Meet the Staff
Meet the friendly staff of TVLC. All Staff members can be reached by:
Office Phone: (520) 749-1606
Preschool Phone: (520) 749-1738
FAX: (520) 749-9814
Office E-Mail
Preschool E-Mail
E-Mail all Pastors at once
(or individual e-mail below)
Pastor James Cords
Lead Pastor
Worship, Witness & Outreach
e-mail
Pastor Jim enjoys cheering for his kids, traveling, scuba diving and
motorcycling. A graduate of Azusa
Pacific University and Luther Theological Seminary, Pastor Jim served
churches in San Diego, Santa Rosa, and Cupertino CA prior to coming to
Tucson. Married in 1986 to Marilyn Ruud, they have two children Kristin
and Paul.
Pastor Mark Perry
Assoc. Pastor
Faith Formation & Action
e-mail
Pastor Mark was born and grew up in California, "the son of a preacher
man," Rev. Gene Perry, and then lived in Arizona for most of his adult
life. He graduated with a B.A. in History from Arizona State
University (but of course now roots for the Wildcats). He received his
M.Div. from Pacific Lutheran University, in Berkeley, CA in 1986 and
has served a small urban church in Sylmar, CA, a large mission
congregation in east Mesa, AZ, a medium size congregation in northwest
Phoenix, and here at TVLC since April 2001.
Pastor Mark serves as Pastor for Faith Formation and Action, which
includes supervising ministries that especially touch the lives of
children, youth, families and adults growing in faith knowledge and
discipleship. He gives thanks every day for his own family: wife
Linda, and daughters Jenna (18), Christina (15) and Shayna (13).
In addition to the joys of serving in ministry, Pastor Mark enjoys
running, hiking, camping, creative expression and attending his
daughters many activities. He also loves spending time with his
immediate and extended family who all live in the Phoenix area.
Linda Schambach
Executive Assistant to the Lead Pastor
e-mail
Carol Fleet
Witness and Outreach Administrative Assistant
e-mail
Bev Pruden
Coordinator of Caring Ministries
e-mail
I am so happy to be serving the Lord at Tanque Verde Lutheran and have
been blessed all along the journey that has brought me here. I was born
and raised in Tucson, one of six children. I went to college at the
University of Washington and earned my degree in Public Health in 1983.
Soon after, my husband Rob and I were married and started a family. Our
three children are now practically grown and gone: Alex recently
graduated from West Point, Chris is attending the U of A, and Jaimie is
in her senior year at Sabino.
We have been attending TVLC since 2005, and I enjoy working in the area
of the Caring Ministry. It gives me many opportunities to get to know
and appreciate the wonderful people in our faith community and to see
how God works their lives and mine. Other interests include cooking,
hiking, sewing, and time-sucking games such as Sudoku.
Sherri McClellan
Saturday Night & Contemporary Praise Worship Leader
e-mail
Sherri moved from Pennsylvania to Tucson in 1994 to study music at the U
of A where she received her MA in Voice Performance. As a graduate
student, Sherri became involved with worship and music at the Lutheran
Campus Ministry.
She has worshipped at TVLC since 1998 when she and her husband, Paul,
became members. They were married at TVLC in 1999 and are overjoyed
with the recent birth of their first child, Claire Elizabeth.
Sherri is the leader of contemporary worship music for the Saturday 5:30
p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. services. She selects the music, directs
the musicians and acts as worship leader.
Vivian Wilsdon
Reformation Ringers Director
e-mail
I am an Arizona native and have lived in Tucson since January 1981.
I've been a member of TVLC since 1985 and have enjoyed many volunteer
activities over the years. Presently I volunteer in the library as a
storyteller, assist with communion, am a lay reader, sing in the choir,
and assist with the coffee on Sundays after church. I am also
privileged to lead the Reformation Ringers. What a great group!
I've always enjoyed music and earned a BA in music education from ASU in
1969. I also earned a BS in nursing from U of A in 1983 and worked as a
registered nurse at TMC for several years before taking time out to be
at home with my family. I have two daughters, Heather and Jonelle.
Most recently I have been teaching 1st and 2nd grades at Faith Lutheran
Church. Starting in August 2005, I will be the new kindergarten teacher
here with our Preschool & Kindergarten program.
Charlotte Cordes
Traditional and Blended Worship Organist
e-mail
Charlotte began playing the organ for church when she was 15 and served
as organist for Lutheran churches in Pasadena, Pomona, and Claremont,
California.
She holds degrees in zoology, biology, and education, taught biology,
and later worked in administration and development at The Claremont
Colleges.
When Charlotte and her husband Jim moved to Tucson in 1994, she
continued with her music ministry at TVLC. An active member of The
American Guild of Organists, she has earned the CAGO (Colleague)
certification. She also enjoys playing the recorder and is a board
member of the Tucson Recorder Society. She and Jim have two married
sons and are delighted to be grandparents of three beautiful little
girls.
Charlotte believes that music is vital in helping us "express the
inexpressible." She finds it a privilege to be able to help lead the
congregation in worship through music.
