2011-2012 LSC Elder Board

Ellyn Lanz, Moderator

I came to LaSalle in 1971, a fairly unformed young woman, and have never left. The minute I stepped in the door that first time, I felt as if I had come home, even though this place was challenging and so different from the conservative evangelical church of my youth. I would have to say I became a person at LaSalle, my values, thoughts, and ability for relationships all shaped by my Christian family here. I started back in the 70s working with children's church, adult ed, and then the Senior Center for 25 years. Most recently I've served on the church board and helped plan LaSalle's homecoming celebration several years ago. I look forward to my new role of clerk where I get to use my spiritual gift of "grammarsmithing" or do I have that wrong? Is that perhaps one of the fruits of the spirit inadvertently left off the list?

Dan West, Assistant Moderator

Dan is (in chronological order) the son of a Baptist preacher, raised mostly in northern California; a graduate of Wheaton College; a former Army officer; a high-school biology teacher; former long-term member of Circle Church in Chicago and in Oak Park; husband of Judy, through whom God has given him all of the best gifts in his life; father of Jeremy and Ben, strong, capable, and unsurprisingly somewhat weird sons, both now in their mid-twenties; eight-year member of LaSalle Street Church, and profoundly blessed to serve with exceptionally stimulating and supportive people on the current Elder Board.  "All of these have been means of God’s grace to me.  I have just enough faith to believe (on my good days) that by all these and other means, God is shaping me into a creation that will bring him joy, and that God is gently and surely shaping you as well."

Jerry Stromberg, Secretary

My wife, Precious Thomas, and I have been attending LaSalle Street Church for about five years. I was drawn by LaSalle Street Church’s strong preaching and the church’s commitment to the gospel’s command to actively love our neighbor, especially the poor and marginalized. I have participated on the Social Concerns Committee and Precious and I volunteer with the LaSalle Senior Center breakfast program. I am retired from work, most recently with Christian community health care (Bethel New Life, Lawndale Christian Health Center and the Christian Community Health Fellowship). My previous work was in teaching (Washington University and the University of Colorado Medical School) and with the World Health Organization in Geneva.

Sue Hammer, Treasurer

My husband, Rich, and I entered the LaSalle Street Church community seven years ago after growing up in Kansas, moving to Hyde Park, raising two sons in Oak Park, and now, representing the stereotypic demographic of Loop dwellers. I am been a member of the Property & Finance Committee at LaSalle for five years, and I am humbled by any opportunity to serve LaSalle Street Church.

Paul Hettinga, Assistant Treasurer

My wife Joanna and I have been active at LSC for nearly 10 years, but we knew of LaSalle long before attending. We were drawn to LaSalle based on its commitment to the centrality of Christ in Worship and the inclusiveness of the gospel, coupled with it's commitment to social and economic justice. Now we can both say what keeps us here...and that is the deep sense of centering and joy we experience as members of our our LaSalle family. We can both truly testify that this kind of intimate connection to each other that is felt at LSC is rare, and we treasure the depth of feeling and commitment that has grown in us while being at LaSalle.

Serving alongside the other board and staff members has been one of the finest experiences of my life. Along with being challenged, inspired and motivated, I find that I am accepted and loved; resulting in a deepening and transforming walk with Christ.

Jeanine Bakker, Elder at Large

I found LaSalle Street Church, or maybe it found me, in 1983. I was single and just out of graduate school. LaSalle gave me a safe place to ask questions and showed me tangible examples of what God’s grace looks like in an urban setting. The themes were familiar to those I learned from my rural church roots, but how they got lived out were different. For me, LaSalle was an exciting dynamic place. A place that was seeking God’s truths verses just dispensing them. I found room for my questions. I found people who believed if I was faithful in my seeking, God would be faithful in providing the answers. There were others to lean on while I waited. They were journeying, too. This is why I have stayed at LaSalle for 26 years. My questions have changed, over the years, but the promise to be faithful has not. Neither has the sense of compassionate journeying companions, nor the church’s desire to remain open to God’s dynamic presence in the city. I met my husband at LaSalle. We have raised our two young adult sons here. LaSalle is home.

Michelle Harrington, Elder at Large

Dear friends from the Divinity School invited me to attend LaSalle with them in 2004. I’m still at the University of Chicago as a doctoral candidate in religious ethics, and I’ve now been a member at LaSalle, along with my husband Jeff Dykstra, for two years. It’s an honor to be a part of this congregation that is seeking to be Christ’s body in the world, and I’m humbled and blessed to be nominated as an elder of it.

Brett Nelson, Elder at Large

I attended LaSalle occasionally in the mid-80s when I was a student. I remember one Easter Sunday when mimes came through the sanctuary and a clown/Jesus banished them. I had a strong negative reaction. It wasn't the sweet and safe Resurrection Sunday I expected, but the memory stayed with me and I grew to really appreciate it. I started attending regularly in 1994 after relocating from Minnesota. Since then, I've served as Worship Deacon, shot and produced videos, planned worship, ushered, chased and carried my children and been part of several small groups. Recently, I've served on two committees, John Koch's committee on the leadership resolution and the steering committee for the All-Church Conference. My day (and often night) job is heading video production for the corporate office of the Lutheran Church (ELCA). Last and most importantly: married to Anne, father of Jonah, Peter and Eloise.

Sonya Perez-Lauterbach, Elder at Large

I moved to the Chicago Pilsen neighborhood following college and quickly found a home at LaSalle St. Church, realizing it was a place where I could grow in my personal faith while exploring the call Christ places on my actions in the world. My husband, David, and I met and married at LaSalle, and became members together nearly three years ago. I grew up in the Baptist church, and was fortunate to benefit from a number of strong spiritual mentors including my parents. Since a young age I have had a passion for missions, and especially business as missions. I am privileged to work in that field with Opportunity International, where I manage a program, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity, that seeks to involve the younger generations in the transforming work of microfinance..

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