Our Ministering Staff

Paul E. Hoffman
Lead Pastor

Paul Hoffman has served as Phinney’s lead pastor since 1996. A native of Pennsylvania, Paul has led congregations in Texas and Nebraska before becoming a Northwesterner.

Paul is convinced that the world can be a more just and welcome home for all as we see ourselves in service to God and one another. He has been instrumental in his leadership at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in bringing Tent City to the congregation’s front lawn on two occasions, calling a social worker onto the staff as a full-time minister, and fostering interfaith relationships with Jews and Muslims.

He serves the Northwest Washington Synod as chair of the candidacy committee, is on the Board of Directors of Congregational Leadership Northwest, and, along with Associate Pastor Beverly Piro, has founded and directs FAITH and FONT, a national training event for seminary students and congregational leaders in bringing adults to Christ through preparation for Holy Baptism.

Paul is also a classically trained musician and is the author of countless articles and of two books: Stations of the Cross and Faith Forming Faith. He is an avid photographer and loves to read, garden, run around Green Lake, cook, and travel. Paul is married to Donna, whose primary vocations are as a reading specialist and Children’s Choir Director at Phinney Ridge.

 

Beverly R. Piro
Associate Pastor

Pastor Piro grew up in the true midwest – not Minnesota but St. Louis, Missouri. (Look at a map – St. Louis really is in the middle of the country!) She was the only woman in her entering class at Seminex (Concordia Seminary in Exile) and received her M.Div. there in 1980. Ordained in 1983, she has served in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and in Seattle. She sees great value in worker-priest ministry, and has broad experience working outside of the church as well as within it. She also has a deep interest in the formation of faith through the catechumenate process, and has served on the Board of the North American Association for the Catechumenate, as well as led a number of workshops and training events on the catechumenate process.

Pastor Bev and her husband Rocky have four adult children and live in Shoreline with their cock-a-poo, Max. Pastor Bev likes to sew (she is a novice quilter), travel, and work in the garden. Her ministry with Spirited Women is a special joy in her life.

 

Darren Hochstedler
Parish Administrator; Gospel Choir Director

Darren believes that a beautiful and well cared for facility and grounds and strong financial health speaks as loudly to the community about our faith as what is spoken from the pulpit or sung from the choir loft. He views our church as a “community center”, a place where all people are invited to gather. “I am happiest when the parking lot is overflowing and the building is full of people. A community organizer in her office working for social justice, a music concert in the sanctuary, a support group of parents and their children meeting in a room next to an AA group, a group of volunteers passing out food to the hungry, this is ‘church’ at its best!”

Equally comfortable managing building projects, sitting behind his computer screen crunching numbers for the budget, standing in the dumpster “compacting” trash or sitting behind the piano leading congregational song, Darren thrives on variety. “If I didn’t have to work for a living, I would volunteer to do most of the things I do at the church. Not the meetings! No, they would still have to pay me to come to the meetings!”

 

Nancy Monelli
Children and Family Minister

Nancy was born and raised in Arizona and moved to Seattle in 2006. She graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in Drama and received her Masters in Theology from Fuller Seminary. For over twenty-five years Nancy has been blessed with work at churches in the areas of Christian education, youth ministry, and pastoral care – including time spent as a missionary in Rwanda. She is thrilled to be at PRLC and is excited by this opportunity to grow in wonder, love, and praise with the families of this congregation.

Nancy lives with her husband Roy Mock and their 22-year-old cat Yoda in lower Queen Anne, where their balcony is a mini wildlife preserve for crows, a variety of small birds, and a very feisty squirrel.

 

 

Gina Herman
Vicar

Gina is thrilled to be a part of the Phinney Ridge community this year. She is an intern from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, but grew up in the Northwest and is excited to be back. She has a passion for learning new ways to worship and finding new and unique ways to make liturgy more accessible to those who may not be as familiar with it. She has also greatly enjoyed working with youth and young adults in the past and is looking forward to getting involved with the LYONS ministry and helping to lead the confirmation class.

Gina loves to go running in the morning, go hiking, and watch movies, especially when she gets to do these things with her husband, Jeremy. She has also recently been introduced to fantasy football and is excited to be in two leagues this year. To relax, she will often spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking for her family and friends. Praise God for the gift of food and fellowship!

 

Patrick Meagher
Minister of Outreach

Patrick serves the PRLC community as Minister of Outreach. He helps inspire and implement our many outreach ministries, visits our homebound members, and manages our direct assistance program through the Parish Outreach Fund. In this work, Patrick gives and receives the love of Christ through the sacred beauty of relationship.

Patrick spent his undergrad years in the forest at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and earned a Masters in Christian Studies at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. At leisure, Patrick goofs around with Jena, his beloved wife of 9 years, plays basketball, has fun with his little brother Tyler, and reads the morning paper. Ireland got him hooked on tea in 1998, and he’s never looked back. The Meaghers own a condo in the Pinehurst neighborhood of North Seattle.

 

Tim Sullivan
Child Development Center Director

Christina Bogar
Office Manager

Valerie Shields
Organist; Youth Choir Director

Beth Ann Bonnecroy
Chancel and Handbell Choirs Director

Donna Hoffman
Children’s Choir Director

Shari Anderson
Accompanist

Anthony Nelson
Custodian

Dallas Cooper
Custodian