The Rev. Dr. Timothy McKenzie has served as Senior Pastor of St. Mark’s since February 2019. Raised in a Lutheran parsonage, he graduated from a Jesuit preparatory school, from Augustana College, and from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Pastor Tim served as a Lutheran missionary in Japan for 28 years, working in parish ministry, church administration, and theological education.

Tim holds a Ph.D. in Historical Theology, and was a tenured professor at Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary and Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo. His international experience with interfaith, interreligious, and ecumenical relationships has shaped his appreciation of culture, language, and spirituality in the human journey. Tim believes all people of every ethnicity, nation, gender, and social background have gifts to share in the body of Christ at St. Mark’s.

Pastor Tim appreciates working with and learning from St. Mark’s many ministries, members, and friends. He believes daily prayer is a powerful resource for thriving in life. He enjoys meeting new people, cooking Asian food, and cycling. Pastor Tim feels very blessed to be at St. Mark’s, where all people are welcome!

Les Ackerman began his tenure as Director of Music Ministry and Organist at St. Mark’s in 2010. He has served churches as full-time music director in California, Texas and North Carolina. Les holds degrees in Church Music and Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ., and both a Masters of Sacred Music from Perkins School of Theology, and a Master of Music in Organ Performance from Meadows School of the Arts, both at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Sue Wadgymar was raised in Minnesota and attended Gustavus Adophus College, completing coursework towards a BSc in Medical Technology. She took a break from working to raise her family in Texas. She then began a 16-year career at an ELCA church as office manager and financial administrator, building the skills and experience that are valuable for her role at St. Mark’s. She was also Border Area Mission Ministries Coordinator, managing lodging arrangements at the church for volunteer groups from around the country to work on projects in the border area. Sue moved to North Carolina to be near family, and to enjoy her two small grandsons.