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Our
Pastors
Pastor
Barry Ludwig (bludwig@zlc-aa.org) is our Senior Pastor. Born in Detroit,
Pastor Barry received a B.A. degree from Concordia Sr. College,
Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Master of Divinity Degree from Christ Seminary,
St. Louis; and an M.A. degree in Old Testament Studies from the
University of Michigan. Ordained in 1977, he served congregations
in Madison Heights, Michigan and Marysville, Ohio before coming
to Zion in 1999. Barry and his wife Karen have two adult daughters.
The Ludwigs love to camp, canoe, hike, read, play golf, and root
for the Tigers and Red Wings.
Pastor
Mike Walters (mwalters@zlc-aa.org) came to us in July 2006, answering the
call to serve as Zion’s Welcome Ministry Pastor. Prior to
entering the seminary, he completed his Bachelor’s work at
Capital University, in Columbus, Ohio, majoring in Business Management
with a Human Resources concentration. Pastor Mike was ordained in
1997 after graduating from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus.
He and his family went on to serve Epiphany in Pickerington, Ohio,
then Emmanuel in New Philadelphia, Ohio. His call to Zion has him
returning to his home state, Michigan, for the first time since
1972. When he’s not in the office and not with his family,
Pastor Mike enjoys a round of golf and some hunting and fishing.
Pastor
Dave Bracklein (dfbshep@comcast.net) is currently serving as our Visitation
Pastor. He began his ordained ministry at Zion in 1960 and served
for the next 18 years as Minister of Education and Youth - Associate
Pastor, before leaving for Resurrection Lutheran Church in Saginaw,
Michigan, where he served for 19 years as senior pastor. He returned
in January of l996 to assist in various capacities in both full
and part time interim-ministry positions at Zion. Pastor Dave is
married to Helen Rae, a professional musician who has taught piano
for over 45 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.
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Our
Staff (listed alphabetically)
David
Beck (dbeck@zlc-aa.org) is our Finance Manager and came to Zion in 2008.
He grew up in Ann Arbor and in the Lutheran Church and graduated
from Huron High School. David started working at Fiegel’s
Clothing on Main Street while in high school and worked there full-time
after graduation. He earned a BA in Language & International
Trade (he speaks German fluently) at Eastern Michigan University
and then earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance. David enjoys
camping and is ScoutMaster for a local Boy Scout troop, and he also
enjoys training his dogs (“the best dogs in the world,”
he says), restoring his vintage 1983 BMW motorcycle, and especially,
spending time with his family.
Mark
Burton is Zion’s Sound Operator.
Christine
Carlsen (ccarlsen@zlc-aa.org) is the Director of Adult Discipleship Ministries and has been on staff in various capacities since 1994. Christine is daughter of a now retired Lutheran pastor and grew up in North Dakota and Minnesota. She received a B.A in Psychology from Augsburg College, an M.A. in Educational Psychology (specializing in college-age and adult development) from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters of Theological Studies degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in May 2009. Her daughter, Catherine, is married to Steven; they have a son, Asher, and live in Minnesota. Christine takes great pleasure in her family, sports (watching), sewing and quilting when there is time, her gardens, and vacationing in northern Wisconsin at a family cabin. In the interest of always learning something new, she intends to learn to cook!
Michelle
Clifford (tm3clifford@yahoo.com) joined Zion’s staff as the coordinator
of Bibleland Sunday School activities in 2003. Michelle works closely
with the Young Discipleship Committee, department coordinators,
leaders and support staff, and parents to ensure we have an inviting
and spiritual Bibleland program for our youth. She also coordinates
special programs, mission activities, music, and curriculum. Michelle
is a lifelong Lutheran, grew up in rural Iowa and attended colleges
in Nebraska and Iowa, receiving her BS in finance. Michelle and
her husband Tom both work at The Buckle. They have been married
15 years and have two children, Maddie and Mikey. Michelle manages
Maddie's synchronized skating team and shuffles Mikey to his many
sports activities!
