Chris Armfield, Mark Krach and Kelly Edwards
- Nominating for 2026/2027 – Michelle Ageno, Tyler Mueller, Paige Somero, Donna Sparber, KC Quah, Julie Valenzuela
- Audit (from 2025/2026) – Paul Beeks (Term: 1 Year), Ray Paloma (Term: 2 Years), Josie Nelson (Term: 3 Years) – Audit Terms Commenced in 2024 (September)
Existing Teams: (council liaisons are from 2025/2026 and will be updated in June 2026)
- Worship & Music – Tina Knoell Council Liaison. Pastor Chris Heller, Brad Somero, Josie & Jim Nelson, Jane & Todd Peterson, Eddie Knoell, Paige Somero, & Lai Gates
- Outreach – Kathryn Elsaesser Council Liaison. Pastor Chris Heller, Linda Dickson, Larry Hanson, Peggy Hanson, Jennifer Breeding, Judi Wold, Peggy Shepherd, Chris Armfield & Barb Yurka
- Stewardship – Chris Armfield Council Liaison. Pastor Chris Heller, Chuck Yount, Linda Dickson, Barb Yurka, & Michael Paradise
- Finance – Tim Klandrud Council Liaison. Mark Krach, Mark Entsminger, Dan Beeks, Chris Armfield, Chuck Yount (Chair), Jane Gisselquist, Paul Wagner, Joni Thorpe, Randall Neis, & Pastor Chris Heller (calendar administered by Michael Paradise)
- Education – Cindy Jackson Council Liaison. Pastor Chris Heller, Beth Leaf, Kelly Edwards, Paige Somero, & Madison Somero
- Fellowship – Peggy Wagner and Julie Valenzuela
- Live-Streaming & Audio – Jim Gisselquist, Dick Dorwart, Cian Collett, Michael Paradise
- Communications – Pastor Chris Heller, Michael Paradise, Barb Yurka, Doug Carroll & Liz Farquhar
- Welcoming – Dan Beeks Council Liaison. Susan Brown, Tom Vega, Susan Vega, Julie Valenzuela, & Beth Leaf
- Personnel – Executive Council (above under Standing Committees)
- Property – Kelly Kartz Council Liaison. Randy Wright, Jim Gisselquist, Ray Palomaa, Michael Paradise, Mark Schutt, Craig Peck & Tom Vega.
- Historian & Archivist – Tom Vega
Past:
- Transition/MSP (for last Pastor Call) – Liz Farquhar, Michele Tinsley, Paul Wagner, & Paul Beeks
- 35th Anniversary Celebration Team (Event: Sunday, February 23, 2025) – Tom Vega, Liz Farquhar, Lynn Hockenberger, Chris Armfield, Peggy Wagner, Joni Thorpe, Larry Hanson, Michael Paradise, Randy Wright
Committee & Teams Descriptions
Constitution:
Constitution (Last Updated, June 2, 2026)
2026 Constitution Changes (voted on May 17, 2026) – ELCA changes only.
Prior Constitution Changes were voted on and approved on Sunday, May 19, 2024 and have been approved by the Synod.
For contact information of the council members please email [email protected].
2025/2026 Council (Past):
President – Christine (Chris) Armfield
Vice President – Paige Somero
Treasurer – Mark Krach
Secretary – Cindy Jackson
2025/2026 Council Members (alpha order): 2025 Elected Council & Nominating Committee Member Profiles
- Christine (Chris) Armfield – Elected 2024 (appointed a partial term in 2023/24 prior to serving 1st full term starting in 2024)
- Daniel Beeks – Elected 2025
- Kelly Edwards – Elected 2025
- Pastor Chris Heller (not elected)
- Cindy Jackson – Elected 2024
- Tim Klandrud – Elected 2025
- Mark Krach – Elected 2025
- K.C. Quah – Elected 2024
- Paige Somero – Elected 2022
- Donna Sparber – Elected 2024
Nominating for 2025/2026 – Susan Brown, John Fisher, Larry Hanson, Beth Leaf, Julie Valenzuela, Paul Wagner