Our Staff

At Lyndale, our members are our ministers. Meet the people helping them.

Rev. Ashley Harness

Pastor

Rev. Ashley Harness is ordained in the United Church of Christ as is also a communications strategist with almost a decade of experience in non-profit media work. When she is not enjoying leading worship, standing for justice or listening deeply in pastoral care with us at Lyndale, she is serving as communications consultant with the Center for Progressive Renewal to help progressive churches across the country grow. She also consults through Auburn Theological Seminary’s digital organizing and media teams, providing confidential training and counsel to religious leaders seeking to use social and traditional media as a pulpit. You can follow her writing on the Huffington Post . Ashley received her Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in 2012 and her Bachelor of Arts at Brown University in 2005. Email: ashley@lyndaleucc.org

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel

Director of the Center of Sustainable Justice

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and currently serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainable Justice. She is a theologian, pastor and movement-builder who specializes in coalition and collaborative partnerships across movements for justice. Previously, she served as the MountainTop Movement Building Consultant at Auburn Seminary, as Interim Executive Director for PFund Foundation, as Faith Work Director for the National LGBTQ Task Force, as Interim National Coordinator for the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns, as pastor of Spirit of the Lakes United Church of Christ and as Program Staff for the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence. You can follow her writing and wider work on her blog here. She is a graduate of Earlham College, Yale Divinity School and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

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Karn Anderson

Church Administrator

Karn is grateful and honored to be able to support the mission and vision of the Lyndale UCC community. She lives with her two son’s in South Minneapolis. Between them, you’ll find art makers and crafters, competitive soccer players, yogis, runners and general fitness buffs, super outdoorsy, frequent visitors of Lake Superior, travelers, game nighters, and people who are generally curious and open to new experiences. You can email her at admin@lyndaleucc.org

Daniel Romero

Community Minister for Immigration

Daniel Romero serves as Community Minister for Immigration with both Lyndale UCC and the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, focusing on ministry with undocumented communities. This Ministry includes immigrant jails and courts, immigrant family accompaniment, and leading social justice policy campaigns. Daniel previously served in ministry positions in Chicago and Minneapolis and he has served in leadership positions at all levels of the United Church of Christ. Daniel holds dual membership at Lyndale UCC and at First Christian Disciples of Christ, and in 2016 Daniel served as an Ecumenical Accompanier through UCC-DoC Global Ministries in the West Bank of Palestine. Prior to becoming a Pastor, Daniel was a social worker and community organizer, leading and organizing dozens of social justice issue campaigns in several states.

Paul Kovacovic

Director of Music

Paul Kovacovic enjoys a career that spans both classical and popular styles. He has been the guest soloist with several orchestras as well as the accompanist for artists such as singer-songwriter Ann Reed and Las Vegas entertainer and television host Tony Sandler. Paul has won first prizes in the Thursday Musical, Schubert Club, and Indiana University Piano Concerto Competitions. Paul was an accompanist and coach for the Florida Grand Opera in Miami and has also worked with several theater companies in Minnesota, including the Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Paul loves to teach piano and compose as well as perform.

Allan Henden

Community Minister

Allan has served as Lyndale’s volunteer Community Minister since January 2003. He believes that God calls us to love and welcome our neighbors, whoever they are and wherever they are on life’s journey. Lyndale’s community ministry is an active presence in our neighborhood, advocating for the needs of children and youth, helping to shelter and feed neighbors in need, reaching out with other people of faith in the community, and sharing common cause and dialogue with our Muslim neighbors and friends.

Rev. Don Portwood

Pastor Emeritus

The Rev. Don Portwood served as Pastor of Lyndale Church starting December 1, 1980 through May, 2015. He doesn’t believe there are many churches he could’ve pastored that long. About his time with us, Don writes, “Lyndale is a wonderful and crazy mix of people whom I was privileged to serve. And they kept me on my toes!” Don is also involved with a folk art form called InterPlay (interplay.org for more info), which stimulates my creativity and playfulness through improvisational movement, story telling, singing and rhythm. He considers InterPlay to be one of his spiritual practices, which is another area of interest. Don believes spiritual practices, ancient and new, can ground our faith so we have the spirit and energy to live the call to be a people and community “who embody and extend God’s welcome, healing, justice and love.”