Our Pastors

Pastor Brent Campbell

Lead Pastor at Zion

Pastor Brent Campbell has served as Lead Pastor at Zion for three years. He grew up in Fresno, California and graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a BA in Political Science. Pastor Brent received his Masters of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He has served congregations in Montana, California and Wisconsin. He is married to Ann, who is a rostered lay leader in the ELCA, called a Deacon. Ann is the Co-Director of Children’s Ministry at Zion. Pastor Brent and Ann have three grown children, Peter, Sarah and Emily. In his free time he enjoys walking their Cocker Spaniel “Fancy,” exercising, antiquing and reading American history.

Email: bcampbell@zionanoka.org

Pastor Connie Tiede

Pastor for Welcome, Worship and Mission

Pastor Connie Tiede has served at Zion for the past fifteen years – first as Pastor for Children, Youth and Family and currently as Pastor for Welcome, Worship and Mission. She grew up in New Ulm, MN and graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN with a BA in English and Religion. Pastor Connie received her Masters of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. She and her husband Mark received their first call to Vining, MN in Northwestern Minnesota (home of the Big Foot!!) Zion is her second call where she has enjoyed working with people of all ages. Her husband, Mark, is a pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis and together they have three children, Lucas, Linnea and Carolynn. When she’s not attending her kid’s sporting or choir events, she enjoys walking, gardening, movies and reading.

Email: ctiede@zionanoka.org

Pastor Sue Wallager

Pastor for Spiritual Care

Pastor Sue Wallager has served Zion for seven years. She grew up in Coon Rapids, MN and graduated from Luther College, Decorah, IA with a BA in Elementary Education. Pastor Sue received her Masters of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN. She has served congregations throughout Minnesota. She is married to Jeff, an ELCA Chaplain at St. Cloud Hospital, and together they have three children, Emma, Carl and Soren. She enjoys spending time attending her children’s sports and activities, walking their dog, Mya, and spending time with her family.

Email: swallager@zionanoka.org

Pastor James Barsch

Pastor of Adult Education

Pastor James Barsch has served as Pastor of Adult Education for three years. He grew up in Fond du Lac Wi and graduated from Carthage College in Kenosha WI with a BA in American History and Speech. Pastor Barsch received his Masters of Divinity degree from Hamma School of Theology in Springfield Ohio. He has served congregations in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He has 2 adult daughters Pastor Amie Odahl and Gretchen Barsch. He has five grandchildren, Nathan, Thomas, Jorgen, Katrina, and Maggie. In his free time he enjoys playing with his dog Abby, baking,exercising,fishing, and reading.

Email: jbarsch@zionanoka.org

Pastor Norm Berg

Pastor for Spiritual Care/Visitation

Norm Berg is a semi-retired pastor at Zion, having served here for 20+ years. His training was at the University of Minnesota, Augsburg College, and Masters of Divinity at Northwestern Lutheran Seminary and Doctorate of Ministry at Luther Seminary. Previous parishes served are in North St. Paul, Blaine, Willmar, and Olivia – all in Minnesota. He does limited hospital, nursing home, and home visits, and funerals. He is married and his three chldren live in the Twin Cities with 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. After his first wife died of ALS, he married her cousin who has 4 children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. He and his wife, Deloris, enjoy travel, concerts, reading, walking, and life in general with friends and family. They “commute” from Ham Lake.

Email: nberg@zionanoka.org

Pastor Mike Rueckert

Pastor of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries

Pastor Mike Rueckert has served Zion for two years as the Pastor of Children, Youth, and Family. He grew up in Litchfield, MN and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN with a BA in Theatre. Pastor Mike received his Masters of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. His first call was as a solo pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Ulen, MN where he served for nearly 4 years. He is married to Maren who is a Special Education Teacher at Oxbow Creek Elementary in Champlin, MN. Together they have twins Josiah and Lydia. In his free time, Pastor Mike likes walking their two dogs, Kiza and Toby, biking, and watching Netflix.

Email: mrueckert@zionanoka.org

Ken Johnson

Visitation Minister

Ken and his wife Peg recently joined Zion after moving to the Twin Cities from Madison, Wisconsin. After retiring from a career in the accounting field, Ken felt a call to ministry and completed the TEEM Ministry program at Wartburg Seminary (TEEM is Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) with an emphasis in rural ministry. Most recently Ken served on the staff at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Madison, where he assisted with pastoral care and visitation ministry. Ken will be a part-time addition to the Pastoral Care/Visitation Team at Zion and will do hospital, nursing home, home visits and nursing home services and funeral services. Ken’s hobbies include anything railroad including books and DVD’s, model railroading, and in the past he volunteered as an engineer on one of the excursion railroads in Duluth. Ken and his wife Peg have two-children and six grandchildren. 

Ian Coen-Frei

Seminary Intern

Seminary Intern Ian Coen-Frei is Zion’s Seminary Intern for 2018-19. Ian was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, where he completed a degree in Secondary Science Education (Physics). After graduation from Bethel University, Ian spent a year with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Washington D.C. where he worked at the Thurgood Marshall Academy leading after-school programming for high school students. Ian has completed two years of study at the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago and is married to Sarah, who will be doing graduate work in Social Work at the University of Minnesota. During his year of Pastoral Internship at Zion, Ian will experience all aspects of ministry, including teaching, preaching, pastoral care, and worship leadership. 

Email: icoen-frei@zionanoka.org