Pastor Karri Anderson will begin as Zion’s interim associate pastor tomorrow, Monday, December 7.
Karri Anderson graduated from Anoka Ramsey Community College in 1978 with a nursing degree and received her MDiv. from Luther Northwestern Seminary in 1994. Her internship year was spent as a chaplain at North Memorial Medical Center, and she spent the first 3 years after graduation working as an LSS chaplain at North Ridge Care center in New Hope. In 1997 Pastor Karri received her first call to Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove where she served as Pastor of Congregational Care. She received training as an intentional interim pastor in 1996 and has served in 3 other interim settings. Though she loves the work of interim ministry, she says it is hard to have to say the goodbyes to the people you have come to love!
Pastor Karri believes that her strongest gift as a Christian ministry leader is her passion for the Gospel message and her desire to follow the call to share it with the world. Her love of people, sense of humor, excellent listening skills and passion for collaboration create bonds of mutual and sincere trust, reliability and hopefulness within a ministry context. Her business and nursing background have helped her develop strong management and organizational skills that lend well to a congregational setting.
Pastor Karri was born in Minneapolis, grew up in Coon Rapids and lives just a block from where she grew up with her husband Ron (a cow lover) and their Bichon named Hank. Oldest son Ryan lives in St. Paul Park and works in the stucco/construction industry. Daughter Kara works with her dad in the family owned business, The Dance Studio, which is home to the award winning Northern Force Dance Company. Kara is married to Kyle Bode, a St. Paul firefighter and paramedic. Youngest child Digger graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2007 and is currently working as a graduate assistant football coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Before starting at Zion, Pastor Ted looked at about 10 candidates for the interim position, interviewed 4 and passed on two names to the Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee interviewed the two candidates and brought a recommendation to the Executive Committee which was approved. Pastor Karri is expected to serve at Zion for 6 to 9 months and maybe up to a year. Zion will begin the call process for a regularly called associate in early 2010 when Pastor Ted is up to speed and ready to help shape the position and contribute to the process.