Greg Starr
Contemporary Keyboardist
Jennaya Robison
Chancel Choir / Jubilant Song Director
e-mail
Vickie Jones
Faith Formation and Action Administrative Assistant
e-mail
Billy Denson, Jr
Youth Minister
e-mail
The youngest of five, with four older sisters, Billy was born and raised
in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up a Baptist and attended the University of
Kansas (rock chalk Jayhawk!). There he double majored in Criminology
and Sociology with a minor in Communications 1997. In the fall of 2001,
Billy received his Tentmakers Youth Ministers Certification. He has
worked with youth since his freshman year in college at churches in
Kansas and Illinois. While in Kansas, he coached girl's basketball,
worked with at-risk youth, a church youth group and was employed as a
probation officer all at the same time.
Here at TVLC, Billy assists with oversight of E.D.G.E. Jr. High Youth
and gives direct oversight of the Senior High Youth working to equip,
encourage, and befriend youth and their families. In his spare time, he
enjoys hiking, playing basketball, ultimate frisbee, writing and hanging
out with his girlfriend of ten months, Beka.
Heather Stein
Director of Children's Education
e-mail
Heather grew up attending Grace Lutheran Church in Kingman, Arizona,
where she served in several volunteer positions in Christian education.
She graduated with a BS in Biology from NAU and holds a master's degree
in Museum and Field Studies from the University of Colorado. She has
developed many educational presentations for preschools through
colleges.
Here at TVLC Heather oversees the children's Sunday School, Vacation
Bible School, and our Milestone Ministries Program which partners with
parents to build strong faith foundations in children from birth through
12th grade. She has been married for 13 years to Robert and they have a
12 year old son, Cody. They worship at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic
Church.
Lindsey Husfelt
Nursery Director
e-mail
Donna Elmquist
Preschool Director
e-mail
I have been a director of Lutheran Preschools for the last 18 years and
previously taught for nine years. I received my Early Childhood
Education Degree at Edmonds Community College. I joined the staff at
TVLCP in February 1994. My responsibilities as the Director at TVLC
Preschool/Kindergarten are varied and I love them all.
My husband and I are members here at TVLC, where I play for the
Reformation Ringers, volunteer for Sunday Morning L.I.F.E. and serve on
various committees. I love to hike and my husband and I enjoy playing
bridge together.
Don and I have been married for 36 years and we have two children. Todd
is married to our beautiful daughter-in-law, Susan. They are the
parents of two-year-old Dillan, our only grandchild. Our daughter,
Sarah, lives in Tucson, where she works and enjoys her time swimming and
reading.
Fred Heinrichs
Director of Operations
e-mail
Prior to coming to TVLC, Fred was administrator at El Camino Baptist
Church for seven years. He is a near-native to Tucson, coming here as a
youngster in 1949. He graduating from the U of A and is working to
become a Fellow in Church Business Administration. Fred comes from a
mining family and he himself worked in the industry for over twenty
years before finding a calling in church administration
Fred met the love of his life, Mary in the first grade. Happily married
for over thirty-one years they have three kids. Oldest daughter, Myla,
is an honors graduate of Pacific Lutheran University. She is a CPA and
lives in Tacoma, Washington with her husband, Rob. Son, Aubrin is a
senior at Montana State University. He is married to Serena, who just
made Fred the proud grand father of a little girl, Arianna. Fred's
youngest daughter, Aelynn is a sophomore at CDO High School, deep into
drama and anything to do with "Lord of the Rings."
A Boy Scout Chaplain for over twelve years, Fred has a love of the
outdoors. Skiing and backpacking are his favorite pursuits. His other
interests are woodworking and a '34 Pontiac street rod in the making.
Carol Schurr
Communications Manager
e-mail
Carol joined the TVLC staff in January 2008. She worked for 25 years as
a technical writer/editor and has been active in church communications
for the past 10 years. She has her bachelor's and master's degrees in
music composition from The Catholic University of America in Washington,
DC, and has studied Russian language at the University of Maryland.
Carol is a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church where her husband is
the full-time Director of Music and Organist. At Immanuel, Carol sings
in the choir and helps out as a "utility infielder," frequently
conducting the choir, playing the organ, and assisting with timpani and
percussion. She also leads the Stewardship Team and serves on the
Worship Committee.
Carol and Billy moved to Tucson in 2002 from San Diego. They have two
grown daughters, both of whom are professional musicians. In her spare
time, of which there is never enough, Carol enjoys reading and travel.
Her favorite authors are John C. Maxwell and Andy Stanley and she will
go to Boston at the drop of a hat for any reason at all!
Nancy Schaffer
Bookkeeper
e-mail
Nancy was born in Phoenix, AZ and considers herself an Arizona native
even though her family moved to Farmington, New Mexico while she was in
elementary school. She came back to Arizona to attend college, and
graduated from the University of Arizona with degrees in Chemical
Engineering and Accounting. She has worked in both fields, as an
engineer for DuPont, and as a financial analyst for Hughes Aircraft
Company. She took the position as Bookkeeper at TVLC after the summer
of 2004.
Nancy met her husband, Scott, while at the U of A, and they now have two
wonderful children.
Their family enjoys sports of all kinds, and Nancy
has learned what it is to be a soccer mom.
Nancy became a member of TVLC in 1995 and has taught Sunday school and
Vacation Bible School. She has also served on the Finance Committee and
the Family Life Steering Committee. She served on the church council
for two terms, the second term as Council President.
Joe Smothers
Buildings and Maintenance
Garrett Scott
Custodian
Webpage Maintenance
e-mail