Pastor Beth Ann Lechtenberger Stone
Pastor Beth Ann Lechtenberger Stone began her ministry as our Senior Pastor in September 2018. She had previously served congregations in Pennsylvania and Nebraska, and as an Assistant to the Bishop in the Upper Susquehanna Synod (north-central PA). Pastor Beth Ann is passionate about connecting with new people, helping us ask deeper questions, and being open to the work of God’s Spirit among us. She graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio (Master of Divinity) and St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN (BA in Literature), and is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. Her husband, Karl-John, is also an ELCA pastor. They are the parents of two sons and the humans of two dogs, Hudson and Moxie. She likes to watch her kids play sports, to read, to sing, and to travel.
Pastor Krista Zimmerman
Pastor Krista Zimmerman joined the MPLC ministry team as Associate Pastor on August 1, 2014. She is a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and this is her second call as a pastor. Pastor Krista is excited about connecting youth and their families with the whole family of God at MPLC. She has a passion for justice ministry and pastoral care. She shares her life with her long-haired miniature dachshund, Herman, her family in Illinois, and friends. When she’s not doing ministry, she enjoys reading and going to the dog park with Herman.
Vicar Chip Lutz, Pastoral Intern
Vicar Chip Lutz made the transition from fellow congregant to a seminary intern with MPLC, in June of 2020. He is enrolled in an accelerated MDiv program with Luther Seminary, which has him going to school while also interning at MPLC, for a period of two years. Vicar Chip is a retired Navy Officer (after 22 years of service) and has worked as a motivational speaker since his retirement in 2008. He had this to say about his transition to ministry; “It’s not easy going back to school – or changing vocations, in your 50’s, but with God’s help (and yours), I’ll get through.”
Vicar Chip is married to Gwen, and together they have six children and two grandchildren.