Elgin
Clingaman is our Organist and joined Zion’s
staff in 2003. Elgin began his musical career at age 7 by studying the piano. He graduated in 1983 from Adrian College with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and then studied organ at the University of Michigan with Marilyn Mason, James Kibbie, and Michele Johns. In 1995, Elgin performed at the National Convention of the Organ Historical Society on the largest extant Granville Wood & Son pipe organ, built in 1889. He has served as Dean of the Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and is currently a member of the Detroit AGO Chapter. Elgin resides in Ann Arbor and is co-owner of Renaissance Pipe Organ Co., Inc.
Chris
LeVasseur joined Zion’s staff as Resident Custodian
in 1995, after several years of experience doing mechanical work.
He loves working at Zion!
Rob
Meyer (rmeyer@zlc-aa.org) is Director of Music and came to Zion in 2007.
He holds a BA in Church Music from Concordia University. Rob was
previously Director of Music in several other Southeast Michigan
congregations -- Resurrection Lutheran Church in Detroit (1998-2000),
St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Eastpointe (2000-2006),
and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Flint (2006-2007). He also served
as church organist for 10 years. As Director of Music, Rob plans
weekly and festival worship services and directs numerous vocal,
handbell and instrumental ensembles. Rob also performs in several
handbell and vocal ensembles in the Metro-Detroit area. Rob's favorite
Bible passage is 1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved
us."
Kelly Nieman Anderson (knieman@zlc-aa.org) recently joined Zion staff as part time Director of High School Ministry. She has a B.S. in Secondary Education from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, and has taught high school students for 5 years, most recently in Mexico City. As Director of High School Ministry, Kelly coordinates Bible studies, service opportunities, and fellowship events for 9th-12th grade youth. She is a lifelong Lutheran and grew up in Michigan. Kelly and her husband have been married for 6 years, and they love to travel. When she's not with the youth or with her family, Kelly loves to read and scrapbook.
Micki
Nixon (mnixon@zlc-aa.org) is our Office Administrator. She was originally
hired in 2000 and retired from Zion in May 2008. After 10 short
months of retirement, she is back! Micki is a graduate of Ypsilanti
High School and Cleary College. She has been married to her husband
Ken for 32 years. They have two grown children: Lindsay, who is
married to Edmund and lives in Columbus, OH; and Zack, who is married
to Mary and lives in Ashland, OH. Micki and Ken live in Whitmore
Lake and enjoy gardening, biking and traveling in their RV, especially
spending extended time in Florida in the winter. Micki says, “I
really am glad to be back at Zion with this wonderful staff and
congregation.”
Andrea
Ribick is Zion’s Wedding Coordinator.
Allison
Kendall Rullman (akrullman@yahoo.com) is Zion’s Vacation Bible School
Coordinator. She is a native New Yorker, life-long Yankees fan,
and now also a Detroit Tigers fan! Allison’s family (including
husband Loren and daughter Cailey) came to Ann Arbor and joined
Zion in 2002, left for Bloomington, Indiana in 2004, and returned
to Ann Arbor (and Zion) in 2007. Allison also works in the Media
Center at Forsythe Middle School. When she’s not watching
baseball or football, Allison loves to walk, bike, scrapbook, hunt
for antiques, and work with wool, rug hooking and appliquéing.
Joyce
Schlecht is Zion’s office staff person on Fridays.
She is responsible for the church membership records as well as
general office duties. Joyce was born and raised in the Ann Arbor
area and is a lifetime Zion member. She and her husband (George)
have two adult children, and four terrific grandsons who are all
Zion members. Joyce also works on registrations for Community Education
and Recreation and volunteers at Arbor Hospice. Joyce spends many
memorable hours with her children, grandchildren and friends at
their cottage on Patterson Lake. In her leisure time, Joyce enjoys
travel, walking, volleyball, bowling and reading.
Joyce
Teichow is Zion’s office staff person on Mondays.
She previously worked as a secretary/office manager at the University
of Michigan in Financial Operations and then in the University and
Development Events office. Joyce has been married to Jim for 41
years, and they have a daughter and son (both married) and two grandchildren.
As a lifetime member of Zion, Joyce has been involved in Sunday
School, Vacation Bible School, the YES Group, Altar Committee, and
an office volunteer. Joyce says, “I am thankful to have had
the wonderful pastors and people of Zion as my church family.”
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for other contact information? Visit our Directory
page for a full list of phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
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