Mount Olive’s staff and its 13-member parish council, the Vestry, together lead the congregation in carrying out its mission: In the presence of God, being the presence of God.
Staff
Pastor: The Rev. Joseph G. Crippen
Mount Olive’s pastor since 2010, Joseph is a gifted presider, counselor, and preacher who’s passionate about proclaiming God’s love for all people and serving the church as it seeks to faithfully pursue its mission.
- Hometown: Worthington, Minnesota
- Education: Gustavus Adolphus College, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
- Previous parishes: Our Savior’s, Cleveland, Minnesota; St. John’s, Northfield, Minnesota; Vicar at Luther Memorial, Syracuse, Nebraska
- Family: Married to Mary, four adult children, lives in Bloomington
- Hobbies: Movies, novels, music, and enjoying an exceptional cup of tea
* Interim Organist: The Rev. Robert Buckley Farlee
Recently retired as cantor at Christ Church Lutheran in south Minneapolis, Bob is a superb musician as well as a celebrated and prolific composer of church music. The author of three books, he’s a major contributor to the ELCA’s current book of worship and former senior editor for worship and music at Augsburg Fortress, publishing house of the ELCA.
- Hometown: Los Angeles
- Education: Concordia University, Nebraska; Christ Seminary–Seminex, St. Louis
- Family: Husband to the Rev. Jane Buckley-Farlee, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Minneapolis; two adult sons
- Hobby: Cooking, gardening, biking, kayaking, reading
* A process is underway for calling a new cantor to replace David Cherwien, who retired in July 2024.
* Interim Choir Director: Deacon Andrew Stoebig, LDA
A musicologist and conductor, Andrew is a doctoral candidate in musicology at the University of Minnesota. His research interests center on liturgical patterns in musical structures. His interest in music blossomed early, singing with the Minnesota Boychoir from an early age. After studying vocal performance at Valparaiso University, Andrew completed graduate work in choral conducting at the U of M and in liturgy at St. John’s School of Theology.
- Hometown: Plymouth, Minnesota
- Education: Valparaiso University, University of Minnesota, St. John’s University (Minn.)
- Experience: Consecrated Deacon of the Lutheran Diaconal Association and a member of the Community of Lutheran Deacons
- Family: Husband to Sarah Stoebig
- Hobby: Reading, travel, theater, cocktails
* A process is underway for calling a new cantor to replace David Cherwien, who retired in July 2024.
Coordinator of Neighborhood Ministry: Jim Bargmann
neighborhood@mountolivechurch.org
Mount Olive’s coordinator of neighborhood ministries since 2019, Jim has training and experience in leading educational ministries and extensive experience coordinating community service programs and initiatives. Jim is passionate about caring for those in our South Minneapolis community, making connections with other social service organizations, and helping the people of the Mount Olive community use their gifts for service.
- Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
- Education: Concordia University, St. Paul
- Experience: Director of Christian Education
- Family: A son and a daughter, lives in Woodbury
- Hobbies: Hiking, photography, and reading
Administrative Assistant: Cha Posz
Drawn to Mount Olive in 2001 by her love for liturgy and music, Cha has been a talented and cheerful servant of Lutheran congregations for many years. Her tasks include overseeing the office, preparing publications, and caretaking many behind-the-scenes aspects of parish life.
- Hometown: New Brighton, Minnesota
- Education: Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Experience: Former associate in ministry, church musician, youth director, synod worship committee member, and parish administrator
- Family: Married to Kurt, two adult sons, lives in New Brighton
- Hobbies: Photography, gardening
Vicar: Natalie Wussler
Natalie is the 55th vicar to serve Mount Olive. Vicars are seminary students who are assigned to the parish for a full year of pastoral experience and learning. Some vicars serve this year as their final year of seminary, while others do it in their third year and return for a final year of classes. A successful internship is one of the ELCA’s requirements to earn approval for ordination into the ministry of Word and Sacrament.
- Hometown: Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- Education: St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota (BSW); student at Luther Seminary (in MDiv program)
- Family: Engaged to Jake Summerville, lives in St. Paul
- Hobbies: Weightlifting, exploring the Twin Cities, reading, podcasts, and wedding planning
Click here for a list of vicars who have served at Mount Olive.
Vestry
The vestry meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the East Assembly Room. Occasional highlights from each meeting can be found in the Olive Branch. Contact the church office for information about serving on a vestry committee.
Officers
President: Cynthia Prosek, president@mountolivechurch.org
Vice President: Candy Husemoller, vpres@mountolivechurch.org
Secretary: Margaret Gohman, vsecretary@mountolivechurch.org
Treasurer: Ted Thompson, treasurer@mountolivechurch.org
Directors
Congregational Life: Lora Dundek, conglife@mountolivechurch.org
Education: Greg Murphy, education@mountolivechurch.org
Evangelism: Eric Manuel, evangelism@mountolivechurch.org
Global Ministry: Lisa Ruff, global@mountolivechurch.org
Neighborhood Ministry: neighmin@mountolivechurch.org
Property: Carol Martinson, property@mountolivechurch.org
Stewardship: stewardship@mountolivechurch.org
Worship: Andrew Stoebig, worship@mountolivechurch.org
Youth and Family: Erica Johnsen-Buss, youthfamily@mountolivechurch.org
Advisory Committee for Care of the Earth/Climate Justice
A task force of the vestry, the committee encourages Mount Olive members and friends to live faithfully by caring for the earth. Click here to learn more.
