The Congregational Council is the governing body of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Comprised of the pastors, plus no less than nine nor more than 15 elected members of the congregation, the Council has general oversight of the life and activities of the congregation. Members of the Congregational Council are elected at the annual Congregation Meeting in June. Any voting member of the congregation may be elected.
In addition to leading the congregation in stating its mission and conducting long-range planning, the Congregational Council is responsible for the financial and property matters of the congregation, as well as overall supervision of church staff and the congregation’s investments and total insurance program.
To learn more about the Congregation Council, request a copy of St. Andrew’s Constitution and By-Laws, both available in the church office.
CONGREGATION COUNCIL 2023-2024
- Larry Bliesner (filling term vacated by Becky Lamboley)
- Tim Duggan, Treasurer
- Pam Farr
- Liz Hardy, President
- Liz was born in Vienna, Austria, when her father was attending medical school at the University of Vienna. Liz’s dad, Viennese mother, she, and her younger sister moved to California when she was 2 1/2 years old and later to Seattle, where her mother became a prominent artist. After her mother’s death when she was 7, her father remarried and Liz grew up in Washington. She attended Lewis-Clark State College to earn an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and later earned her Bachelor’s of Nursing degree from the University of Washington. She was an orthopedic RN and later a Wound and Ostomy nurse. She retired from the Legacy system in 2023 and has taken on climate activism as her third act. Liz is a member of the Portland Bonsai Society, a new grandmother, and active at St. Andrew where she sings in the choir, plays in the Bells of Grace, volunteers for the Altar Guild, Nifty Notters, and Outside Property team. She was elected to Church Council in 2022.
- Lee Anne Knapp
- Noelle Mehlhorn, Secretary
- Noelle was born in Ontario, Canada and moved to the US with her parents when she was in the first grade. She lived in New York, Ohio, Michigan, and New Mexico before moving to Oregon. She has a degree in Audiology from the University of Michigan and has worked as an audiologist in Windsor, Ontario and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She and her husband are now retired and living in Oregon to be closer to their family in Beaverton and Seattle. This is Noelle’s first year serving on the church council. She is also part of the “Nifty Notters,” Altar Guild, Service Committee, Ushering, and Greeting teams. Noelle says, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to help on the Church Council, meet many new people, and learn about all of St Andrew’s exciting activities within the church and outreach into the community.”
- Mickey Nearhood (filling term vacated by Sue Lee)
- Ken Reiner (filling term vacated by Laura Geczy-Haskins)
- Rachel Roberts
- Barton Robison
- Cindy Stadel, Vice President
- Janet Vorvick