Pastor Brent Campbell
Lead Pastor at Zion
Pastor Brent Campbell has served as Lead Pastor at Zion for four 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.
Pastor Connie Tiede
Pastor for Welcome, Worship and Mission
Pastor Connie Tiede has had the awesome opportunity to share in the lives of many people of all ages and ethnicities at Zion, in our community and globally. Currently she is 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 and she has enjoyed deeply the relationships that she has experienced through the years. 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 and two dogs, Rosie and Winston. In her free time she enjoys walking, gardening, movies and reading.
Pastor Sue Wallager
Pastor for Spiritual Care
Pastor Sue Wallager has served Zion for eight 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.
Pastor James Barsch
Pastor of Adult Education
Pastor James Barsch has served as Pastor of Adult Education for four 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.
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.
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.