President:  Nancy Nielsen

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"I've been a member at the Chapel since moving to Berkeley about 9 years ago. I currently work for Lutheran Social Services of Northern CA as the Deputy Director and am based in San Francisco. This will be my 3rd time serving on the Council and I am really looking forward to it this year. The newest blessing in my life are my twin grand-sons born last year. I try to control my "addiction" to these little guys but I do tend to make the trek to San Jose when-ever possible for my "baby-fix!" It's an exciting time of life."

Treasurer:  Chuck Jaeger

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"I’ve been a member of the Chapel since 1988, and been involved over time in our El Salvador work, the call committee, the renovation project and finance issues. I lived in many places prior to settling down in Berkeley, including Wyoming, Ohio, North Dakota, Sacramento, Denver and Memphis. I worked as a CPA for a few years before attending law school at Berkeley, and have practiced law now for close to 20 years. I met Locke at the Chapel, and we have three great kids -- Jackson, Lee and Eva."

Luis Ramirez

Jonathan Partsch 

Financial Secretary:  Bob Wohlsen

"I grew up in Lancaster, PA and was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church. I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Civil Engineering. I served in the Air Force for 3 years then worked in construction as a general contractor and construction manager for 29 years in PA. I served on the council of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bangor, ME. I have three sons, Marcus, Peter, and Andrew and a grandson, Russell. I moved to Berkeley a year ago after living in coastal Maine for 5 years. I work as a Leadership Coach, helping leaders of organizations and businesses to be better leaders."

Welcoming:  Lowell Afdahl Rice

"I arrived in Oakland April 2006 from Chicago where I worked for 12 years and continue to work in the field of community economic development. I was wed to Jen Afdahl in June 2007 in Chicago. I was born and raised a Lutheran in the American LutheranChurch (ALC) and have now returned to my Lutheran roots after serving as a deacon in the Baptist church in the 90's. God has certainly placed me on a varied and exciting journey!"

Asset Manager:  Martha Backstrom

"I have been at the Chapel for 25 years and have held various Council and committee positions. Work-wise, I am a nurse and have degrees in Social Work and Public Health. Much of my career has been devoted to working with pregnant women/families. Currently, I work at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley and teach nursing students from Samuel Merritt College. My interests (aside from my pets and friends), include church issues, serving on hospital Medical Ethics committees (Kaiser and Alta Bates), and the study of the psychological impact of pre-birth and birth trauma."