Please review the following list of candidates for our Vestry, voting will occur at the annual meeting on Sunday, January 25 at 10am after the 9am service.
Senior Warden: Kari Rusch-Curl
As a member at St. John’s for over a decade now, I become more and more grateful for this community every day. I’ve had the opportunity to teach and volunteer with Sunday School, serve on a search committee, and work with the Ministry of Stewardship Committee for the past three years. My husband Ryan and I are here almost every Wednesday night with our daughter Amelia, who has been blessed by participation in the children’s choir program. Professionally I serve as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Inver Hills Community College. I look forward to continuing to serve the St. John’s Community in the coming year.
Junior Warden: Roger Rose
Roger, along with Sue, Estelle and Maclain, have been members of the St. John’s community since 2008. Roger works at the University of Minnesota, Morris, where he teaches on American government and politics, research methods and international human rights. He has served as a vestry member for the past two years, the Brew Crew for many years, and he also served as a year on the Stewardship committee and assisted the Millennial Fund group. Currently, he represents the Vestry on buildings and grounds work.
Vestry Member: Ray Areaux
Originally from New Orleans where I was raised Catholic, I’ve lived in the Midwest for over half my life since attending college at Notre Dame where I met my wife, Heidi. We moved around a lot for med school (me) and law school (Heidi) before moving to Linden Hills in 2013. I’m a pediatric ophthalmologist at UMN, and Heidi works on numerous political and civic initiatives while devoting most of her time to our family. We have 3 daughters (Eleanore (9th, Breck), Adelaide (6th, Breck), & Madeline (4th, Lake Harriett)), 2 cats (Jacques-Imo & Minou), and a dog (Felix). We were originally drawn to the joyful, family-friendly spirit of St. John’s at Christmas in 2018. After COVID, we became “St. John’s regulars” in 2023. We have been drawn in and inspired by the mystically attuned and service-oriented heart of St. John’s ever since. We’ve enjoyed serving with Brew Crew and First Nation’s Kitchen, and our daughters have participated in many of the children’s activities that Heather leads. I feel honored and humbled by the call to serve on the Vestry and look forward to helping to grow our St. John’s family and ministries.
Vestry Member: Kate MacKinnon
My husband and I joined when we were a young married couple in 1985. We have been active in this church ever since and baptized and raised three children in this church. Over that time, I have served in a variety of roles, including, Sunday school teacher, coffee hour person, personnel committee member, Xmas orchestra leader, pageant seamstress, vestry member and junior/senior warden. But my most consistent role has been as a member of the choir for what has now been 40 years. (One would expect that I had memorized all verses to St. Patrick’s breastplate by now…I have not).
I am honored to serve on the vestry of this church that has meant so much to me and my family.
Vestry Member: Heidi Schaefer
I’ve been part of the St. John’s family since 2011, along with my husband, Ed, and our three daughters—Avery, Berit, and Erin. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of serving in many spaces—from Godly Play (I started when Erin was three!) and supporting our daughters’ Pilgrim fundraising, to participating in various committees Capital Campaign, Centennial Fund, Adult Forum planning, and serving Urban Homeworks lunches and Wednesday night dinners. I love jumping in wherever connection, creativity, and a little organization are needed. Outside of church, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking around Lake Harriet (usually with our dog Murphy), reading, and saying yes to new adventures. I’m continually inspired by the heart of St. John’s—its people—and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Vestry and give back to a place that has blessed our family so deeply.
Vestry Member: Stephanie Whitney
When our family moved from Chicago to Minneapolis in 2019, we visited St. John’s one fall Sunday. From the moment we walked through the doors, we found a vibrant, welcoming community that quickly became central to our lives. What we thought would be an exploratory visit became a loving church home unlike any other we have experienced. I value the people, the spirit of service, and the ways this community challenges me to grow in faith and reflect deeply on what it means to live as a Christian. My husband Grant and I are grateful for the Children, Families, and Youth programming: Samantha is a chorister, Piper enjoys youth group, and Leighton is preparing for the 2027 Pilgrimage.
Outside of church, we stay busy supporting our children in their varied interests—hockey, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, gymnastics, scouting, and trap team. Personally, I love any opportunity to be in the forest, to cook special foods, connect with friends, and travel. Out of gratitude for this community, I humbly welcome the opportunity to serve on the Vestry. I look forward to learning more about St. John’s while working toward sustaining and strengthening our community for the future.
