Meet Our Staff

St. Andrew welcomed Pastor Allison Bengfort as Lead Pastor in June 2024. Watch this space for her bio coming soon; meanwhile, feel free to reach out to Pastor Allison at pastorallison@standrewlutheran.com.

St. Andrew is excited to announce that our very own Pr. Colleen Nelson has agreed to serve as our Pastor of Caring Ministries while we discern our staffing needs for this clergy position moving forward. Here are a few words Pr. Colleen would like to share:

Dear members and friends of St. Andrew, I’m excited to join the staff by offering pastoral care during this transition period while the congregation is discerning future staffing needs. I was ordained in 1989 and have served congregations in Illinois, Michigan, and eastern Oregon. In addition to my seminary education in Chicago, I have advanced study in spirituality and have engaged with individuals in spiritual companionship. I look forward to getting to know members of the congregation more deeply and welcome requests for conversations and pastoral visits.

You can contact Pastor Colleen at pastorcolleen@standrewlutheran.com.

Watch this space for his bio coming soon; meanwhile, feel free to reach out to John at jgladen@standrewlutheran.com.

Kacey comes to us from Hillsboro, with administrative experience in both sacred and secular settings. The search team was excited to hear of her experience working in Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations, as well as her time supporting over 120 nurses OHSU. She has studied business administration as well as marketing, and she comes from a family of church secretaries and worship leaders. We believe she understands the important role of volunteers in the life of the church and the way an ethical administrator can help a church community truly live into their core values.

I am so happy to introduce myself and excited to be joining St. Andrew as your new Church Administrator.

I was born in Germany and as the daughter of military families, spent much of my childhood moving from place to place before eventually settling in Oregon as a teenager. Growing up in different parts of the country gave me the opportunity to meet people from many backgrounds and experiences, something I have always been grateful for.

These days, life revolves around my 11 year old daughter, Roslyn. Being her mom has been the greatest joy of my life, and much of my time is spent cheering her on as she explores the world, discovers new interests, and grows into the remarkable person she is becoming.

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me with a camera in hand, exploring the coast, foraging, or experimenting with herbal teas, tinctures, and salves. I have a habit of coming home from walks with pockets full of interesting leaves, flowers, or mushrooms.

My own faith journey has taken me through many traditions and communities over the years, which may be one reason I felt so at home during the interview process at St. Andrew. What stood out to me was the warmth, authenticity, and genuine care I experienced in every conversation.

I look forward to getting to know you, hearing your stories, and supporting the life and ministry of St. Andrew. If you see me around, please stop and say hello. It may take me a little while to learn everyone’s names, but I promise I’ll be trying. I’m grateful to be here and excited for what lies ahead. One of my favorite sayings is that you can’t be sad sitting by water, eating bread. I think that’s because some of life’s best moments are often the simplest ones: good conversation, shared laughter, and feeling genuinely welcomed. From my very first conversations at St. Andrew, I felt that spirit here, and I look forward to getting to know all of you.

I am delighted to be your new organist! I grew up in Seattle, and began playing the organ during worship in 1975 while I was a college student in Bellingham. I have served as organist and choir director in several different denominations throughout Oregon and Washington over the last 50 years, but especially love the Lutheran Church in which I was baptized and confirmed. I am retired after teaching music for 42 years to students from kindergarten through college level. In addition to teaching and church music, I have been active as a choral singer in several groups in Portland, and have played in orchestras and other ensembles. I love making music together with others, and am excited to serve in ministry at St. Andrew. I am married, with three children and four grandchildren. When I am not making music, I enjoy woodworking, boats, and digging in my garden.

You can contact Karl at kgustafson@standrewlutheran.com.