CENetwork Leadership
President: Diane McGeochDiane McGeoch is a retired deacon in the ELCA. She served congregations and ministries in Connecticut, Maryland, and California.
Most recently she was Coordinator of a Day Camp in Nampa, Idaho.
Financial Secretary: Teresa KaldorAlmost twenty years ago, I joined other Christian educators in Chicago to dream about and plan for a new organization to bring together Christian educators in the ELCA to support one another and be advocates for faith formation. As a fairly new Director of Christian Education in my home church, I was eager to connect with others so that I could learn from others and share my joys and concerns. From those meetings developed the Lutheran Association of Christian Educators (LACE), now known as the Christian Education Network of the ELCA. Over the years, I have deeply appreciated the collective experience, wisdom, and passion of those who work in faith formation ministries in our churches. This shared ministry has enriched my own faith journey!
Currently, I serve as the Mission Outreach Team Leader at Calvary Lutheran Church in Solana Beach, California and teach Adult and Confirmation classes. Before taking on this new role, I was involved with faith formation as a lay leader, both in volunteer and staff roles, for over twenty years and a middle school and high school teacher for eleven years.
Secretary-Historian: Terri RobertsonFor just over 20 years, I have served in ELCA congregations in a variety of children, youth and family ministry positions, both as a volunteer and as a paid youth minister. I’ve worked with those from birth to young adults and find great joy and passion in walking alongside young people in their faith journey. I currently serve as a staff member with the Pacifica Synod, where I am the Executive Assistant for Accounting and Communications. I have also served as the adult chair of our Pacifica Synod LYO/ Youth Team for over 14 years. During that time, this team invited high school students from congregations around our synod to learn leadership skills as they led synod events for children, youth and adults
I have served as a CENetwork Board member since 2017 and am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve as Secretary/Historian. I value the good work that takes place through this organization and its members. I enjoy learning more about the ways we can connect and share resources with those serving in our congregations and support this important work.
Past President: Rev. Juli Lejman-GuyIn 2001 a group of Christian Educators began brainstorming ways we could support one another in this journey of Faith Formation. Our muse was "Edna", the dedicated Christian woman who has been teaching Sunday School faithfully without ever attending seminary or continuing education events. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, hundreds of people are now part of this Network.
My passion for Faith Formation is multi-faceted. I am a single mom of two young women; Caroline (Coordinator of Communication and Technology, NWOS-ELCA) and Sarah (Student - Civil Engineering, Purdue University).
Having served congregations in Northwest Ohio, Central Southern Illinois, Indiana-Kentucky and Southeast Michigan synods I am the pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the village of Holgate, Ohio.
In addition, I serve on the ELCA Faith Formation Team and the Book of Faith Initiative Team for the ELCA. I am also an Advocate for the Global Leadership Summit.
Coaching, Prayer, Discipleship and Leadership are the areas of emphasis for my teaching and learning.
Membership Coordinator: Janet RenickMy name is Janet Renick and I am from Daytona Beach, FL, home of the World's Most Famous Beach. I am a cat mom to Pippi Marie, a beautiful blue-eyed Snowshoe.
I have served in Youth Ministry and Christian Education in California churches for 42 years with seven different congregations. In addition, I served as the Adult Chair for Synod Youth Teams in both Northern California and Southern California. Four years ago I returned to Florida to be the full-time caregiver with my mom, so my ministry focus changed quite a bit! I have no regrets. After my mom passed, I began to seek opportunities to help people in need. Frederick Buechner said, "The place to which God calls us is where our deep hunger and the world's deep needs meet." That's what I'm talkin' about!
I am passionate about serving God's people in both big and small ways, and love to think outside of the box.
I enjoy serving the Christian Education Network as the Coordinator of Membership. It's a great way to stay connected!
Social Media Coordinator: Judy TwistI’m part of an amazing organization called CENetwork – The Christian Education Network of the ELCA. We are a group of people who are passionate about faith formation for all ages and in many ministry settings.
We have a great Facebook page and I am blessed to be able to put together the monthly e-newsletter as their social media coordinator. Check out our Facebook page sometime – You can find it here!
Member at Large: Julie HestermannI am the Director of Faith Formation at Sheridan Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. I have been on staff at Sheridan for 21 years. I oversee programming for children (birth - 5th grade) and their families and also work with adult faith formation. I find joy in providing faith formation for the children and adults as well as partnering with them in their faith journey. I also enjoy working closely with volunteers. I have been married to my husband Scott for 32 years. We have two adult children, a son-in-law and a two-year-old grandson. When not at church, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.
Member at Large: Pastor Ellen LundieHello, my name is Ellen Lundie. I am the Associate Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Glenshaw PA. My role includes working with our Christian Education and Youth Committees to program Sunday School, Confirmation, Adult Education opportunities, and Youth Events. I attended Wittenberg University (BA 2012) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (MDIV 2016).
I hope to bring creativity and dependability to the board. One of my hobbies is improv comedy, which helps me to think and adapt quickly (and hopefully with some good humor!) and as we say before performances, “I’ve got your back!”
Member at Large: Holly ShipleyI'm Holly Shipley and serve as a deacon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. My present title at Holy Trinity is Minister of Faith Formation. I work with youth and families, as well as oversee adult faith formation. I'm just coming off a sabbatical where I studied long term ministry and as a result, I'm changing my role a bit at HTLC (with the congregation's approval). I learned that long term ministers (8 years or more) need to shake things up a bit to keep things fresh and creative! I also know this from experience, having served my previous church in KY for 18 years! I'll be adding some administrative duties to my current position, as well as continuing to be the communications person and backing off some of my youth responsibilities. I'm single and live with my dog, Daisy. I enjoy hiking, jigsaw puzzles, and murder mysteries.
I was honored to be asked to serve on the Board. I think I offer many years of experience in Christian education (I've been an associate in ministry/deacon for 31 years), as well as a creative and open mind. I look forward to serving!
Member at Large: Jamie TraversI serve as the Deacon of Congregational Life at Sharon Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I started at Sharon in the fall of 2019. Prior to that I worked at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake, ND for 23 years. I am a graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Guiding people in faith formation and daily discipleship are passions of mine. I also enjoy curating faith formation resources. In my free-time I love to do creative things like music, theatre and art.